Lodging

It's possible to visit San Francisco on a family-friendly budget.

San Francisco is a great family travel destination, but to be totally honest – it’s a pretty spendy city. Here are a few ideas to stretch your vacation budget while still getting the most out of the City by the Bay.

• Look for hotel rooms or suites with a kitchenette. This enables you to eat breakfast in the room, pack snacks for the rest of the day or have a light dinner “at home” some nights. If you can’t get a kitchenette, try for a room with a refrigerator and microwave. Call ahead, some places will furnish them even if they don’t come standard.
• Buy a MUNI passport. San Francisco is served by a network of public transportation referred to as Muni. This includes buses, underground trains, streetcars, and the legendary cable cars. Visit www.sfmuni.com for routes and schedules or check out this handy website http://transit.511.org. Mastering MUNI for your stay will save cash and show give you a glimpse of real San Francisco. And we all know littel kids love streetcars and trains…
• Don’t rent a car unless you are going out of the city. Parking is notoriously hellish in SF and can be expensive and/or inconvenient. Some meters downtown and near some of the popular toursist destinations need to be fed every twenty minutes. That’s a hassle. And if there is one branch of Frisco government that is rabidly efficient, it is the Department of Parking and Traffic. Don’t risk it. you will get a ticket.
• Golden Gate Park. Even if you don’t avail yourself of the world-class museums in GG Park (the DeYoung and the California Academy of Sciences), this vast 1,000 acre playground is great for families. The Koret Children’s Quarter is a spanking new playground with various types of equipment for multiple ages, including a concrete slide built into the hillside for sliding fast on cardboar. The vintage carousel delights little ones. The Strybing Arboretum nearby is a fascinating botanical garden. Then there is Stow Lake where you can rent a paddle boat or climb to the top of Strawberry Hill. Lots of open space provides space to throw around a baseball or kick a soccer ball. And don’t forget to visit the herd of buffalo — yep, that’s right buffalo –  that live in the northwestern corner of the park.

Burritos are filling and cheap.

Burritos. They are fresh, delicious, ubiquitous, made to order, travel well in their foil wraps, oh, so filling and cheap. San Francisco has tons of taquerias, with the biggest concentration being in the Mission district. But you can find burritos all over town these days.

Photos by Lisa Dion

The 1920's lodge at Camp Richardson Resort.

Nature just seems larger up here. Tall trees. Mammoth mountains. And of course — big, beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Sprawling Camp Richardson fits right in. With 28 rooms in the lodge, 40 cabins, a seven-room inn, 300 campsites, a general store, two restaurants, a cafe/confectioner, a sport equipment rental center, and, don’t forget, the ice cream parlor.

This bustling metropolis in the woods is not for those seeking a quiet retreat in nature. Last weekend the place was mobbed with throngs of folks that appeared to be having the time of their lives.

A live band played classic rock tunes to a deck packed full of revelers and beyond on the beach you’d be hard pressed to find room to lay down a blanket.

The spacious cabins offer full kitchens.

The camp was built around the 1920’s lodge on 80 acres of waterfront land. Accommodations at the lodge are pretty spartan — cabins are roomier and have fireplaces or woodstoves and full kitchens. The Beachside Inn offers more amenities and is closer to the lake/action. I would stay far, far from the campsite, though. The sites are really jammed in, offering no privacy and plenty of noise.

There is a definite family vibe here. Kids eating ice cream, grandparents kicking back on Adirondack chairs, and whole families biking together on the excellent bike trail that runs right through the resort. Camp Richardson is great option for large groups and extended families. There are also organized activities for kids.

There is plenty to do from horseback riding and rock climbing to renting jets skis and kayaks. In winter, this is the place for cross-country skiing and sleigh rides.

If you visit, a stop at the ice cream parlor is a mandatory excursion, but be warned — the portions are as big as nature in Tahoe. Stick with a kids’ small…

A crowd of beachgoers at the marina.

