O.T. Northern California

While we are not planning to cruise this year, we are planning a
two-week trip of Northern California, from the wine country north of San
Francisco down to L.A. Can anyone recommend any nice hotels in S.F.'s
Fisherman's Wharf area and also in Napa Valley that won't break the
bank? Also, what are my chances of getting good hotels via Priceline?
Thanks in advance.

Karen
Owings Mills, MD

Hi, Karen,

You need to use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to evaluate
Priceline-offered hotels (there will be a San Francisco section, an LA
section, and then some regional California sections to cover Napa and your
trip south to LA). Supplement with http://www.tripadvisor.com This is a
high-priced lodgings area. Consider B 'n Bs (see the third tab on
tripadvisor's hotel listings) or even an apartment if you're staying in the
city at least a week (Google "vacation rental San Francisco"). The key to a
successful visit to San Francisco is being located within a block or two of
a bus stop or BART station. (Ditch the car for the city--parking is very
expensive and there's not a lot of it, so a car doesn't enhance your
enjoyment of the city, it's a hassle.) If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

We just got back from a week in/around San Francisco. If you have any other
questions, it's still fresh on my mind!

Diana Ball
near Houston, TX

Hi Diana,

Thanks so much for your response to my query. I will definitely
research the links you recommended, and will possibly reconsider our
choice of location for lodging in S.F. Since you were recently there,
here is our tentative itinerary. S.F. 4 nights, Napa and vicinity 2
nights, then heading south to Monterey, Carmel, San Simeon, San Luis
Obispo/Pismo Beach, Solvang/Santa Barbara, Los Angeles/Santa Monica
(last 3 nights). We'll be traveling for a total of two weeks. Please
feel free to email me privately with any advice and/or comments. I
appreciate your input and your help.

Karen
Owings Mills, MD


D Ball wrote:
Hi, Karen,

You need to use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to evaluate
Priceline-offered hotels (there will be a San Francisco section, an LA
section, and then some regional California sections to cover Napa and your
trip south to LA). Supplement with http://www.tripadvisor.com This is a
high-priced lodgings area. Consider B 'n Bs (see the third tab on
tripadvisor's hotel listings) or even an apartment if you're staying in the
city at least a week (Google "vacation rental San Francisco"). The key to a
successful visit to San Francisco is being located within a block or two of
a bus stop or BART station. (Ditch the car for the city--parking is very
expensive and there's not a lot of it, so a car doesn't enhance your
enjoyment of the city, it's a hassle.) If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

We just got back from a week in/around San Francisco. If you have any other
questions, it's still fresh on my mind!

Diana Ball
near Houston, TX

Hi Diana,

Thanks so much for your response to my query. I will definitely
research the links you recommended, and will possibly reconsider our
choice of location for lodging in S.F. Since you were recently there,
here is our tentative itinerary. S.F. 4 nights, Napa and vicinity 2
nights, then heading south to Monterey, Carmel, San Simeon, San Luis
Obispo/Pismo Beach, Solvang/Santa Barbara, Los Angeles/Santa Monica
(last 3 nights). We'll be traveling for a total of two weeks. Please
feel free to email me privately with any advice and/or comments. I
appreciate your input and your help.

Karen
Owings Mills, MD


D Ball wrote:
Hi, Karen,

You need to use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to evaluate
Priceline-offered hotels (there will be a San Francisco section, an LA
section, and then some regional California sections to cover Napa and your
trip south to LA). Supplement with http://www.tripadvisor.com This is a
high-priced lodgings area. Consider B 'n Bs (see the third tab on
tripadvisor's hotel listings) or even an apartment if you're staying in the
city at least a week (Google "vacation rental San Francisco"). The key to a
successful visit to San Francisco is being located within a block or two of
a bus stop or BART station. (Ditch the car for the city--parking is very
expensive and there's not a lot of it, so a car doesn't enhance your
enjoyment of the city, it's a hassle.) If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

We just got back from a week in/around San Francisco. If you have any other
questions, it's still fresh on my mind!

Diana Ball
near Houston, TX

Diana,

I forgot to ask you--where did you stay in S.F.? Thanks!

