I'm taking my girlfriend to San Francisco before school starts back up in august. We've already got a long list of stuff to do. We're thinking about staying in the union square area, considering it's close to lots of things. Does anyone have any recommendations on hotels in that area? I need something kinda cheap (between 100-200$/night) but also needs to be nice and modern.

6/21/2007 2:43:19 PM

Check the San Francisco Craigslist. Under Housing, hit Vacation Rentals.

My wife and I did this in Denver and in Boston. We rented a private house both times for less than we would have paid for a cheap hotel. A lot of people have houses or condos for rent there and they are usually fully furnished.

6/21/2007 2:51:54 PM

^Thanks! It's only for 4 nights though. I'll check it out still.

6/21/2007 2:53:51 PM

Most people just do it by the day anyways. You can get a really good deal if you reserve one a month or so in advance.

6/21/2007 3:05:34 PM

Sweet. I'll check it out. A nice condo uptown would be awesome if i can get it for under 150/night.

6/21/2007 3:31:01 PM

Also, see if you can get tickets to things in advance. If you go to get tickets for Alcatrez on your first day, you'll probably find a ticket available on your last day. Maybe August is better, but last year when I was interning we never were able to show up and get tickets day of...

6/22/2007 1:37:12 AM

Yeah we're defin getting tickets in advance for most things.

6/22/2007 8:24:36 AM

Make sure you get breakfast at Sear's Fine Foods...their swedish pancakes are worth killing for.

Same goes for an In-N-Out burger.

6/22/2007 8:47:51 AM

i hear Alcatrez is a 4 hour tour. im leaving for San Jose tomorrow and I'm planning a trip up to San Fran. wanted to go tour Alcatrez but will not have time to carve out that much time!

6/22/2007 8:53:55 AM

It's not 4 hours, that's only if you do the full audio tour and do some extra walking around after that. Of course, I love history and having watched dozens of hours of documentaries on the History Channel about Alkatrez, I had to spend at least 4 hours on the island. But the boat ride is about 15 minutes and if you do it in the middle of the day, you can catch any boat back at 30 minute intervals.

Also, MAKE SURE you book the right tour through the US Park Service. There are lots of boats which say they are an Alkatrez boat, but they just do a loop around the island and don't dock. So make 100% sure you're getting the tickets from the park service or you will be SOL.

BTW, I don't know what your plan was but don't drive from San Jose. Take the BART, it will be faster and cheaper.

Also, if you're going to be anywhere near East Palo Alto, let me know...the best mexican food I've ever had in my life is there. Just don't go at night, you'll get shot by mexican gangs. I'm not kidding.

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 9:01 AM. Reason : ]

6/22/2007 8:59:19 AM

yeah, we are planning on taking the rail up the san fran.

i kinda wanted to drive across the Golden Gate bridge but just seeing it will be ok

6/22/2007 9:33:18 AM

Alcatraz

I think its a waste to go if you dont do any of the tours. You wont learn anything. It is definitely a few hour type of thing. Couldnt imagine stopping there for 20 min and hopping a boat right after.

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 9:37 AM. Reason : *]

6/22/2007 9:36:14 AM

^Going to do the tour of alcatrz i think. We're flying there from Charlotte, NC. Probably staying in Union Square. We want to go to as much as we can in 5 days. Vineyard tours, Redwoods possibly, aquarium, zoo, Museum of Modern art, and whatever else we find.

6/22/2007 10:05:28 AM

Beware of dirty hippies and don't go down Broadway after dark unless you're looking for hookers.

Also I wouldn't go anywhere near SOMA (south of Market St) for anything. I tried to find a restaurant there and I'm pretty sure I would have been ass raped at gunpoint had it not been noon.

6/22/2007 10:10:04 AM

^alright i'll watch out for dirty dippies and stay out of SOMA.

6/22/2007 10:11:40 AM

if u have time, you should go to Yosemite National Park, too.

Also go to Twin Peaks!! You can see the beautiful view of San Francisco!

6/22/2007 10:53:22 AM

^Oh yeah Yosemite is defin on the list of things to do.

6/22/2007 11:08:26 AM

Quote :

" kinda wanted to drive across the Golden Gate bridge but just seeing it will be ok "

Do it if you can and go eat on the water in Sausalito.. best view of San Francisco you can get from anywhere...

lol.. i worked in the city and went out in almost every area of it after work and never really found it much different than any other city with respect to gays... though I never have been to the castro...

