sfntvintx

It sounds to me like Hotwire upgraded the Embassy Suites South San Francisco to 4 stars. I put in my dates and a hotel with those icons came up and the Trip Advisor is a match for Embassy Suites-SSF. A few weeks ago it was coming up 3.5 stars.

Thank you SO much for posting that info. I had been trying to figure out what motel that was. I didn't even consider the Torchlite. It's not on TripAdvisor, though it has 1 older review on Expedia.

Your trip sounds like ours (except for that whole driving up from So Cal thing). We'll be in SF those same dates, and yes, there will most likely be fireworks at Fisherman's Wharf. As far as parking, ugh. We'll have a car also, and I'm researching garages because valet at our hotel is at least $50 a day. Fisherman's Wharf parking is less, although not by much. If you were to stay in a decent place in Cow Hollow/Lombard, they'd have free parking, but you'd be paying about $150 anyway (at least at the ones I checked out for my family of four.) As far as driving up from LA, two days will be plenty, but just a warning. If you're taking the coastal route north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1, be prepared for a Looooooonnngg, windy road. It's truly exhausting. (I mean, it's beautiful, but it takes a *very* long time and gets a little scary.) If you're in a hurry, you may just want to take the coast as far as San Luis Obispo, then go inland on 101 a ways. You could always head back down to the coast to Monterey or Santa Cruz when you're closer to San Jose. Seriously, I wasn't prepared myself for that drive on Highway 1. If you are going to do it, make sure it's not at night. Very scary and not a lot of places to stop. Enjoy your trip, and good luck with the hotel situation!

Correction: I haven't seen Embarcadero come up for 2 adults/2 children lately. (As soon as I sent my other post, two other people posted Embarcadero HW wins. :) )

I've got two kids myself and used to live in SF. I agree that Fisherman's Wharf is good area for kids. (Most natives don't like it because it's so touristy, but I love tourists so I never had a problem with it.) I'm actually going in early July and staying "slightly" south of market at the Westin Market Street. There's stuff for kids in SOMA, but there are some sketchy areas further west up Market/Mission Street. I wouldn't stay in USW, because of its proximity to the Tenderloin, but I'm more paranoid than most. I love the Cow Hollow area (I used to live there), because you can walk everywhere and if you have a car, there's free parking at the "hotels" but there are apparently no decent Hotwire or Priceline deals there. (Decent as in a place I would want to stay.) Last year we paid $145 for a two queen room at a decent inn (non-HW/PL), but that's out of our budget this year. The Embarcadero is nice, albeit quieter than Union Square. I actually prefer the Embarcadero to other places simply for the view and the nice Saturday a.m. Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. It's also easily accessible to the Wharf by streetcar. But haven't seen Embarcadero come up on HW lately.

I've done that for Disneyland and Sacramento with no problem. The Disneyland one I called ahead. In Sacramento, I stayed at a Springhill Suites and a Residence Inn--both have sofabeds, so no problem. I didn't have to "hide" my kids either; just checked them in with us. I wouldn't bid on an area that has hotels that only offer one bed, however (e.g., USE in SF because of the St. Francis). But touristy areas that cater to kids like Disneyland are usually no issue. If I'm concerned about an area, I go through HOTWIRE where you can specify the number of kids.

I've been doing my own research on SFO hotels and based on the number of Trip Advisor reviews (140+) and the fact that Embassy Suites has smoking, this looks like the Sheraton Gateway. Just a guess.

Just to follow up on this, I put my dates in again with 2 adults, 2 kids. A rate of $69 came up with the same icons: Shuttle; fitness; pool; restaurant; business; internet; golf. Trip Advisor review of 3 based on 60 reviews, last reviewed May. That doesn't sound like Embassy Suites, but it doesn't match any Burlingame hotel.

Just one more tip: Always double check the Trip Advisor rating. A hotel with the exact same icons came up about a week ago and I thought, Hey, it's the Embassy Suites. Cool. Then I looked at the Trip Advisor rating and it was rated a 3. I can't remember the number of reviews, but could tell it was definitely NOT the Embassy Suites. Still not sure what hotel it was.

I'd been hemming and hawing about this hotel for a few days now since I first saw it on HOTWIRE. I figured out it was the Westin from this board (thanks!) and the Trip Advisor reviews. The price has gone back and forth from $85 to $93. Today I finally just decided to go with it. I prefer the Embarcadero area, but wasn't sure if it would ever show up. Anyway, it was for 2 adults and 2 children, and it looks like they have two queen beds as opposed to doubles, which is nice. Overall reviews are fine, but there are a few reviews that concern me. Fingers crossed. Amenities: Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Restaurant(s) Business Center High-speed Internet Access Oh, one thing that was puzzling. The confirmation stated I saved only 12 percent (which doesn't seem like much) and that other travel sites listed a rate of $96.85. I couldn't find that rate anywhere. The lowest I found was $114. In any case, $85 seems to be a good price. I *think* I used your HOTWIRE link, but I had so many browsers and windows open I'm not sure.

Happy with this win for my family of four. It's got great reviews and I've stayed at other Marriott properties in the area--Springhill Suites and Residence Inn (both on PRICELINE last year)--and have been happy. Used your PRICELINE link. By the way, this board is great. I'd been following another board for a few years and never wanted to post there for fear of getting "yelled" at. It's much friendlier here and the HOTWIRE info is extremely helpful too. Thanks!

Just an FYI--While I wouldn't bid for a 4-star in USE and USW if I was traveling my kids, I'd be fine bidding in the Embarcadero zone. From what I can tell, all the 4-stars there have rooms with two beds. I did that when I visited SF last December and shared a room with a friend. (I wouldn't do that for USE because of the possibility of getting the St. Francis which often makes you pay an "upgrade" to get two beds. And I'm not comfortable in the USW area, because of its proximity to the Tenderloin.) If you have kids, don't bid 3-star in the Embarcadero because you might get the Harbor Court--which is a nice little hotel in a great location, but the rooms are one-bed and tiny. I'm partial to the Embarcadero because I used to work there and it's very easy to get around (and I love the waterfront and the renovated Ferry Building.)