Where to stay around SF?

Hoping you all can give some suggestions. I’m traveling thru the area next week and will be stopping by SF to visit my brother. SF is like Seattle and full of car break ins and theft.

I’ll need a spot to stay with my family for a night, I am not tied to staying in SF, could be outside of the city but hoping anyone has some suggestions on a good “safe” spot? Bonus points if it’s a hotel with garage parking that a lifted taco can fit in

thanks in advance

 

If I had to…I would stay outside of SF and take Bart into the city for your visit with your brother. There are safer places to park you truck. Pleasanton area might be a good option for you and offer hotels close to the Bart station. Other outlying cities offer the same.

edit: marroitt in Pleasanton doesn’t have covered parking but has always felt pretty secure.

 

thanjs for the suggestion I’ll check that out. Yes for reference, I don’t want to stay in SF, but don’t know the outlying cities well so any suggestions on “safer” cities within 20-30 min drive? If that’s an option

 

I wouldn’t park any vehicle in SF at anytime. The smash and grabs are out of your control there. It’s unfortunate as SF is/was a beautiful city. It doesn’t sound like you brother has room to accommodate your truck. Personally if my only option was driving, I would stay in the Pleasanton/Dublin area and take Bart in. That in itself will be an experience. Now that I think more on it, Bart can suck as well.

 

yeah if I had it my way I wouldn’t even go into the city, but my brother doesn’t have a car and doesn’t have space for us to stay with him. But it’ll just be a quick visit. Appreciate the suggestion , I’ll do some research in that area

 

IMO stay outside SF. It’s a shit hole. Be safe.

 

I wouldn't be stoked to bring my truck to SF but it also really depends on the neighborhood you're going to be in. SF is going through a rough period, but it has also most certainly been rougher than it is right now. People are just a little more sensitive these days (coming from someone that left SF and lives in Marin )

Anyway, if you want another safe bet that's super close to the city, stay north in Marin. From Marin you can take a Ferry into the city or Uber/Lyft. But it really depends on what part of SF your brother lives in for where is most convenient. If he's in the Mission or SOMA, you're better off staying in the East Bay. If he's in the Sunset or Richmond, Marin's a good option.

 

Option 2. Have your brother take Bart and come to you outside of SF.

 

Do a cost comparison before you choose a suburb, you might be surprised.

our go to has been the Hyatt Regency on the Embarcadero. it's fun to stay right down town, the ferry building is across the street with good food and coffee.

you can park fairly cheap next door at the embarcadero center parking (not sure about clearance but I don't remember it being super tight, think its around $35 overnight, safe underground), and just take transit or walk to avoid the car break ins. Bart, muni, cable cars are right there. and you can grab a street car or stroll up the embarcadero to the tourist stuff around pier 39/ Ghirardelli, or the Giants ball park or walk to union square/ mid market shopping or north beach. The hotel is a little dated but an icon of the city and comfortable. even better if you get a room with a balcony looking toward the bay bridge (nice lights, watch the ferries and ice skaters on the plaza below the hotel). It makes the trip more magical for the kids, believe me it will stick with them.

if you stay somewhere like Marin or Richmond it'll be just about as much especially once you add in ferry, parking or bridge costs and it's nothing special.

 

I agree with other folks, just take BART or the ferry into SF. Should be a lot safer and you don't have to deal with the traffic (especially if you visit SF on a weekday).

 

Thems fightin words

 

Stay in marin, airbnbs are pretty cheap and you can drive into the city quick or take the ferry

 

Ha - no offence meant. Obviously Marin is special if you are exploring there, but if your aim is to go to SF staying on highway 101 in a motel just isn't all that awesome. Even splurging for Larkspur or Sausalito.... compared to walking down the embarcadero at night or union square with the holiday activities and lights... just sayin.

btw I live in West Sonoma County and lived in SF for close to a decade... and have lots of love for and have explored Marin extensively.

 

I'm only messing around

 

No matter where you stay, like everywhere else it seems - keep two eyes on that catalytic converter.

Enjoy your visit to SF Bay.

 

Use airnb/vtbo to locate a house/condo with secure parking.

 

The airport near SFO has a bunch of hotels that should be fine. The other, as noted with Airbnb, is good callouts. A lot of the hotels in SF have garages, but depending on your setup, the truck won't make it. San Bruno and Millbrae are close enough to the Bart train. Berkley/Oakland area for Airbnb may not be too bad. I rarely drive my truck up to SF anymore unless I'm picking something up.

 

Stay in Hayward. Nothing to see. Nothing to do. Most likely get bed bugs. Most likely get your truck stolen. BART is close and dangerous. It's a lose/lose anyway you look at it.

 

I wouldn’t park a car I care about in SF over night. Consider staying in wine country, Napa or something. Be more expensive for sure.

Maybe have your brother drive out of SF city limits to meet up, avoid parking in the city.

 

So i'm going to be driving north coming from Malibu and figure perhaps its better to stay somewhere South of SF for that night? I'm just coming into the city for a few hours to get lunch and then driving back to Seattle - any suggestions on cities south of SF that are "decent"