Camp Richardson Resort

1900 Jameson Beach Road

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158

(800) 544-1801

Photo credit: Lisa Dion

The Seaside Inn is home to a British pub and looks out over Nantucket Sound.

Just a block from the homeaway.com cottage my family and i rented last month is the Seaside Inn, a beachfront hotel in Falmouth Heights.

The attractive shingle building with a landscaped courtyard and decks that overlook the Nantucket Sound caught my eye.

While having our own six-bedroom rental home was great, I wondered whether it wouldn’t be better to have crisp linens made up for us daily while we were out and about and a private place to retreat to if being surrounded by family got to be overwhelming.

Plus the Seaside Inn was slightly closer to the beach than our rental home. The annual Falmouth Road Race ends at its doorstep and it is also a front-row seat to the Cape Cod Marathon.

And they have a nice pub on the premises. Less then stellar weather caused us to spend a fair amount of the British Beer Company. It is the perfect English pub, a cozy fire on the hearth to stave of the chill outside and windows facing the windswept beach. I sampled a good clam chowder one night, a comforting crock of onion soup the next. Live music draws friendly crowds in the evening, most dressed in something with a Boston Red Sox logo, my family and the staff included.

Falmouth Heights beach is across the street.

Though it is a family inn, The Seaside Inn rooms would have been a little tight for my family of four and the kitchenette, which is great to have when traveling with young children, was super tiny. Staying here would have boosted my pub tab even higher! So drama or no family drama, we were better off in the rental. But, boy, those decks were alluring!

Rates vary by size and type of room (standard, ocean view, and decks), day of the week, and time of year but are still pretty reasonable for the superb location. The lowest rates are January through April and November through December ($59 to $89); May ($79 to $149); June through Labor Day weekend ($144 to $189); and September through October ($109 to $189).

The Seaside Inn

263 Grand Avenue

Falmouth, Ma 02540

(800)-827-1976

Photos by Dan Dion

Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Hotel Wysses Rossli

A train ride away from Lucern, Switzerland, Hotel Wysses Rossli is steeped in tradition. Resting at the foot of the Mythen mountains in the heart of Canton Schwyz, the family-owned hotel was re-built in 1642 by Master Builder Jeremias Meyer after a fire wiped out the Gasthaus zum Rossli. Today, owners Sepp (a well known Swiss folklore musician) and Ida Trutsch take great pride in their historic, four star hotel. Dating back to 1642, the hotel offers 30 rooms ranging from standard to deluxe. The ultra-modern Rossli Suite sleeps six and would be ideal for a family, as it comes with a kitchen and is very spacious.

Room #309

All of the hotel’s rooms are equipped with private bath or shower, cable TV, radio, high speed internet, a safe and direct dial telephone. In addition to complimentary breakfast, the Wysses Rossli Hotel boasts the old-established Wirtschaft under the direction of Head Chef Roger Portmann and the non-smoking Turmstube restaurants. For a very special occasion, the historical wainscot room with its hand-carved wood ceiling is a guaranteed pleasure for an intimate gathering.

Things to see and do in Canton Schwyz include a visit to the Museum of Swiss Charters and a stop at an accordion factory where the regional and handmade Eichhorn Schwyz accordion dates back to 1886. Schwzy is also home to the famed Swiss army knife and a 1870 cow bell manufacturer where the cow bells are still hand-made.

Traveler Tip: While most hotel and restaurant staff in Canton Schwyz speak English, the primary languages spoken in this region are Swiss and German.

Wysses Rossli +41 (0) 41 811 19 22

Am Hauptplatz, CH-6430 Schwyz, Switzerland

Photos by Nancy D. Brown

We arrived late on a Thursday night and decided that watching “30 Rock” was exactly what we needed after the seven-hour drive to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. After watching Liz in her slanket, we started to get ready for bed. I went to wash my face and that’s when I noticed that the trash can was full. I looked at the towel rack, then the bed that confirmed the same thing: Housekeeping had failed to stop by our condo prior to our check in.

We scrouged around the place, finding enough clean sheets and pillowcases to spend the night. In the morning, we called Sea Turtle Getaways, the vacation agency that rented us the place. They apologized then promised to clean the place while we went to the beach.

