Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WHERE TO STAY
San Francisco offers a wide choice of places to
stay, from spartan youth hostels to the most
elegant and luxurious of hotels. There are more
than 33,000 rooms available in the city, provid-
ing accommodations to suit every budget and
taste. The top hotels are good value by interna-
tional standards and have long been rated
among the best in the world. For the traveler
on a budget, there are many cheap and com-
fortable youth hostels and motels. Another
option is to stay somewhere offering bed-and-
breakfast facilities. Bed-and-breakfasts are
usually smaller than hotels, and sometimes
quite opulent. Or, you could opt to stay in a
unique boutique hotel. For the eco-conscious
traveler, green hotels are becoming increasingly
popular. The following selection of places to
stay represents the best of their kind, covering
all price ranges. For more details on each hotel,
turn to the listings on pages 212-15.
Where to Look
Many of San Francisco's hotels
are located in and around
bustling Union Square, within
easy walking distance of the
Financial District and the
Moscone Convention Center.
Nearby Nob Hill, where many of
the finer hotels are situated, is
more tranquil, while the
Fisherman's Wharf area has a
number of hotels and motels
suitable for families.
Away from the center, on the
fringes of the Financial District
and along Lombard Street in
the Marina District, are a
tremendous number of
moderately priced motels. Bed-
and-breakfast rooms are
scattered throughout the city,
often in quiet neighborhoods.
night, though this depends on
when and where you stay. See
Special Rates (p210)
for details of
any discounts or packages that
might be available. Larger hotels
often charge more for additional
amenities, such as parking,
Internet access, or breakfast. It is
worth checking with the hotel
before booking.
Single travelers receive only a
small discount, if any, and most
hotels charge visitors $10 to
$15 a night for each additional
person (in addition to the
standard two) in the same room.
For details on traveling with
children,
see page 210.
Opulent furnishings at Chateau Tivoli
(see p212)
or you can call the hotel's toll-
free number to ask about rates
and availability.
Chain Hotels
You can count on good
service, moderate prices, and
comfortable surroundings at a
chain hotel. The popular chains
include the Westin, Hilton,
Sheraton, Marriott, Ramada,
Hyatt, and Holiday Inn. Some of
these chains operate more than
one hotel and designate one
location as the flagship facility.
All chain hotels have websites,
Bed-and-Breakfast
A notable alternative to the
large city center hotels are the
many fine establishments that
offer bed-and-breakfast
accommodations. These are
often found in some of the city's
extensive stock of well-
preserved 19th-century houses.
In San Francisco they are often
referred to as bed-and-breakfast
“inns”; they are unique to the
city, varying from quaint,
country-style cottages to
converted hilltop mansions.
They should not be confused
with the European tradition of
bed-and-breakfast accom-
modations, where you rent a
room from a private individual
in their own home and are also
given breakfast. Some inns are
very luxurious, and rival the
city's best hotels for comfort.
They vary in size, from a few to
no more than 30 rooms, and are
generally cozier in atmosphere
and decor than a normal hotel.
Hotel Prices
Considering the comfort and
high level of service, hotel
prices in San Francisco are
generally quite reasonable,
particularly in comparison with
Europe or New York. Average
room rates are $160-175 a
The Room of the Dons at the Mark Hopkins InterContinental Hotel
(see p215)
A view of the Garden Court at the Palace Hotel
