Need some northern California help!!

[KeithVH]

We're staying on the left coast this year rather than pay ransom to the airlines for the World. Road trip in October from Seattle to Anaheim is no prob. I-5 all the way. But we plan on taking the coast road back and doing the sightseeing bit with the Golden Gate, Redwood Nat'l Forest, Oregon coast, etc.

Our problem is finding a decent hotel somewhere in the neighborhood of San Fran along Route 1 or 101 for our first night stop. We're almost to the point of accepting a Days Inn or Econolodge costing $200/night. But the general reviews, especially for Pacficia or Daly City really make us wonder if we'd still be getting a POS-level room or have to worry about the safety of our car or ourselves. Would Sausilito be a better choice? Still pricey when you considering the HoJon's at DL is $80/night.

Anyone have a good recommendation or other thoughts on this?

 

[SanFrancisco]

If you're interested in staying in San Francisco, check out the Hotel Mark Twain. They're a sponsor of the events I produce and offer a special rate for my "fans". It's clean, simple, and right in Union Square. If you call them and ask for the PEACHES RATE, you'll get a better deal. Here's their site if you're interested:

Hotel Mark Twain

 

[Disneysue]

Trip Advisor

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND going to TripAdvisor.Com to do your Hotel research. It has NEVER failed me. The Hotel's ratings are based ONLY on what people who have actually stayed at the hotel give it. I found a GREAT historic hotel in San Jose less than 5 minutes from the Winchester Mystery House for a little over $100 a night for 2 beds. If your interested in the name its The Sainte Claire Hotel. Anyway, Trip Advisor has never steared me wrong.

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

I stayed at this hotel in Hayward and found it to be a reasonable, clean hotel with new rooms and overall it was a great place I stayed there for a few days before heading to LA.

Here is the site:
http://www.laquintahayward.com/

The interstate is not too far away and it isn't a bad drive to San Francisco.

While your in San Fran check out the Muir woods they were cool and if your interested in history go to the Marin Headlands. A bunch of old coastal military posts up there you can look at. I love history so that was one of my highlights.

If you need anything else I just got back from a trip to Northern Cali that ended at DL so...

 

[ScrapIron]

I'm not sure where you've been looking, but unless you have a need to be in downtown SF, which will be expensive no matter what, you can certainly beat $200 a night on the peninsula near 101. Just on the Holiday Inn website, when I punched in a random Saturday in the SF area for 2 adults and 2 kids (I can only guess) had some options in the $100-125 range, and that's just one brand. Expedia has 2 pages of results for rooms under $135 including Days Inn, HoJo, Fairfield Inn, Extended Stay, Hilton, Clarion, Hyatt.......

I can't think of any event offhand that would drive rates up. There's a big music fest in Golden Gate Park the first October Weekend, but I can't see that affecting rates so much.

A bientot.

 

[KeithVH]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. We've had a small change in plans (middle child has to get back early for work).

BUT WE GOT A STEAL ON AIRFARE (and car rental). Flying into LAX, 3 full park days, then up the PCH to Carmel for a day and night and out of SFO the next afternoon. Airfare, hoppers, hotel, and car only $1,375!!!

31 days and counting . . .

 

[Sassagoula-Rvr]

Wow that's good, when I went I luckily got mine early another person going with us paid almost 300 more for airfare.

The PCH (Pacific Coast Highway??) Is amazing.