Consider Finding a Residential Home and other San Francisco, CA Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

To avoid the usual hotel suite, consider a vacation rental or bed & breakfast flat, particularly if you are staying for more than just a few days. Craig's List is a good place to start, although it's important to read carefully about the location. Take the address and put it into Google or Mapquest maps. There are also bed & breakfast hotel reservation websites for San Francisco that can be found by using Google. I provide an example here. I recommend trying to find a place in a neighborhood away from downtown. Finding a place with a view is always a bonus, but one that is near a Muni transit line is a must. So, compare the location with the MUNI website information. Many comfortable and classic old buildings are available for short term rent or vacation rental within the residential neighborhoods. Since San Francisco is so compact and easy to walk or ride the bus, don't be too concerned about being so far away from downtown. I would personally avoid the foggy Sunset district, although some bargains may be found here, and I am similarly less disposed to the Crocker-Amazon or Bayview neighborhoods to the south and east of the Outer Mission District. If you aren't sure, contact me for more specific advice.


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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: about average

Website: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/vac/
Other Contact: http://www.bbsf.com/

The WorldMark Club hotels have a reputation for being self-contained resorts located far from where the traditional action would be. This is not the case with the 590 Bush Street (corner of Stockton) Wyndham Hotel, which is the newly renovated 9 story classic old Juliana Hotel building. The studio suites are actually sizeable enough, and ours had a good view across the city. Right above the Stockton Tunnel, Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and Nob Hill are all within easy walking distance. TV, refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker are all part of the suite. The rooms are well kept and the beds comfortable. The downside is that only WorldMark Club members may have access to this hotel. But, considering the patrons I saw coming and going, I'd e-mail or telephone the manager and ask for a rate even if you aren't member. This should be a budget minded hotel, and it's in a great location.


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Theme: Hotel

Phone: 415-248-2800
Address: 590 Bush Street
Website: www.worldmarktheclub.com
Other Contact: todd.caniglia@wyndhamvo.com

Unique Qualities: Among the renovated boutique hotels in town is the newly created Orchard Hotel, in the lobby of which is located a restaurant where we dined--Roots. I noticed right away though that the hotel decorations were made from recycled or sustainably produced materials, such as bamboo, hemp, etc. In fact, the following is found at the hotel website: Welcome to San Francisco’s newest and ‘greenest’ hotel – the Orchard Garden Hotel! Newly built in the heart of San Francisco, the Orchard Garden Hotel is California’s first generation of truly ‘green’ hotels – the only hotel built to the nationally accepted standards for green buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – for which we earned a coveted “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” (LEED®) certification. When we earned this award in June, 2007, the Orchard Garden was only the third hotel in the U.S. and the fourth hotel in the world with this certification.* Thus, the building is not only green in construction, but also was renovated with energy savings in mind. Each well insulated and sound proofed room has not only recycling bins, but free wifi and an ipod docking station as well. The quality of this hotel is very apparent, and I expect that the service is very good too. I have no idea about prices or anything, so check out the website and contact the hotel for this information.

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Theme: Hotel

Phone: 888-717-2881
Address: 466 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
Directions: 466 Bush, near Grant Avenue. One block from Union Square; half block from entrance to Chinatown.
Website: http://www.theorchardgardenhotel.com/index.php
Other Contact: 415-399-9807