SF Hotel Recommendations

[jasoncarter_dfw]

I'm planning a trip to SF in late July, and was wanting to ask around about hotels in the downtown area. My significant other is coming with me, so I'm looking for a place that is both convenient for incalls and nice on the inside at a reasonable price. Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

 

- Jason Carter - Dallas, TX

- jason@sexyjasoncarter.com

- http://www.sexyjasoncarter.com

[+ Axiom2001]

Go to Hotwire.com. I've gotten some good deals in the Union Square Area--4 star hotels at bargain rates-- $89 per night +12 to 14% room tax, I think. Parking has been exorbitant though.

BestWestern Americana is pleasant and reasonably priced; check out BestWestern.com, but I think you'd like the Usquare, downtown properties. Check out Hotel.com, too.

 

Lastly--research the archives. Some months ago a respondent asked about SF hotels as well as other features. Type in San Francisco Hotels and see what comes up... Also, you might want to send Rick Munroe and/or DevonSF emails for suggestions. Rick and his partner usually stay in the Union Sq. properties based on what he/Rick has written here. Devon resides in SF but perhaps could lend some salient advice to you.:-)

[Guest bottomboykk]

I really enjoyed staying at the Hotel Bijou, near Union Square. It's a classic-movie-themed hotel, and they even have a small theater off the lobby where they show SF-themed movies each night.

 

Nice place, convenient location, very reasonable prices.

 

http://www.jdvhospitality.com/hotels/sf_bijou.html

http://www.cheephotels.co.uk/san-francisco/hotel-bijou.htm

[mmk]

I was out in SF in April and found a great deal on Expedia .com (They were running alot of specials at that time and I think they might be doing so now) I stayed at the Grosvenor Suites for $72 a night. The special they were running were book for 7 nights straight and get 2 free. I stayed for 8 nights and paid around $675. It is right up in Nob Hill, a few block from Chinatown, the Financial District, and Polk St. (The Grosvenor usually runs about $110.00 to $119.00 a night)

[Guest DevonSFescort]

The Hyatt Regency in the Union Square East/Embarcadero zone is a 4-star hotel that has frequently been coming up on Priceline for between $47 and $60 a night. Other bargains on 4-stars people have scored include the Grand Hyatt in the same zone for $53, the Westin St. Francis in the same zone for $65, the Park Hyatt in the same zone for $60 and the Marriott in the South of Market zone for $60. These are all great hotels.

 

How do I know all this? Because of http://www.biddingfortravel.com -- a site HooBoy turned me on to awhile back which is a great resource for travelers. It's a message board like this one where people go and post their winning bids on Priceline and how they got them. It's saved me a ton of money wherever I've traveled this year and I've been very happy with the hotels I've gotten. They also post lists which break down which hotels are in which zones at which star levels. You need to read the Hotel FAQ before going on Priceline and bidding, but it's well worth it.

 

One suggestion: I would NOT pick the Downtown/Union Square West zone, because although there are some nice hotels to be found there, a few of them are actually located in the skanky part of town which borders Union Square on the west side. Also the Hilton is one of the hotels in that zone and it's really only so-so. Stay in either the Union Square East/Embarcadero zone or the South of Market zone and you'll pretty much be assured of getting a great 4-star very near public transportation -- no need to rent a car while you're in SF, where parking is a bitch -- and unless you happen to pick a weekend when SF is flooded with travelers (not likely) you should get a good deal.

 

I'd also not stay near Fisherman's Wharf because it's just way too touristy and inconvenient to the rest of the city.

 

You might be tempted to forego Priceline so you can stay in the Castro. Unless it is extremely important to you to do so I wouldn't recommend it. Beck's Motor Inn is pretty much the main hotel there apart from some bed-and-breakfasts and it's really pretty dumpy and will cost you more than you'd pay for something really nice on Priceline. If you stay in the Union Square East/Embarcadero zone or the South of Market zone, you'll be a 5-10 minute subway ride away from the Castro and in much nicer digs for entertaining clients. The South of Market zone is a little closer to the nightlife in the City, in case that's of interest to you.

 

Good luck and have fun in SF!

[Guest]

I would absolutely second everything Devon said. I live not far from SF. I have to take an exam during the week in mid-July at the SF Marriott. The best price I could find on the web was $200/night. Our group did get a discounted rate: $170/night. I booked my room through Priceline and got my room for $60/night (that's $60, not $160). In browsing biddingfortravel.com, the SF Marriott seems to be the hotel which comes up most frequently for the "South of Market" zone. It's two steps from the metro or BART. It's also within easy walking distance of Union Square, the cable cars, and even Chinatown. On the metro, it's a fast trip into the Castro. The South of Market gay clubs are also within walking distance of the Marriott. There's even a direct trolly line from that hotel to Fisherman's Wharf (or you could take the Cable Cars or the 30 Stockton bus). Finally, the SF Marriott is truly rated 4-Diamonds by AAA (not all of Priceline's "4*" properties are actually rated 4-Diamonds by AAA).

So my advice to you is to log onto http://www.biddingfortravel.com, read their FAQ for hotels, then bid $60 for a 4* in the South of Market. If rejected, use your free rebids by $5 per free rebid. I think that the SF Marriott is an ideal hotel for a gay trip to SF. And the other Priceline 4* hotels also seem like they're in good locations as well.

[DaninWA]

I can second Best Western Americana. Nice hotel, friendly staff and, if you have a car, parking is free for guests. You should be able to get a pretty good deal on Expedia.com.

