Luckyglen

First trip to SFO and LAX and would like to know where is the best area to be located and any hotel 4/5 star recommendations

The_Banking_Scot

Hi Lucklyglen,

If you could provide a bit more information as to your potential length of stay in SFO & LAX , brief plan of what you want to see ( esp in LAX) and likely budget then we can give you more detailed advice.

For starters;

SFO- If you stay downtown one way is to take the BART ( transt system) downtown. I like the Hilton San Francisco Hilton ( O'farell street) -close to the cable cars , union square. There are hotels ( Marriott/Hyatt/Sheraton & Hilton around Fishermans Wharf ( for the ferry to Alcatraz, cycling the golden gate bridge and Fishermans Wharf ( bit of a toursit trap)
At LAX I have stayed at the hilton Anaheim suites for Disneyland ( pretty good)

Regards

TBS

fleigle

I lived right in SF for 20 years and am now only 20 miles north.
I, personally, hate all of the tourist crap and much prefer the less-travelled parts of this area
What do you love to do?, how much time do you have?, how many people?
Drop me a PM and I'd be happy to give you some specifics.
f

Wangja

How about the Queen Mary at Longbeach?

I stayed there (just one night) a couple of years and it was highly enjoyable experince. Perhaps a bit far from the airport, but worth the trip.

Luckyglen

Thanks so far for your info I dont really plan ahead for my trips but like 2 go out to good bars and restaurents plus the usual tourist attractions.I also like shopping.
Price for Hotels between $100 to $250 per night

armchairpilot94116

Fisherman's Wharf Hotels: The Argonaut, a San Francisco Kimpton Hotel

Heard good things bout this hotel, but havent stayed in it myself but its in a great location right on fishermans wharf near cable car final stop.

You can take F market street car to Market Street every ten mins (the cable car wait is an hour). And you are right in a great part of town to be in.

ihoharv

All the major hotel chains are situated in SF. For a short visit plan to stay in the central Union Square district - consider Hilton at 333 O'Farrell, Grand Hyatt & Hotel Nikko. Smaller "boutique" hotels also worth a look include any of the Kimpton hotels - I like the Hotel Triton at the Chinatown gates.

Be aware that SF is a very compact city and the "bad" 'hoods are close to the nice ones - stay away from the Tenderloin district to the West of Mason St nr. Union Sq.

Pretty decent nightlife to be found though it's not a late night city - bars must close by 2AM & most close sooner. Not muych to see in the Wharf area but Alcatraz is a nice half-day excursion. North Beach has a decent selection of bars & mostly Italian Restaurants, and it adjoins Chinatown whose best restaurants are generally found on the side streets and don't have English menu's.

Enjoy the weak dollar!

tech9803

LA:
Redondo Beach or Marina Del Rey. Both very desirable locations close to LAX with lots of restaurants but not too big-city-busy. The Portofino in RB is very nice.

Santa Monica, Westwood or Hollywood if the above aren't action-packed enough for you.