Budget Hotel Guide for San Francisco, California

While being a tourist in San Francisco is not quiet as expensive as New York City, it is hard to get by without breaking the bank. In this article I will enumerate some great inexpensive hotel options for those of you that aren't looking for the royal treatment (and a few for those who are!).

Hotels in San Francisco vary hugely and rates depend on which area you want to stay. If you are set on staying in Union Square (the heart of San Francisco), you will end up paying MUCH more than if you are flexible. Either way, I will give you a few choices that are reasonably inexpensive. As with all hotels, please scour hotwire.com and hotels.com for the best deals.

Hayes Valley- Hayes Valley, San Francisco is very close to the theatre district of San Francisco- the Opera, Ballet, and Symphony Houses, as well as other theatres, are all within walking distance. Hayes Valley is also right near the government headquarters of San Francisco, or City Center. Hayes Valley has great charm, with a lot of little restaurants and shops, and is within walking distance to the famous Alamo Square (where the "Full House" house is located) and park.

Hayes Valley Inn- 417 Gough Street, San Francisco. 415-431-9131. Rooms are very reasonable here, and pets are allowed with advanced notice. Single rooms are $76-$94, Double rooms range from $84-$105. Continental breakfast is served complimentary.

Inn At the Opera- 333 Fulton Street, San Francisco. 415-255-9551. Rooms are slightly more expensive, ranging from $150-$200 per night. Rooms are located in an old Victorian building and are absolutely beautiful.

Union Square- Union Square is San Francisco's downtown. Much of the dining and upscale shopping takes place here. Union Square is the Financial District, the Embarcadero, Theatre District, and City Hall, but is also the tourist capital of San Francisco. Much of the expensive and ritzy hotels are located here in Union Square, so expect to pay a lot if you want to stay here. Here are a few suggestions.

Four Seasons- 757 Market Street, San Francisco 415-633-3000. Large and beautiful hotel with many amenities. Rooms range from $400-$700.

Grant Hotel- 753 Bush Street, San Francisco. 415-421-7540. Located between Union Square and Chinatown. A very small hotel and not as nice as other more expensive places, but if you just need a place to sleep, it's a great option for you. Rooms are about $70 a night.

North Beach/Telegraph Hill- North Beach is a bit further off from Union Square than Hayes Valley, but it has a charm of its own. Known as Little Italy, it is loaded with restaurants and pubs and is still within walking distance from the heart of San Francisco.

Hotel Boheme- 444 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco. 415-433-9111. Touted as a small and unique hotel, Hotel Boheme is great if you want to stay off the beaten path. Rooms range from $170-$190 and offer free wireless internet.

The San Remo Hotel- 2237 Mason Street, San Francisco. 415-776-8688. This hotel definitely has mixed reviews, but if you're looking to stay in a pretty cheap place ($75-$95) that's not in the busy bustle of downtown, and don't care much about amenities, this is the place for you.

Mission District- The Mission District is a little remote from downtown San Francisco, but it has great charm. Packed full of trendy restaurants, shops, and bars, the Mission where "young" San Franciscans live. Mission is just a hop and a small jump to downtown (only a few stops on the BART). Mission is known for its Latino presence, with tons of Mexican and South American restaurants and produce shops.

The Inn San Francisco- 942 South Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. 415-641-0188. The Inn San Francisco is a mere few blocks from the Mission BART station for easy access to other areas of San Francisco, and is one or two blocks from the main restaurant/bar blocks. Located in an old Victorian mansion, rooms range from $120-$300, depending on the room. With a lovely garden in the back, this is a great hotel if you want to stay outside of downtown.

The Elements Hotel- 2524 Mission Street, San Francisco. 866-327-8407. This hotel has a range of options, from dorm rooms that sleep 4-6 people for $25.00 per person, to private rooms for $29.00 per person. Right on Mission Street, this hotel is right in the middle of the Mission District which is a fun and young area. Only a few blocks from public transportation.

Although this article is about inexpensive hotels,I thought I'd throw in my suggestions to you regarding getting around San Francisco, which is not always easy.

San Francisco public transportation (also called MUNI) is not nearly as complicated as the New York Subway, it is also not quite as expansive. You can, however, get most places in San Francisco through a combination of the light rail, bus, and BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). If you do not want to spend your money on taxi fares which can be very expensive in San Francisco, I would suggest buying the MUNI "passport".

MUNI Passport is good for unlimited rides on Muni and Cable cars (a must for most San Francisco tourists). You can buy MUNI passports that are good for 1 day ($11), 3 days ($18), or 7 days ($24). Individual MUNI rides are $1.50 each ride and cable car rides range between are $5 each ride. Thus, if you are planning on using public transportation to get around in San Francisco, the passport is a great deal. These can be purchased on cable cars and at most MUNI/BART stations.