Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
later on. Obviously, the options are always changing, and often they're only avail-
able for tight windows of time that may not agree with your own schedule, but
I've seen some attractive offers, such as a place with a fireplace and a skylight on
postcard-perfect Alamo Square for $120 a night. If you don't see something you
like posted, go ahead and post a request of your own and include your trip
dates—craigslist is popular in town and you never know what might come out of
the woodwork.
HOMEAWAY
At any given moment, there are about 100 ideas on offer at
HomeAway
(www.
homeaway.com),
and the most affordable of them are in secondary areas of town
that you'd actually want to stay in, such as Twin Peaks, Noe Valley, and the Castro.
Prices for the best stuff are $155 to $200 per night, usually for places greater than
600 square feet; $900 for a week is a common rate. Many listings come with con-
venient calendars that mark off the dates for which the property in question is
unavailable.
ZONDER
The deals at
Zonder
(
%
866/613-3166; www.zonder.com)
are, on average, no bet-
ter than the ones offered by other sites, but now and then a real steal floats to the
surface, such as a flat for two in Buena Vista Heights for just $92 a night, which
is fairly unbeatable, even if you'll have to rely on public transportation to get to
town. It also allows potential customers to call instead of using the Web, if they
want (although I'd rather peruse the photos online first). Finally, Zonder is the
only one of these sites that pledges it will move dissatisfied customers to new
apartments or give them a full refund. That's an important distinction.
SERVICED APARTMENTS
In addition to privately owned apartments, there are companies offering buildings
of apartments set up for itinerant types. Unfortunately, because San Francisco is
heavy on banking and high-tech companies, they tend to demand top dollar and
they get it. I've done what I can to weed out places that cater to down-and-outs,
although clientele changes daily.
$-$$ The Halcyon Hotel
5
(649 Jones St., between Post and Geary;
%
800/627-
2396 or 415/929-8033; www.halcyonsf.com),
built in 1912, deals in efficiency-type
units ($89 single, $99 double) 3 blocks west of Union Square. Its 25 rooms, mostly
small but well kept with plain wooden furniture and private baths, are an exceptional
value in a city that normally hits tourists for twice as much for similar amenities. You
won't get a kitchen burner, but you'll have a toaster, fridge, and microwave and all
the kitchenware you're likely to require. Local calls are free, so is Wi-Fi, and rooms
have safes. Decor is hardly envelope-pushing, but at least it's not depressing. Some
times of year (like, all winter), a 7-night minimum stay is required. The owners keep
limited desk hours, but that's not because they don't care; in fact, they're a good
source of information on doings in town. Guests tend to use this place when mov-
ing to the city or working in it for a few weeks; each room comes with its own door-
bell in order to give a semblance of home life. Families might consider its largest
room for $109, and standard rooms are rented by the week for $450.
