san francisco
Feb 21st 2008, 6:57 am
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 360
san francisco
hey
I would like to do a long weekend in San Fran in May. Can anyone advise how far Napa Valley is from the city?
also, any budget hotel recommendations?
Thanks guys
I would like to do a long weekend in San Fran in May. Can anyone advise how far Napa Valley is from the city?
also, any budget hotel recommendations?
Thanks guys
Feb 21st 2008, 7:11 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 90
Re: san francisco
It's around 45 miles.
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Sa...6,2.570801&z=9
No idea about hotels though...
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Sa...6,2.570801&z=9
No idea about hotels though...
Feb 21st 2008, 7:23 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Nevada b4 California b4 Colorado b4 Valley of plastic and sand, b4 London
Posts: 2,025
Feb 21st 2008, 11:40 am
#4
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: san francisco
About 50 miles or so. Will you have a car or not? It is not a bad day trip from the City. But you really do not want a car all that much in the City. Park it somewhere and use the Muni, BART or A/C as appropriate.
I used to live there a long time ago. The last time I went to the Court of Appeals in San Francisco, there were a large number of motels right near 6th & Mission.
For the City itself, be sure to take layers. San Francisco can be on the cool side while Napa/Sonoma will be blazing.
If you don't mind using BART, consider staying in the East Bay -- but be careful of location.
BTW, take a gander at the Stock Exchange -- especially the statuary outside the entrance. If you look carefully and let your mind wander, there will be a little detail that is quite amusing. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN
Last edited by Folinskyinla; Feb 21st 2008 at 11:43 am.
Feb 21st 2008, 6:03 pm
#5
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: san francisco
BTW, take a gander at the Stock Exchange -- especially the statuary outside the entrance. If you look carefully and let your mind wander, there will be a little detail that is quite amusing. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...icial%26sa%3DN
We just drove back to Oregon on the 101 and one day makes it hard to appreciate the area. The City can keep you entranced for days on end.. if you haven't yet visited SF, maybe do it over 2 trips?
What do you consider 'budget'? Requirements?
Feb 21st 2008, 6:27 pm
#6
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: san francisco
Went there a few years back and stayed in a cheap-but-nice motel out near the zoo but right on the tram line. Was fairly quick and cheap just to jump on a tram and get whisked straight to Market St.
Feb 21st 2008, 6:33 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,103
Re: san francisco
Do a hotels.com and an expedia.com search for cheap hotels and see what you come up with. If you come up with some possibilities, post them here and I'll take a look.
In general, stay clear of hotels 'south of Market'. Market street is the dividing line between the 'good' and the 'bad' parts of town (I know, over-generalizaton, many exceptions, etc, but not a bad rule of thumb - I've worked/lived in SF for over 15 years). Also stay clear of hotels in the 'tenderloin' - the area close to civic center. While it can be overly touristy, a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area is not a bad bet for a base for walking. The hotels out on Lombard street are OK if you don't mind driving or bussing into the downtown area. There are a few big tourist hotels on Van Ness right at the end of the California Street cable car line that are not bad. If you can get a discount rate at the newly renovated Hilton in Chinatown, you are golden. The big, big advantage of Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf is that you can walk to almost everything of interest - a big plus in my mind. Parking, however, is going to cost an arm and a leg.
If you want to stay out-of-town and drive or BART in, try the Lafayette Park Hotel in Lafayette, the Marriot in Walnut Creek, or even several of the airport hotels in Burlingame or Millbrae (try the Best Western in Millbrae for a discount place that's not bad). They will all offer free or cheap parking, and are about 30 mins drive from the city center. Lafayette and Walnut Creek offer easier access to the wine country.
My mom is coming to visit soon and I may put her up in a hotel in SF for a few weeks, so I'd be interested in sharing notes!
In general, stay clear of hotels 'south of Market'. Market street is the dividing line between the 'good' and the 'bad' parts of town (I know, over-generalizaton, many exceptions, etc, but not a bad rule of thumb - I've worked/lived in SF for over 15 years). Also stay clear of hotels in the 'tenderloin' - the area close to civic center. While it can be overly touristy, a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area is not a bad bet for a base for walking. The hotels out on Lombard street are OK if you don't mind driving or bussing into the downtown area. There are a few big tourist hotels on Van Ness right at the end of the California Street cable car line that are not bad. If you can get a discount rate at the newly renovated Hilton in Chinatown, you are golden. The big, big advantage of Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf is that you can walk to almost everything of interest - a big plus in my mind. Parking, however, is going to cost an arm and a leg.
If you want to stay out-of-town and drive or BART in, try the Lafayette Park Hotel in Lafayette, the Marriot in Walnut Creek, or even several of the airport hotels in Burlingame or Millbrae (try the Best Western in Millbrae for a discount place that's not bad). They will all offer free or cheap parking, and are about 30 mins drive from the city center. Lafayette and Walnut Creek offer easier access to the wine country.
My mom is coming to visit soon and I may put her up in a hotel in SF for a few weeks, so I'd be interested in sharing notes!