One good thing about the condo was that it was a five-minute walk to the beach. Hilton Head Island’s beach is hard-packed, great for bike riding and jogging.

After our strolling and sunning, we returned to find a clean apartment. Such a relief.

That night, my aunt went to apply her night cream only to find it missing. And my father’s night bite guard retainer went missing. As did a bottle of wine and other assorted sundries.

We never got to the bottom of the missing items despite several phone calls. I can say this: We were lucky to find a condo on Hilton Head Island that week. I’ve been visiting this island since I was six. It’s manicured grounds and bike paths have always been abuzz with tourists as soon as the weather turns warm.

The location was great. Sea Pines is a wonderful community for families. Renting a bike is essential to get the most out of the area. Harbor Town, a fifteen-minute walk from the condo, is such an adorable, picturesque spot. Just by the lighthouse, kayak rentals are available.

However, the next time we visit, we will not be booking through Sea Turtle Getaways. The condo may have an ideal location, but it’s hard to get comfortable in a bed with dirty sheets.

Photos by Brooke Morton.

The Marina Motel is a garden oasis, tucked away off Lombard Street in the Maina district.

A motel is usually just that — a motel. A low-budget place to park your car and put your head down for the night. There is no shortage of them along the noisy, traffic-choked span of San Francisco’s Lombard Street from Van Ness to Richardson Avenues.

I’ve written about a couple of Lombard Street lodgings, and while the Hotel del Sol is a colorful option (with a pool) and the Edward II is a charming work-in-progress, the Marina Motel is a true standout.

The charming Marina Motel.

The trompe l’oeil murals on the outside drew me into this charming courtyard oasis. Lombard Street is busy and loud, but within protected walls of this family-owned “motor hotel,” is a peaceful place overflowing with flowers — bouganvellia, fuschia, geraniums, poppies, lillies, succulents, and jasmine in terracotta pots, on wrought iron balconies and climbing on vines. In the places that aren’t busting with blooms, delicate murals like the ones outside, depict them. The Marina Motel was built in 1930 by the current owners, grandfather to coincide with the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Forty immaculate rooms range in price from $95 to $299, depending on size and season. Nearly half have good-sized, homey kitchenettes. All have private garages. Family rooms sleep up to five, and dogs are welcome in many of the rooms for an additional $10.

With the garages below, kitchens in most rooms, and little conversation areas, the airy, sun-filled suites and rooms at this Mediterranean bungalow-style motel feel more like little pied-a-terre city apartments then a motor lodge.

Amenities include a coupon for breakfast at Judy’s Cafe, a legendary San Francisco breakfast joint that serves delicious “cowboy-sized” meals.

The Marina location is convenient to the Golden Gate Bridge, Crissy field, the Presidio and great shopping and dining on Chestnut and Union Streets.

On my way out of the office, I noticed a message to staff in all caps on the office white board that said “No Dead Heads.” So, if that’s the way you roll, you might want to leave your musical predilection out of the conversation when reserving your room, but consider yourself warned. And no all-night jams, please.

Photos by Dan Dion

On Saturday, my friends and I heard the most perfect thunder. I started to look at the clouds, but a friend stopped me, telling us that what we just heard was a sonic boom, aka the shuttle reentering the atmosphere. There is a limited number of launches scheduled to occur out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and if you want to take advantage of these opportunities, why not make a beach weekend out of it with the family?

Should you decide you want to watch an upcoming launch, consider staying at The Inn at Cocoa Beach. Located on the beach, it’s just seven minutes from Cape Canaveral. This area is the one of the best viewing spots, and you won’t have to fight and traffic after the event.

The Inn at Cocoa Beach, an ideal spot for viewing shuttle launches

The inn has 50 rooms, many of which have balconies, some even with Jacuzzis. In addition to enjoying freshly baked breakfast, guests are also invited a nightly wine and cheese social.

