Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part VIII - Other Neighborhoods

To conclude this series on lodging in San Francisco, I'll review a few inns that are not in areas thus far covered.

North Beach, the old Italian section of San Francisco, has a comfortable bed and breakfast, Washington Square Inn, and a quaint small hotel, Hotel Boheme. I recommend both places; although, they are very different in character. The Washington Square Inn is a classic, upscale bed and breakfast. Hotel Boheme is a funky hotel on Columbus Avenue that will remind you of the neighborhood's Beat Era.

Near Alamo Square is the stunning Chateau Tivoli. When you walk in the front door, you will feel as if you are entering the home of one of San Francisco's grand dame's homes; which you are. The inn was built in 1892 as a private residence and at one time was the home of the owner of the Tivoli Opera House. If you stay here, be sure to check out the beautiful Victorian houses on Golden Gate Avenue, including the Seattle Block on the south side of the street.

The Inner Mission is home to Inn San Francisco, another Victorian home that has been painstakingly restored and converted to a bed and breakfast. The inn has some of the friendliest staff around. The neighborhood has a mix of twenty somethings, Latino families, and a few auto shops.

There are more small bed and breakfasts, assorted hotels and motels, and inns scattered about the city. If you want some help with locating lodging that will be the most convenient for your visit to San Francisco, please phone me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

This concludes my series of posts on accommodation in San Francisco. I hope you found it helpful. Again, feel free to get in touch with me if I can be of some help in locating the perfect place for your San Francisco vacation.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part VII - Lombard Street

As you enter San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge, you may find yourself on Lombard Street heading towards downtown. Yes, it's the same street that is called "The Crookedest Street in the World," but here it is a six-lane boulevard. As you drive east on Lombard, you will see a hill directly in front of you. That is Russian Hill and the crooked block of Lombard descends from the summit on the other side.

This busy section of Lombard divides Cow Hollow from the Marina District. Cow Hollow is just south of Lombard Street and got its name from the cows that grazed here many moons ago. Today Cow Hollow is home to restaurants, bars, and upscale boutiques on Union Street. Just north of Lombard is the Marina District. This area was built on landfill and homes fell in the Marina during the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Today Chestnut Street, which is one block north of Lombard, has great restaurants, bars, and shops. Both the Marina District and Cow Hollow are fun to stroll through.

All of this makes Lombard Street a good part of town to stay in; although you are pretty much limited to motels along Lombard and adjacent streets. This is great if you have a car and don't want to pay the $40/night many of the downtown hotels charge for parking. The motels range from strictly budget places to some pretty nice ones, such as Hotel Del Sol.

If you prefer bed and breakfasts, there is at least one in the area -- Union Street Inn -- a quaint B & B in the heart of the Union Street shopping district.

While Lombard Street's motel row does not have the most upscale or charming accommodation in the city, the nearby neighborhoods are fun and parking is cheaper and easier than downtown.

If you are planning a visit to San Francisco and would like some help with lodging, restaurants, and activities, Blue Heron offers custom designed vacations. For more information, call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part VI - Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is tourist central in San Francisco. Locals have a love/hate relationship with it. We value visitors as tourism is our number one industry. Fisherman's Wharf is a rich part of the city's history. But today there are too many tee-shirt and souvenir shops. This is not what San Francisco is about, so we say. As a result, locals tend to avoid the area.

However, Fisherman's Wharf is home to some great sights, especially for children. Ship lovers will enjoy visiting the Hyde Street Pier, home to historic ships, and the Jeremiah O'Brien, a Liberty Ship that participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Kids of all ages will enjoy playing the antique arcade games at the Musee Mechanique. Watch sourdough bread being made at Boudin Cafe and visit its intimate museum on the history of baking bread in San Francisco. Finally, everyone has fun watching the sea lions push and shove each other at Pier 39.

Fisherman's Wharf is a great place to stay if you have young children. They will enjoy all the tourist-related shops and activities in the area. Most of the major chains have properties here: Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Best Western, Marriott, and Radisson. Kimpton has a very nice nautical-themed hotel, the Argonaut.

If you want to feel like you are in a real city, Fisherman's Wharf is not the place to be. But, if you have children, this may be the part of San Francisco that will best suit your needs.

If you want some help planning your vacation in San Francisco, Blue Heron can help you select your hotel, make restaurant reservations, and recommend activities. Get more information on our custom vacations by calling (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or by e-mailing me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part V - SOMA

SOMA (the acronym for South of Market) is the area of San Francisco closest to our convention center, the Moscone Center. This area is also home to some of the city's better restaurants and hottest clubs.