Karen
Owings Mills, MD



D Ball wrote:
Hi, Karen,

You need to use http://www.biddingfortravel.com to evaluate
Priceline-offered hotels (there will be a San Francisco section, an LA
section, and then some regional California sections to cover Napa and your
trip south to LA). Supplement with http://www.tripadvisor.com This is a
high-priced lodgings area. Consider B 'n Bs (see the third tab on
tripadvisor's hotel listings) or even an apartment if you're staying in the
city at least a week (Google "vacation rental San Francisco"). The key to a
successful visit to San Francisco is being located within a block or two of
a bus stop or BART station. (Ditch the car for the city--parking is very
expensive and there's not a lot of it, so a car doesn't enhance your
enjoyment of the city, it's a hassle.) If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

We just got back from a week in/around San Francisco. If you have any other
questions, it's still fresh on my mind!

Diana Ball
near Houston, TX

In article , D Ball
wrote:

If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

In that vein I would like to recomend a small boutique hotel in North
Beach. Wonderfull Italian neighborhood between Fishermens Wharf and
Chinatown. The hotel is called The Hotel Boheme.

--
Charles

In article , D Ball
wrote:

If you have no particular reason for
choosing Fisherman's Wharf, I would spend some time reading about the
different neighborhoods and considering others. That area is very touristy,
thus pricey, and honestly, after you do the few "obligatory" sites in the
immediate vicinity, I think you will be done with the wharf and find it less
conveniently located for your other interests. Then again, maybe not?! My
opinion only, but other parts of San Francisco are far more pleasant and
feature restaurants and other venues aimed at the locals.

In that vein I would like to recomend a small boutique hotel in North
Beach. Wonderfull Italian neighborhood between Fishermens Wharf and
Chinatown. The hotel is called The Hotel Boheme.

--
Charles

Karen,

Charles made a very nice lodging recommendation for SF (see below). The
North Beach neighborhood is nice because it's a great mix of residential &
commercial. The street the hotel is located on is a major bus thoroughfare,
so the hotel would be well located for public transport. (Everyone does the
bus in SF. The BART's great, but doesn't cover the city like the Metro in
DC.) The reviews on tripadvisor & Frommer's are good. It reminds me of some
of the Joie de Vivre properties I had checked out, see here for more ideas:
http://www.jdvhospitality.com/

You asked where we stayed--Hyatt San Francisco on the Embarcadero, but only
because we were there in part for a conference. Built in the early 70s, it
is noted for its exterior & interior architecture (a John Portman work, this
was the first of the signature Hyatt atriums, it is supposedly the largest
to this day?). The rooms are getting a little tired, but are nicely
appointed. We received very attentive service throughout our stay, better
than usual for a conference hotel. The best thing about this hotel is
location, location, location--on bus/street car/cable car and BART line with
fast connections to everywhere you want to go + the Ferry Plaza is just
across the street and is a wonderful place for food throughout the week and
the site of the famed Farmers Market every Saturday morning, plus being able
to sit on the waterfront was very appealing to us--we are water people. I
tell you this detail only because it looks like this hotel comes up on
Princeline with some frequency--someone recently reported getting it for $68
in late May/early June, and at that rate, it'd be an awesome deal. In fact,
I just zipped through Priceline's 4-star offerings in the "USE" Union
Square-Embarcadero area, and it looks like they're all pretty nice and going
for some very reasonable bids. This would be a totally urban setting in
contrast to the North Beach area of the hotel Charles suggested.

IMO, I think you'd be happier if you made your hotel decision after you did
your SF research & decided on your sightseeing/activity priorities. Once you
pin them to the map, you might see a concentration that logically suggests a
hotel location. Also, you might prefer urban to the residential/commercial
mix or vice versa.

Karen, I've found it can be dangerous to comment on another's itinerary! I
wouldn't structure my trip the way your tentative itin. is laid out, but
that's because my interests are undoubtedly different than yours. May I
suggest two things that could impact your itin. development: (1) actual
drive time along scenic coast Rd 1 will be longer than you'd normally allow
because it's just slower driving; and (2) unless you have specialized
interests, review carefully the stretch from San Simeon to LA for what it is
that you think will hold your attention--if it were me, I'd take time from
that area and put it elsewhere, e.g., I'd have to schedule half day for the
Muir Woods and a hike up Mt. Tam (north of SF just after you cross the
Golden Gate, easy to hit to/from wine country). Which leads to the question,
when are you going? Seasonal issues can drive how you shape that trip, e.g.,
I, personally, would find the wine country a big yawn in the winter months,
but I'd probably be more interested in strolling the shops in Carmel than I
would in the summer.

