San Fran Hotel - Cheapish

[Chilly]

Any suggestions for a cheapish hotel in San Fran perhaps in the Union Square area? Just need somewhere clean and quiet.

Thanks in advance

 

[GrandBob]

Be careful. If you specify "cheap" and "Union Square area", you may well end up in the Tenderloin area, just southwest of Union Square. It's seedy - you definitely don't want to end up there. Reputable hotels in the Union Square area tend to be somewhat pricey.

In your other message, you indicate that you'll have a car. In that case, I'd look at Lombard Street in the Cow Hollow area. They tend to be motor hotels or motels, rather than hotels. They're usually a bit less expensive. But you'll need to either drive in to downtown, or take public transportation.

-Bob

 

[Chilly]

Be careful. If you specify "cheap" and "Union Square area", you may well end up in the Tenderloin area, just southwest of Union Square. It's seedy - you definitely don't want to end up there. Reputable hotels in the Union Square area tend to be somewhat pricey.

In your other message, you indicate that you'll have a car. In that case, I'd look at Lombard Street in the Cow Hollow area. They tend to be motor hotels or motels, rather than hotels. They're usually a bit less expensive. But you'll need to either drive in to downtown, or take public transportation.

-Bob

Thanks again Bob, we prob won't have a car in SF, just hire it to drive down the coast.

 

[Disneyof3]

Don't know what it is like, but were booked at the Columbus Hotel on Columbus Avenue. Near Pier 33 and all that stuff. According to Travel Advisor the reviews are very good and they don't charge for parking like all the other hotels do. I can let you know in March what it was like?

 

[GrandBob]

Don't know what it is like, but were booked at the Columbus Hotel on Columbus Avenue. Near Pier 33 and all that stuff. According to Travel Advisor the reviews are very good and they don't charge for parking like all the other hotels do. I can let you know in March what it was like?

Google shows that there is both a Columbus Hotel and a Columbus Motor Inn. Columbus Motor Inn is the one close to Fisherman's Wharf, and yes, it gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor. Both appear to be in very nice locations.

In the Fisherman's Wharf area, there's also a Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Marriott, and Best Western.

Downtown & Union Square area, there are mostly full hotels, plus lots of "boutique" hotels, which tend to be cheaper (but not cheap, by far). My wife's cousin stayed at the Hilton Union Square, and was pleased with it. Sometimes you can find a special on that; other times it's very expensive.

You can always try Priceline, too.

-Bob

 

[mamacatnv]

Travelodge Golden Gate on Lombard. Not in Union Sq, but cheap, clean, nicely staffed, on major bus lines, in the Cow Hollow neighborhood full of trendy and delish restaurants, cafe's and shops. I was just there this past weekend for 3 nights. We have stayed at the Travelodge GG now 4 times in the past year. We won't stay anywhere else in the city.

The Columbus Motor Inn does get similar reviews, is a bit closer to the "tourist" stuff ie the wharf, China Town, N. Beach and Union Sq. but is also a bit more spendy and noisier.

With tax, I paid $89.20 per night for a room with 2 queens and FREE parking is included. Can't beat it, we love the Travelodge. This was for a Fri, Sat and Sunday night stay.

PS Travelodge GG also gets good reviews from Tripadvisor

In Union Sq. I have stayed at the Handlery, but expect to pay $25-30 a day for parking and then if you use the car to get around you will pay parking anywhere else you go in the city with few exceptions.

The city is very walkable and cabs and buses are plentiful. From the Travelodge GG there are seveal of the major bus lines 30 (1 Blk N. on Chestnut), 45 (3 blks S. on Union) and 43 (on Lombard proper) between them they go to the Ghirardelli area, N. Beach, ChinaTown, Market St near Union Sq., Golden Gate Park, the base of Golden Gate Bridge and to AT&T park just to name a few places, all as a direct line.

We love Muni and use it often.

 

[mellers]

If you, your parents, or your spouse are a veteran, depending upon how long you plan to stay, it might be worth it to get a membership to the Marine Memorial Center. It is very close to Union Square, and a nice hotel for the area:

http://www.marineclub.com/

 

[jen42002]

My cousin used to live in downtown SF in the marina district. She always recommended Motel Capri. The rooms are basic but clean and the hotel is nicely located. Their website is http://www.sfmotelcapri.com/

 

[skiingfast]

Any suggestions for a cheapish hotel in San Fran perhaps in the Union Square area? Just need somewhere clean and quiet.

