I really need SF advice

This will be my first time in California. I am in Monterey Thursday evening after some time by the ocean and really want to stay my last weekend in San Francisco. OK, I am using a hire car and want to leave it parked at a hotel and take a calm look around, I know I will have time to return later in 07.

Any opinions on what driving will be like Friday late afternoon? Where to stay? Dollars are a big deal, I am hoping for advice on somewhere in the best economy/but I like where I stay really clean and safe. I guess $300 a night is too expensive.

All advice received gratefully, thanks.

I really need SF advice

Driving from Monterey - Take Highway 101 to San Francisco.

It will take 3 to 4 hours. Peak work traffic is 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Check to see if availability at The Chancellor - it has a good location on Union Square and reasonable rates, quite safe, and is enjoyed by many who stay there.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60713-d115644-鈥?/a>

Its very easy to get to the main spots you will want to see in San Francisco if staying here.

There are others...but check here first given your criteria you gave.

Have a great trip.

I really need SF advice

northernlassEngland asked for 芦Any opinions on what driving will be like Friday late afternoon?禄 between Monterey and San Francisco.

mini said 芦It will take 3 to 4 hours.禄 Mini is probably correct.

It%26#39;s about 125 miles. It took me 1.8 hours (26.2-28.0) to come home yestermorn. Last Thursday, it took me 2.8 hours (14.2-17.6) but I went via the Jun铆pero Serra Freeway (280) to the San Mateo-Half Moon Bay Highway (92) to Skyline Boulevard (35) to Highway 9, thence the Cabrillo Highway (1). The following URL includes at least two routes:

Driving Directions: SAN FRANCISCO-MONTEREY/CARMEL via Pacifica-Half Moon Bay-Santa Cruz geocities.com/iconoc/Articles/DriveDir.html

I don%26#39;t drive on 101 anymore into San Francisco because of the traffic, especially on the weekend. An easier, and prettier, drive is to exit Hwy 101 south of San Jose to Hwy 280, and take it all the way into San Francisco. It is an 8 lane freeway, running for much of the way through rolling hills. Hwy 101 has much more traffic and bottlenecks which we never run into on 280.

I agree that the Chancellor is a good choice in San Francisco, but if you intend to have the car and park it in a hotel garage you should check what the parking charges will be. They are outrageous in most San Francisco hotels, but I do not remember what the Chancellor charges. Go to hotelres.com, choose the Union Square area, click on';packages'; or ';parking packages';. These packages include parking and sometimes breakfast. Once or twice we were able to get a parking package for the Chancellor. Another hotel which is often listed for parking packages is the Donatello...just a block from the Chancellor.

Since you will have a car, and cost is a concern, you can also consider staying at a motor lodge, because parking will be included in the price. Such lodging is not fancy, nor are they ever located in the Union Square area, but many people use them because they are well-located and more economical when you do have a car that needs to be parked.

There are several in the Marina area, along the Lombard Street and Van Ness Avenue corridors.

Try this short list:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60713-i30-k471150鈥?/a>

Thank you so much you SF knowledgeable folk. I am so glad I found this forum and grateful for your posts. If I get more time to spend in the area in the Fall is there the likelihood of fog in SF from mid September?

September is the time when you find the least fog.