This trip to SF we made with kids (teen & pre-teen), so it was a little
different than prior visits. A major highlight was the Exploratorium science
museum--it is not just for kids! If you like that sort of thing, I'd
encourage you to go to their website in advance and learn how to pre-reserve
admission to The Tactile Dome. We were there 3 hours + the 1-hour Tactile
Dome experience, and we agreed we could've returned for 3 more hours. It was
the best science museum I've ever visited, and I've been to many. Another
thing that is becoming popular in many places, perhaps you've already done
it, is Segway tours. My husand and son went on one and couldn't stop raving
about how much fun they had trying out the Segway (the sightseeing was just
an excuse to play with the toy!) http://www.sfelectrictour.com/

I hadn't been to that part of California in several years, so I bought one
fresh guide book, the Moon Handbooks: Northern California. It was a terrific
resource supplemented by 'net research of particular things that piqued my
interest. (I like this series of travel books--but you should read through
some sections in the bookstore, or better, try to check out from the
library, before you buy, as Moon isn't for everyone). It will cover all
parts of your trip in-depth to San Simeon. Frommer's online is a very
practical, user-friendly and efficient source of information, too.

You are welcome to email me if you have questions as you research.

DIana



"Karen Henelde" wrote in message
...
Hi Diana,

Thanks so much for your response to my query. I will definitely research
the links you recommended, and will possibly reconsider our choice of
location for lodging in S.F. Since you were recently there, here is our
tentative itinerary. S.F. 4 nights, Napa and vicinity 2 nights, then
heading south to Monterey, Carmel, San Simeon, San Luis Obispo/Pismo
Beach, Solvang/Santa Barbara, Los Angeles/Santa Monica (last 3 nights).
We'll be traveling for a total of two weeks. Please feel free to email me
privately with any advice and/or comments. I appreciate your input and
your help.

Karen
Owings Mills, MD

Oh, yes, I can! But, since it's almost 1 AM here on the West coast...I
need to get some ZZzzzzzzzzzs. However, let me get back to you at a
more decent hour. I live an hour and half south of SF and really
enjoy going up to the City for a few nights.

Lindsay

Karen wrote:

While we are not planning to cruise this year, we are planning a
two-week trip of Northern California, from the wine country north of
San
Francisco down to L.A. Can anyone recommend any nice hotels in S.F.'s
Fisherman's Wharf area and also in Napa Valley that won't break the
bank? Also, what are my chances of getting good hotels via Priceline?
Thanks in advance.


Karen
Owings Mills, MD

Also, we stay at the Kimpton Group Boutique hotels in SF. They have
done a wonderful job renovating smaller, older hotels into charming
boutiques. I know I said I was going to bed...and I simply MUST...but
we just stayed a couple nights at Monticello Inn. Was also there 4
years ago. We had the Jefferson Suite because our daughter was along. I
enjoy this hotel. Comfy lobby and library area. Close to shopping and
transporation, too. (Kimpton Group). I knew the previous manager of the
Cartwright Hotel which used to be a Kimpton hotel. He gave us great
bargains. I love the way this little hotel is set up with the
comfortable library off the lobby. The rooms aren't that huge, but most
older hotels aren't. It was right off the cable car line and down the
street from Union Square. Close to everything. Galleria Park is also
Kimpton and close to Union Square and the Financial District. All these
hotels have complimentary wine serving in the evening. If you really
wanted to be down on Fisherman's Wharf, consider the new Argonaut
Hotel--used to be an old fruit cannery. Still has some original brick
walls. It's Kimpton's latest. But, I agree...it would be better to stay
away from the Wharf. I really prefer being right in the thick of
things---the downtown/Union Square area. I make that my "base" and from
there, I can feel free to ride the bus, cable cars (I rarely use those
anymore), the antique street cars (F-Line) is what I ride a lot down
Market to the Embarcadero and on to the Wharf. Cheap, too..unlike the
cable cars. You can also ride the F-line the other way to the Castro
District. And, the busses come all the time and will take you anywhere.
I also love to walk. From Union Square you can "trudge" up to Nob Hill
and see the Fairmount Hotel. If you remember the old tv show "Hotel"
this was where it was filmed.

Chinatown is an easy walk from the Union Square area. Take a bus
through North Beach and to Coit Tower. You can climb to the top and
look down at the city and over at Alcatraz.

Well, I am off to bed. 7 AM comes early. I'll talk to you some more
later.

Lindsay