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northern end of North Beach. Other cities would have pulled it down for a posh
apartment building years ago, but this city likes to cling to its mid-century identity.
The place looks potentially scary from the outside, but it puts its efforts where it
counts: the rooms, which happen to be larger than the average. It's sort of hard to go
wrong with this deal: $83 to $93 for a basic motel-style room, none too flashy but
clean and reliable, plus free covered parking, which is unheard of on this side of
Russian Hill. I'd call this place an unqualified find and a strong value. Fisherman's
Wharf is a 5-minute stroll north.
THE MARINA & COW HOLLOW
Cow Hollow, which abuts the yuppified Marina district, is actually one of the
budget secrets of San Francisco—an entire neighborhood where you can find
good-quality lodging for $75 to $100 a night. It's also where you stay if you've got
a car and plan to zip out to Wine Country with it. Not only is the area relatively
close to the Golden Gate, but there is also a smattering of '50s-style motor-court
motels where parking is usually free—a rarity in this town. The downside to Cow
Hollow lodging is that it's not terribly convenient to everything else, including the
major sights, although that's nothing a 10-minute bus ride won't fix. (Second
caveat: On weekends, buses usually arrive only once every half-hour.)
Competition is pretty tight in this part of town—notice how most of the motels
listed charge the same rate—so if you find a good price online, call your favorite
property and see if it'll beat it to score your business.
$-$$
If you're a nature lover, particularly one with a car,
La Luna Inn
5
(2599
Lombard St.;
%
415/346-4664; http://lalunainn.com; AE, MC, V)
may work for you,
because it's one of the closest Marina/Cow Hollow motels to the Presidio. That
means greenery and fresh air are about 2 blocks west, and the multi-million-dollar
mansions of the Marina are just north, by the Palace of Fine Arts. Like the Del Sol,
the Luna is a motel that's been given a smart but none-too-flashy once-over to capi-
talize on its mid-century style and to make it affordably hip. Expect a bright, color-
ful motel-style experience, with rods instead of closets but strong value otherwise.
Also expect to pay $79 for a room with a (very comfortable) double bed, $89 for one
with a king-size bed, and $99 for two beds; prices soar to $125 in busier times, which
to my mind is a little steep for a place so far off the main paths. The included conti-
nental breakfast is nothing to get excited about, unless you dig white-bread toast.
$-$$
Another good value with free parking, the
Chelsea Motor Inn
(2095
Lombard St., at Fillmore;
%
415/563-5600; www.chelseamotorinn.com; AE, MC,
V)
is a three-story faux-Tudor job with a central courtyard. Rates for a room for
two (king bed or 2 double beds) span $77 to $90 most nights and go to $135
when things are packed. The decor is ho-hum, motel-style, but perfectly accept-
able, with the usual motel-style setup including a two-chair sitting area between
the beds and the window. Rooms are on the large side. Parking is free, as is
Internet access, and there are stretches of good shopping and dining on Chestnut,
a few blocks north, and Union, a few blocks south.
$-$$
You'll find nearly an identical setting—same blah furnishings, same bril-
liant prices, and good maintenance—2 blocks east at
Coventry Motor Inn
(1901
Lombard St.;
%
415/567-1200; www.coventrymotorinn.com; AE, MC, V),
which is