 

Dan

[Flower]

[font color="green"

]I go to SF often and deal with Orbitz.com or Expedia simply because it's quick and convenient, so if you have the time, Priceline probably gives you better prices. I always find the Argent and the Serrano for around $99 night and both very close to Union Square--The Serrano right in the theater district and near one of my favorite restaraunts :+ Although west of Union Square, the neighborhood is fine and I've walked around there late at night often, coming home from a play or movies.

 

Both are great hotels in my opinion, but I have tended toward the Serrano more recently since they have high speed internet and the Argent only the older modem ports--this may be a big consideration to you if you're going to be working. The Argent has King beds or doubles while the Serrano has some Kings, but mostly Queens

 

There is a lot to see and do there, so let me know if you need a tour guide :7

[Guest TwinPeaks]

I totally agree with Devon.....the Hyatt is nice....the Hilton is ok....only if you turn right when you leave. Becks MotorLodge is really nothing more then a bathhouse, but close to everything. The downtown hotels are no more than a 15 minute MUNI ride away from the Castro

[Guest TwinPeaks]

Forgot to say, bring a jacket..it gets quite cool and foggy here at night in July. So unlike Dallas!

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Priceline for S.F.

 

Unless you WANT to know which property you are getting, I totally agree with Devon and Unicorn. I used to live in San Francisco and I have gone there to "work" five time in the last nine months. The two times I tried Hot Wire I was unhappy with the experience, especially if you or your partner want an in-hotel gym to work out in.

 

The hotel market in Union Square and the financial district are both still very soft, but if you are going for longer than a weekend, you are going to get better rates in Union Square. There is also more people watching to do at night, more places to eat, etc. I also recommend ANYONE going to SF for more than a few days to go to STBS (or City Hall) and purchase the traveler's Fast Pass, which gives you unlimited travel within the bus system, including the subway, for a set price.

 

I am doing the same thing in New York now and did the same thing in D.C., and the convenience factor cannot be underestimated.

 

If you have any more questions, I am sure Devon will respond to a private message and I definitely will do so. I would also strongly recommend that you send the Bay Area Reporter a designed TIFF file advertising if you are using a display ad there, as the production quality (as Lucky and others have pointed out here) is very bad.

 

Hot Wire may be very good in other cities but I will never again try it nor bother paying the extra fees for Expedia, Orbitz, et. al.

 

On the otherhand, if you want to support Hoo Boy and this site, you should consider the link for travel on here.

 

 

http://www.gaydar.co.uk/francodisantis

[Guest]

I'm sure a lot of us are curious... what hotel did you end up getting? ;-)

[Uncle Bill]

Why don't you swing through LA on your way home? I'm sure that you could make several new friends here :-)

[+ Axiom2001]

I went on Devon's suggestion and went to Priceline.com to reserve a room in one of SF's 4 star hotels on June 2. I set my price but unfortunately clicked on a 3 star button; priceline upgraded me since they did not have a 3 in UnionSq East; I'm staying in the Grand Hyattt-- a rather pleasant venue.

 

The only thing about both Priceline and Hotline-- that could be a downer is that you don't know what you're getting until after you're charged. Last summer I made an airline reservation via Hotmail for KCMO and wound up NOT using it, for the flight was from San Jose to Minneapolis and back to Kansas City, Mo. Sometimes it's a gamble. But in the majority of bookings via Hotmail.com-- I've been pleased with the $$$$'s saved for lodging and for car rentals.

[Guest HDTV267]

I'm not really sure why everyone always rips Becks. Yeah, you can find something cheaper at time on Priceline. I got the Hotel Rex when I stayed back in Feb for $65 a night, but the room wasn't all that big, even with an upgrade.

 

I see that certain hotels are available occasionally on Priceline, but there's no guarantees there.

 

I like Becks. I like the location, I like the size of the rooms, I like the frig. I like the closet space, I like the bed, I like that perhaps my room was used to film a Treasure Island Media production, I like the people who run the place. I like the tv selection. i like i can unhook the tv and hook up a vcr to watch porn. i like being able to run across the street to Peet's and grab a cup.i like being able to go to Capri and grab a pizza.

 

So, thats my story.. oh sorry.

 

But i like becks and will be back when i come back next year!

[DaninWA]

RE: Priceline for S.F.

 

Franco,

 

I must be going blind because I don't see a link for travel on this site.

 

Dan

[Guest tomhoustn]

I used Priceline to book San Francisco accomadations this Memorial Day weekend. I included the area called Cathedral Hill even though I'd never heard of it. Turns out there's a reason it not in the travelbooks. My offer 45$ per night was swiftly accepted by a hotel called the Cathedral Hill, perhaps the only Priceline Hotel in that zone. Now don't get me wrong it was fine, if you just want a place to sleep while visiting the city, but it was a little embarassing get out of the airport van there in front of people going to the Hyatt and what not. Even a homeless guy outside told me he thought only students stayed there. As to the neighborhood it very centrally located, but in a homeless people criticing your accomodations kinda way.

p.s.- it is cold for us Texans there, I left Houston where it had been in th 90's all week to fine San Francisco on the first weekend of summer still waiting for Spring. I had to buy some warm clothes just to get through the weekend.

P.S.S.- One more thing about the Catherdral Hill area, if you are interested at all in Modern Architecture then St. Mary's Cathedral by Pier Nervi is well worth a visit.