Thanks in advance

Since you won't have a car. I suggest stay north of Market Street and within two blocks of Powell. This is the union square area, but keeps you off the dirtier streets and within the tourist areas.

In the same respect look toward the area near and between the north end of the cable car tracks. It makes a Y. There hotels are cheaper.

The fun and easy tranportation of the cable cars are not to be missed so staying up by the warf won't hurt.

 

[Chilly]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

 

[Danibelle]

Any suggestions for a cheapish hotel in San Fran perhaps in the Union Square area? Just need somewhere clean and quiet.

Thanks in advance

I looked on Expedia for some potential locations in Union Square and found rates from 165-292. This is a very expensive area. You might find something on Lombard St. (such as Cow Hollow) for around 100? I believe Fisherman's Wharf will also be very expensive. This city is never "cheap" and if you park downtown, you will also have to pay for parking.

 

[Chilly]

Don't know what it is like, but were booked at the Columbus Hotel on Columbus Avenue. Near Pier 33 and all that stuff. According to Travel Advisor the reviews are very good and they don't charge for parking like all the other hotels do. I can let you know in March what it was like?

Thanks for the offer but i'm there is March as well.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Google shows that there is both a Columbus Hotel and a Columbus Motor Inn. Columbus Motor Inn is the one close to Fisherman's Wharf, and yes, it gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor. Both appear to be in very nice locations.

In the Fisherman's Wharf area, there's also a Holiday Inn, Sheraton, Marriott, and Best Western.

Downtown & Union Square area, there are mostly full hotels, plus lots of "boutique" hotels, which tend to be cheaper (but not cheap, by far). My wife's cousin stayed at the Hilton Union Square, and was pleased with it. Sometimes you can find a special on that; other times it's very expensive.

You can always try Priceline, too.

-Bob

We stayed at the Columbus Motor Inn a few years ago, would stay there again particularly if I needed to park a car.

More recently we stayed in a boutique place (Hotel Adaigo?) near Union Square and not the least bit sketchy, that I found through http://www.hotelres.com/ - got there through TravelZoo. It's a Joie de Vivre hotel (http://www.jdvhotels.com/) and they have a special on as I type, $119 a night.

 

[Chilly]

We stayed at the Columbus Motor Inn a few years ago, would stay there again particularly if I needed to park a car.

More recently we stayed in a boutique place (Hotel Adaigo?) near Union Square and not the least bit sketchy, that I found through http://www.hotelres.com/ - got there through TravelZoo. It's a Joie de Vivre hotel (http://www.jdvhotels.com/) and they have a special on as I type, $119 a night.

I'm looking at the Hotel Carlton another Joie de Vivre hotel as we speak.

However on its own website it says its fully booked, but on Expedia I could book it, should that worry me?

 

[skiingfast]

I'm looking at the Hotel Carlton another Joie de Vivre hotel as we speak.

However on its own website it says its fully booked, but on Expedia I could book it, should that worry me?

No, expedia will get blocks of rooms from a hotel to sell. They may of got all that were left on one of your nights. This is quite common and shouldn't worry you.

 

[jlmarr]

We've stayed at Hotel Milano on 5th Street very close to Market and the Powell/Market Cable Car turntable and the Powell Street BART station. In fact we took BART from SFO and walked our bags to the hotel. We thought it was clean and quiet. It's also handy to the Westfield Shopping Mall, which has an extensive food court (actually two food courts).

 

[Tamarap]

We have stayed at the Lombard Motor Inn on a family vacation and found it clean, reasonable, included free parking, and was within walking distance of what we wanted to see.
I have also stayed at the Hilton Union Square for a conference and did not like the hotel or the area...very sketchy. I was glad my husband had accompanied me on that trip.

 

[lcasa]

I've had luck with priceline in Union Sq - usually turns out to be the Hilton, which does border the Tenderloin but as long as you don't walk too far in that direction you'll be ok. We do that when we fly up and don't want to pay for a car. I highly recommend betterbidding.com - people post what they've gotten and where from priceline and hotwire.

When we drive we nearly always stay at one of the Cow Hollow/Columbus Motor Inn/Chelsea Motor Inn family of hotels on Lombard. Cow Hollow is close to a very nice street full of restaurants and shops (Chestnut street). The hotels are clean with good sized rooms and the price can't be beat - especially if you include the free parking. Even with a car we sometimes use cabs - parking in the city is a problem.

We LOVE SF. Enjoy!

 

[Chilly]

Thanks for everyones help. We are now booked in the hotel Carlton.