Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In which we lead you to the most affordable
options, from spare bedrooms in private apart-
ments to trendy digs in boutique hotels
Accommodations,
Both Standard &
Not
S
AN FRANCISCO IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS IN AMERICA
,
but it's an expensive one. Even locals complain bitterly about the price of every-
day items and the sometimes-oppressive cost of living. Real estate, especially, is at
a premium because, like many of the other world's most expensive cities, there's
only so much land to go around before the water and mountains take over. So it
shouldn't surprise you that lodging is priced at a level that you'll probably consider
to be higher than the norm.
What's more, when you finally check into your hotel, you may find that it's
not as plush as what you think you ought to be getting for what you're paying.
That's because a crucial thing to remember about San Francisco, when it comes
to lodging, is that much of it was built a long time ago, and replacing those old
buildings with something new is not usually smiled upon by the city stewards. So
you're going to encounter a lot of buildings that meet a different standard than
what we expect today. Different rooms in the same hotel might be wildly differ-
ent sizes, or there won't be an elevator in smallish buildings, or the walls might be
a touch thinner than you're used to. It's all part of hanging out in a historic city,
and that old style is presumably one of the reasons you came to enjoy this place.
When conventions roll into town, which they often do, getting a room can turn
into a challenge. So always book as far ahead as you can, and ask the booking clerk
if there's a convention in town then—the folks at the hotel desk usually know—
and if there is, be flexible enough to postpone or advance your trip to dates when
more rooms are available and prices are better. An excellent starting point is the
Convention & Visitors Bureau's Convention Calendar, posted in the “Meeting
Planners” section of its website at www.sfcvb.org/convention/calendar.asp.
Helpfully, each event is listed with an approximate number of hotel rooms that are
going to be booked because of the event. Think of it this way: The city's total
inventory is about 33,000 rooms; you're going to start seeing a rise in prices once
about half that figure is reached. The booking website
San Francisco Reservations
(
%
800/737-2060; www.hotelres.com)
lists a few upcoming events for the next
month or two on its home page.
And don't forget tax—it adds 14% to a nightly rate. Told you it's an expensive
city.