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 1:04 PM. Reason : x]

6/22/2007 1:04:02 PM

Quote :

"i worked in the city and went out in almost every area of it after work and never really found it much different than any other city with respect to gays"

What do "gays" have to do with it?

6/22/2007 1:59:01 PM

Quote :

"Also I wouldn't go anywhere near SOMA (south of Market St) for anything. I tried to find a restaurant there and I'm pretty sure I would have been ass raped at gunpoint had it not been noon"

Was responding to that.

6/22/2007 2:16:47 PM

Quote :

"ass raped at gunpoint had it not been noon"

So you're afraid of the gay community? lol. You're implying you'd get ass raped by a gay guy at gunpoint? Don't you think that's a little closeminded to say that?

6/22/2007 2:29:00 PM

Im pretty sure thats not what was implied at all.

Its seems relatively clear that he was saying that particular section of town would seem dangerous at night. He was using 'ass raped' to describe something un-desireable happening to him if he was there at night, instead of noon.

Thats how I took it anyway. I didnt go to that area when I was there so its possible it is a 'gay' part of town.


[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 2:46 PM. Reason : *]

6/22/2007 2:44:50 PM

^he made a direct reference to gays and not going to soma at night. Scroll up some.

6/22/2007 2:45:55 PM

NyM410 made the reference to gays, not the guy that mentioned 'ass raping'

re-read

6/22/2007 2:47:21 PM

^NyM410 mentioned "gays" in response to what Wolfpacker06 said about soma. He said so by saying

Quote :

"Was responding to that."

.

No big deal, just the reference to gays and ass raped seemed a little offensive. It would be like someone from cali coming here and saying they'd be afriad of getting ass raped by all the rednecks. Just seemed to me like the word "gay" was used in a derogatory way, and if it wasn't i apologize for claiming so.

6/22/2007 2:56:09 PM

Well, SoMa isn't a bad area at all IMO... no big deal though.

6/22/2007 2:56:35 PM

^cool. I think the museum of modern art is north of soma, and we're checking that out.

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 2:58 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2007 2:57:58 PM

^^^

yeah i was just saying i didnt think the original post that contained 'ass raping' was referencing gays in anyway.

NyM410 is definitely a gay-hater though

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 2:58 PM. Reason : *]

6/22/2007 2:58:27 PM

^ oh not good, i've broken a guys nose before for ripping on gay guys. That was in the most extreme of circumstances though. I'm a passive person usually. Just bought the plane tickets, and we're about to reserve a hotel!

[Edited on June 22, 2007 at 3:02 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2007 3:00:39 PM

...my comment was in jest...he doesnt actually hate gay people

6/22/2007 3:03:14 PM

^oh cool. I think as people grow up they become more tolerant of all types of people. It was challenging coming to NC State after growing up in such an open environment.

6/22/2007 3:05:46 PM

I hope you have Napa Valley and Sausalito (plus walking on Golden Gate Bridge) on your to-do list, too.

Damn, I do miss living in the bay area. Don't forget to bring some jackets/sweatshirts.

6/23/2007 1:42:58 PM

^ i second Sausilito (Do the Golden Gate (self) bike tour if you're in shape and have time)

Also try to hit up the haight st/ ashbury st area for some good shopping and sweet thrift stores. And even better Castro the gay district has some of the best clothes for guys at a thrift store EVER!

6/23/2007 1:52:14 PM

^I'm sure we'll check out both. We both love riding bikes, so that's high on the list. Already got the plane tickets, booking the hotel room later tonight.

[Edited on June 26, 2007 at 3:41 PM. Reason : .]

6/26/2007 3:41:32 PM

Just booked the hotel.

http://www.theherberthotel.com/

One Block from Union Square for only 105$/night. Yes I'm still in college with loans to pay off.

^^What kind of bike tour? We found one that's 100$+ which I'm assuming includes the bikes. Should we just rent some bikes and ride around ourselves? Seems like the thing to do in regard to biking in San Fran.

6/26/2007 9:45:50 PM

For the record, I wasn't being duragatory towards gay people...you can substitute beating or mugging in place of ass raping. I was just using ass raping as a hyperbole for a violent attack.

In reality, it's always safe to stay in groups if you're in an unfamiliar city at all times.

6/26/2007 10:33:25 PM

^yeah i got it. Thanks!

6/26/2007 10:47:54 PM