Aside from a few budget hotels, the area mostly includes properties own by the big chains. Marriott is represented by both a Courtyard by Marriott and the San Francisco Marriott. The latter hotel is San Francisco's second largest and can accommodate large meetings in its own convention facilities.

Two five-star properties are located in SOMA. The Four Seasons and St. Regis are both within two blocks of the Moscone Center. The St. Regis is home to the well-reviewed Ame restaurant.

The Palace Hotel, a Starwood property, is the oldest hotel in San Francisco. Founded in 1875 and rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake and fire, the hotel's Garden Court is a beautiful restaurant and a great place for Sunday brunch.

There are also two boutique hotels in the area. Kimpton's Palomar Hotel is a short walk to the convention center and houses the acclaimed Fifth Floor restaurant. The Milano Hotel is located on Fifth Street, next door to the San Francisco Center; home to Nordstrom's, Bloomingdale's, and many other stores.

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco and want some help with your accommodations, dining options, and activities, Blue Heron provides custom designed vacations. For more information, call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part IV - Financial District

The Financial District lies between Union Square and the Embarcadero (waterfront). This district is home to banks, law offices, and many other businesses. On weekdays, this part of San Francisco is bustling. At night and on weekends, the Financial District is pretty quiet.

If you are coming to San Francisco to conduct business in this part of town, there are a few big hotels located in the heart of the Financial District: Omni, Mandarin Oriental, Hyatt Regency, and Le Meridien. These are all well-known international brands. The Mandarin Oriental is probably the most upscale of these and is home to a well-regarded restaurant Silks. On weekends, discounts may be available from these hotels as they tend to attract weekday business travelers.

Just outside of the heart of the Financial District is the Hilton Financial District. This new hotel is across from Portsmouth Square, where the Financial District meets Chinatown.

Just south of the Financial District, along The Embarcadero, are three boutique hotels: Hotel Vitale, Hotel Griffon, and Harbor Court Hotel. The Vitale has a hot bar scene in the Americano Restaurant. All three are close to Steuart Street's restaurant row, which includes Ozumo (Japanese), Boulevard (one of the top rated restaurants in the city), Shanghai 1930 (Chinese with jazz), and Chaya Brasserie (Japanese-French fusion). The Ferry Building, with its Marketplace, is just a block away.

I recommend staying in the Financial District if you are working in the area and proximity to your place of work is a priority. If you are willing to walk a bit, then try one of the hotels along The Embarcadero or in the Union Square area (see previous post). You will find more life in these parts of town after work and on weekends.

If you are planning a trip to San Francisco, let Blue Heron Custom Tours and Travel do all the work for you. We'll make your hotel and restaurant reservations and suggest activities that might be fun for you. For more information, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part III - Union Square

Union Square is the principal shopping district in San Francisco. If you want to be near Saks, Macy's, Nordstrom, Nieman-Marcus, Bloomingdale's, Gump's, and hundreds of other stores, then Union Square is the perfect location for you to base your stay in San Francisco.

Staying in Union Square also lets you easily access the two Powell Street cable car lines and the F-Line streetcars to go to Fisherman's Wharf. The Moscone Center, where most conventions are held, is an easy 10 to 15 minute walk from most Union Square hotels. In fact, it's usually faster to walk to the Moscone Center than to take the shuttle bus that many conventions provide.

Numerous restaurants are close to Union Square ranging from casual lunch spots on Maiden Lane to the highly rated Michael Minna, Farallon, Masa's, and Fleur de Lys.

Hotels can be found in all sizes and at all prices. If you are on a real budget, Hostelling International has a location at 312 Mason Street. The Westin St. Francis has been gracing the west side of Union Square since 1904. Joie de Vivre Hospitality and Kimpton Hotels have a number of boutique hotels near Union Square. One of our favorites is the pet-friendly Hotel Monaco on the corner of Taylor and Geary Streets. You can bring your pet or, if you don't have one, the hotel will provide you with a goldfish.

If you want to be in the center of things, then Union Square is the place for you. If you want to take a San Francisco tour while staying in the city, please call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part II - Nob Hill

Nob Hill is where many of San Francisco's elite had their homes before the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. The Big Four, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, Colis P. Huntington, and Charles Crocker, all lived here. The only surviving pre-1906 structures atop Nob Hill are the Pacific Union Club (formerly the Flood mansion) and the Fairmont Hotel. Both buildings were gutted by the fire, but their shells survived.