Feb 21st 2008, 6:36 pm
#8
Democracy advocate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 12,460
Re: san francisco
depends upon your idea of budget - this place is in the north of the city, right near the Palace of Fine Arts and close to the walk to the GG Bridge. Getting into the center is an easy bus ride, you can walk to Fisherman's wharf. Drive over the GG bridge to head to Napa (or try Sonoma valley)
Feb 22nd 2008, 3:15 am
#10
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Hong Kong, mostly.
Posts: 5,214
Re: san francisco
Aren't there bus tours of Napa? Personally I'd try to avoid them, but if you are looking for a simple way to hit some vineyards (and swallow during the tasting sessions) perhaps that might an option.
Feb 22nd 2008, 5:12 pm
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: san francisco
Personally, I prefer the Sonoma Valley to Napa - less crowds and less developed. Plus the Jack London state park near Glen Ellen is one of my favourite (and most emotive) spots in the Bay Area.
As to hotels, I second the advice about hotels/motels near the end of the California cable car line. There are also a few in the blocks north of there (Pacific and Broadway near Van Ness) that are ok. There's also a nice place on Hyde near Pacific whose name I am failing to recall right now.
As to hotels, I second the advice about hotels/motels near the end of the California cable car line. There are also a few in the blocks north of there (Pacific and Broadway near Van Ness) that are ok. There's also a nice place on Hyde near Pacific whose name I am failing to recall right now.
Feb 25th 2008, 2:39 am
#12
trout pout
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 248
Re: san francisco
For a good priced hotel in SF try http://www.nobhillhotel.com/ . It is a good price and close enough to Union Sq if you want to do tourist stuff and also close to Polk St & Cow Hollow if you are interested in trying some local bars/restaurants.
Feb 25th 2008, 3:59 am
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 8,497
Feb 25th 2008, 9:44 pm
#14
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: san francisco
They're so thoughtful. I bet you wear it every time you travel!
They sent me a "backpack" (think drawstring bag just big enough to carry my wet swimming trunks back from the beach) and a nice see-through zippy bag to carry my liquids through security.
They sent me a "backpack" (think drawstring bag just big enough to carry my wet swimming trunks back from the beach) and a nice see-through zippy bag to carry my liquids through security.
Feb 25th 2008, 10:43 pm
#15
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: san francisco
Do a hotels.com and an expedia.com search for cheap hotels and see what you come up with. If you come up with some possibilities, post them here and I'll take a look.
In general, stay clear of hotels 'south of Market'. Market street is the dividing line between the 'good' and the 'bad' parts of town (I know, over-generalizaton, many exceptions, etc, but not a bad rule of thumb - I've worked/lived in SF for over 15 years). Also stay clear of hotels in the 'tenderloin' - the area close to civic center. While it can be overly touristy, a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area is not a bad bet for a base for walking. The hotels out on Lombard street are OK if you don't mind driving or bussing into the downtown area. There are a few big tourist hotels on Van Ness right at the end of the California Street cable car line that are not bad. If you can get a discount rate at the newly renovated Hilton in Chinatown, you are golden. The big, big advantage of Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf is that you can walk to almost everything of interest - a big plus in my mind. Parking, however, is going to cost an arm and a leg.
If you want to stay out-of-town and drive or BART in, try the Lafayette Park Hotel in Lafayette, the Marriot in Walnut Creek, or even several of the airport hotels in Burlingame or Millbrae (try the Best Western in Millbrae for a discount place that's not bad). They will all offer free or cheap parking, and are about 30 mins drive from the city center. Lafayette and Walnut Creek offer easier access to the wine country.
My mom is coming to visit soon and I may put her up in a hotel in SF for a few weeks, so I'd be interested in sharing notes!
In general, stay clear of hotels 'south of Market'. Market street is the dividing line between the 'good' and the 'bad' parts of town (I know, over-generalizaton, many exceptions, etc, but not a bad rule of thumb - I've worked/lived in SF for over 15 years). Also stay clear of hotels in the 'tenderloin' - the area close to civic center. While it can be overly touristy, a hotel in the Fisherman's Wharf area is not a bad bet for a base for walking. The hotels out on Lombard street are OK if you don't mind driving or bussing into the downtown area. There are a few big tourist hotels on Van Ness right at the end of the California Street cable car line that are not bad. If you can get a discount rate at the newly renovated Hilton in Chinatown, you are golden. The big, big advantage of Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf is that you can walk to almost everything of interest - a big plus in my mind. Parking, however, is going to cost an arm and a leg.
If you want to stay out-of-town and drive or BART in, try the Lafayette Park Hotel in Lafayette, the Marriot in Walnut Creek, or even several of the airport hotels in Burlingame or Millbrae (try the Best Western in Millbrae for a discount place that's not bad). They will all offer free or cheap parking, and are about 30 mins drive from the city center. Lafayette and Walnut Creek offer easier access to the wine country.
My mom is coming to visit soon and I may put her up in a hotel in SF for a few weeks, so I'd be interested in sharing notes!
I see you live in SF now. I lived there in the 70's. Your description strikes me as true for the 70's -- but dated NOW. I'm surprised at the change in the South of Market and Tenderloin areas.
