Hotels/Motels in SF

[BarTopDancer]

I am looking for a "inexpensive" but safe hotel or motel in San Francisco.

Somewhere near fun stuff to do where we would feel safe driving or taking a cab back to late at night.

Thank you

[Strangler Lewis]

Define safe. Define inexpensive. The Hyatt Union Square typically has internet specials for the mid $100s. The Rex Hotel in the classy west-of-Tenderloin area on Sutter Street is neat. I've never stayed there, but I've gone to parties in the bar. I checked rates there recently, and I think it's mid 100s. It's an old style building, so you won't have much of a view once you're in for the night. There are a bunch of other hotels on Sutter as well that might fit the bill.

[Snowflake]

When are you coming and I presume with driving you will need parking, right?

[Alex]

Yeah, need more detailed definitions of safe and cheap. If you'll have a car you can also consider places nearer the airport or over in Emeryville. Drive into the city, park all day, and then be back at the hotel in those locations in 20 minutes.

How long will it be for? If at least a few nights you might consider an apartment rental. I have a friend couple that spends about one long weekend in the city per month and they've found a very nice apartment in North Beach that they can use for about $80-$90 a night. If you'd be interested in that kind of thing I could try to see if it would be available.

[BarTopDancer]

Safe as in we won't get shot/mugged/otherwise hurt. There's bad areas of every city, we don't want to stay in the bad area of SF.

Looking at the 26th-28th of Dec. Alex, that would be great if you could get that information for me.

We're looking at driving and flying. Whatever will end up being cheaper (flying = cabs, driving = parking).

[Not Afraid]

flying = BART

[Snowflake]

flying = cabs or buy a 3 day muni pass which will get you on BART (in the city) and all MUNI or Cable Cars. It's reasonable.

Heck, I'd love to have Alex's tip on an apartment in North Beach for a weekend rental. Keep in mind though, parking in North Beach is a b*tch, so if you go that route, try not to have the car.

heck, if my roomate were not coming back on the 25th, you could stay with me, no problem. But now I've got a full house again.

[Alex]

Well, one thing to keep in mind about San Francisco is that it really isn't that big. At least in areas near downtown the bad parts and the good parts are intermingled pretty well and are frequently nearly indistinguishable in the middle of the night.

I'll ask about that apartment. But I'm guessing that Christmas week you aren't going to find much in the way of "cheap" for hotels.

[Strangler Lewis]

I'm guessing--just guessing--that, however, frugal it might be, suggesting that her party drive back to Oakland, Emeryville or San Bruno in the wee hours will not be the safe, socially responsible or legal alternative.

[Alex]

Why wouldn't it be safe? I do it all the time (because I live in the East Bay). Not sure why it would be illegal.

Obviously if the drivers will be drinking that's a problem but then driving in the city back to a hotel would be just as bad.

Depending on where you're parking in relation to where you're driving back to, going to Emeryville would only be about 10 minutes more driving. Not the perfectly green way to go but also not a huge additional burden considering how much driving/flying was done to get them there.

It's also not a solution I would strongly recommend, but depending on how big a concern price/sketchiness of neighborhood is, I find it is an option that some people like.