Today Nob Hill is home to some of the grand dames of San Francisco hotels. The Fairmont, Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, and Huntington Hotels all sit atop the hill. Just below the Mark Hopkins is The Stanford Court. One block further down the Hill is the Ritz-Carlton. All are luxurious hotels providing top notch service. The Ritz was the top-rated hotel in the recently published Michelin Guide. All of these hotels have many rooms with beautiful views of San Francisco and the Bay.

If you prefer smaller hotels or more modestly priced accommodation, Joie de Vivre Hospitality has three properties on Nob Hill. The Nob Hill Lambourne is just below the summit while the Petite Auberge and White Swan are further down the hill on Bush Street. All are very comfortable and provide a more intimate experience than the large hotels atop the hill.

One of the advantages of staying on Nob Hill is that this is a quiet part of town. You are less likely to be disturbed by street noise here. Also, many rooms have great views. Lastly, you have easy access to all three cable car lines.

The downside of staying Nob Hill is that you are a bit away from San Francisco's sights and activities. While walking TO Chinatown and Union Square is easy, the return trip is a steep climb back up the hill.

If you would like to take a private San Francisco tour that includes a visit to Nob Hill, please call me at (866) 326-4237 or e-mail me by clicking here.

Where to Stay in San Francisco: Part I - Overview

San Francisco is small; approximately 7 miles by 7 miles for a total of 46 square miles. You can walk across the city, from the bay to the ocean, in about three hours. Despite this compactness, San Francisco is quite diverse. Each neighborhood has a unique feel and culture. Choosing the right location for your lodging helps ensure that you will make the most of your visit to San Francisco.

There are a few factors to consider when deciding where you want stay. The principal factor is the purpose of your visit. Whether you are here for pleasure, for business, or to attend a convention will help determine the location that will work best for you.

If you are here for pleasure, what do you want to see and do while you are here? Your answer may help you decide the best part of town for you to stay in.

If you have children, you may want to stay closer to activities they will enjoy.

A car can be a hassle in San Francisco as street parking is tough throughout the city and hotels may charge in excess of $40 per night for parking. Plus public transportation is pretty good and taxis are easily obtained. If you must have a car during your stay in San Francisco, lodging your car needs to be a factor in deciding where you will stay.

Lastly, your budget will determine where you will stay. San Francisco has accommodations ranging from youth hostels to luxurious, five-star hotels.

A hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast can be found in many of San Francisco's neighborhoods. However, lodging is most available in the following parts of San Francisco:

• Nob Hill, where the wealthy folks lived prior to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire;
• Union Square, the principal shopping district in the city;
• Financial District, a great locale if you are here for business;
• South of Market (SOMA), the area closest to the Moscone Center, where most conventions are held; and
• Lombard Street, home to motel row, where many modestly priced motels are located.

In subsequent posts, I will discuss the pros and cons of staying in each of these neighborhoods. I'll finish up this series with some lodging suggestions that are outside of these locales.

If you are planning a visit to San Francisco and want some help in selecting your hotel, restaurants, and activities, Blue Heron can help you. For more information, feel free to call me at (866) 326-4237 (toll free) or e-mail me by clicking here.

Escape to Elk Update

Two years ago, "Rick's Tips," Blue Heron's free, quarterly newsletter of fun things to do in the Bay Area, focused on Elk, California. Elk is located about three hours north of San Francisco and overlooks a spectacular cove on the California Coast.

Recently we returned to Elk and found many things unchanged, along with a few changes. The spot is still lovely -- we had sunny skies and 70 degree weather. There is still little to do in town other than walk on the beach and sit on a chair overlooking the cove and watch the waves crash. Ledford House in Albion still breaks the rule that the better the view, the worse the view. Lisa Geer's food is still delicious. Service is friendly. Watching the sun slowly set while nursing a glass of wine is an experience that can't be beat.

Sandpiper House Inn appears to have gone out of business, at least temporarily house. Griffin House Inn has remodeled its cottages.

Mendocino, the coastside village about 30 minutes north of Elk, still has some interesting shops and galleries. There were a few newcomers, but many of the shops have been there for as long as we can remember.

The Point Cabrillo Lighthouse, 2 miles north of Mendocino, has been restored and is open to the public daily from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. A bed and breakfast will open any day in one of the restored lightkeeper houses.

If you are interested in a custom-designed vacation along the spectacular Sonoma and Mendocino coasts, call (866) 326-4237 (toll free). I would be pleased to work with you to plan a vacation that you are sure to enjoy.