Expert: Ernest Tufft - 11/24/2009

Question
Hi Ernest,

I will be in San Francisco with my husband and little boy (3-years old)from december 22 to 25. We won't have a car. What is the best area to stay overnight ? Do you have tips about nice hotels ? Are there specials places to see during christmas period ?

Thank you.

Val

Answer
Since SF is very well serviced by public transportation, you won't have much a problem getting around regardless of where your hotel is located.  My expertise about hotels is frankly limited since I live in the Bay Area, and have stayed only three times in SF hotels.  I do like the location of the Wyndham Resort Hotel, about two blocks from the entrance to Chinatown, but because of the parking structure across the street, I don't recommend this for those without rental car.  Naturally, their are many decent hotels around Union Square, North Beach, and on Nob Hill that will provide spectacular views of the Golden Gate bridge while also giving excellent access to the most tourist part of the city.  But, since I have frequently recommended visiting the city without rental car, I raise my ante, and would look for a smaller hotel, a quaint and quiet place without the view, within one of the neighborhoods, away from the din of downtown excitment.  Find a place a block or so off MUNI train stop or station, perhaps within the Hate or Inner Sunset, close enough to walk to Golden Gate park.  That way, you can get a good quality well priced breakfast or cup of coffee at a more leisure pace, perhaps also get in a morning walk in the park, before heading to your venue of Christmas period activities.  The Inner Sunset at 9th Street is well serviced by N Judah MUNI light rail train that heads directly downtown, but you'll need to do some further research to find a small hotel or B&B in this area.  Another quaint neighborhood with promise in this regard is West Portal, just at the south entrance to the Forest Hill MUNI train tunnel, a neighborhood serviced by the M and L lines, both of which also go direct to downtown within minutes.  But, finding a room in the West Portal district will take careful research.  These neighborhoods are better described with photos at my Virtualtourist.com pages under the username of atufft.  Otherwise, try these teaser example websites to better understand my idea.  These places are no more expensive than standard hotels, especially for an extended stay:
http://circa1870.com/
and this general website for researching a place to stay:
http://www.cabbi.com/search/regions/San%20Francisco/?gclid=CNjf3d7Lr54CFRgbawodI...