The inn is on one of Florida's best beaches for watching the shuttle launch

The Inn at Cocoa Beach is also near six golf courses. Nearby tennis courts are also an option. Kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, biking and other sports can all be arranged to help you make the most of the family’s weekend getaway to sunny Florida.

For more details about the bed and breakfast, call 800-343-5307.

Photos courtesy of the Inn at Cocoa Beach.

Tamalpais Motel, where the owner is short on charm.

This is another one for curiosity file.

I pass the Tamalpais Motel every time I’m driving through Marin County going to or from San Francisco. It’s kinda cute — two low terracotta buildings with Spanish tile roofs. The location, though on a very busy highway (101), is in delightful Mill Valley, convenient to the city, Sausalito and the mountain for which it is named.

Last weekend I decided to stop and check it out.

I pulled in and I dour-looking woman strode across the parking lot toward me without expression or greeting. I explained what I do and asked if she had a brochure.

“No.”

OK, then.

I asked if I could see some rooms and she warmed only slightly and showed me a few of the 20 rooms that range in price from $59 to $69 in the low season and $79 to $99 during the rest of the year.

The rooms looked reasonably clean but were dark with dowdy, outdated, plaid bedspreads. All rooms have refrigerators and microwaves, cable television and Wi-Fi. The woman, who turned out to own the property with her family, told me that all the bathrooms had been recently renovated. While two I saw did look nice and shiny. The third could not possibly have been renovated, in fact it looked like it had been shoehorned into a space not meant to be a loo.

A nice feature for families or larger parties traveling together are the four suites with two separate rooms and queen beds in each. One suite has three queen-sized beds.

Though cute from the highway, the Tamalpais is in need of some TLC and a paint job. There is a shabby, cheapness to it. There is also the sense that guests are intruding on this family. They had doors to their rooms open with bikes and lawn chairs spilling out.

Coffee and pastries are offered in the morning or it is a short walk to Strawberry Village with shops, 15 different restaurants from pizza to sushi, a Safeway (with pharmacy) and Starbucks.

The Laurel Inn, San Francisco.

When my brother got married last June, I helped arrange affordable accommodations for the couple’s out-of-town guests.

Most of my family landed at the Hotel del Sol in the Marina, while my brother and the bride’s entourage stayed at the Laurel Inn, close to the ceremony site and the Presidio, where the reception was held.

A mid-century former motor lodge, the Laurel Inn has been gussied up by the Joie de Vivre folks and bears their unmistakable stamp — a fancy paint job, niceties like afternoon lemonade and cookies, attractive and efficient rooms, and a helpful and friendly staff.

Though the bridesmaids seemed underwhelmed by their lodgings, my brother’s suite was colorful and spacious with a view of downtown, a seating area, and a kitchenette.

One nice perk is access to the splashy JCC, an amazing fitness facility across the street for $10.

The location, on the edge of Pacific Heights, can go either way depending on what you’re seeking. It’s not in the middle of any real tourist area, but nearby Sacramento Street has great shopping and some standout and restaurants.

Laurel Village, two blocks a way is convenient for banking, groceries, Peet’s Coffee, Walgreens, Starbucks, a hardware store, Book’s Inc., and several clothing stores. Ella’s across the street has had hungry patrons lining up outside for brunch on the weekend for close to 20 years.

A colorful suite at the Laurel Inn, SF.

A solid option for families, many of the rooms at the LI have kitchenettes and the neighborhood has lots of retail aimed at the shorties — from The Ark, selling only wooden toys to Snippety Crickets, a children’s hair salon to Dottie Doolittle, a high-end baby boutique. The aforementioned JCC also offers childcare. And in the Presidio, a few blocks away is the mack daddy of San Francisco playgrounds.

But I wasn’t at the Laurel Inn to discuss bambinos, I dropped by to take a jittery groom out for a cocktail. Fortunately Swank, the plushy, retro lounge was just downstairs.

The Great Highway Inn, SF

The brochure promises “fax service and a friendly, courteous staff.” Yeah, right. Maybe the fax service.

I entered the office with my very active toddler — no don’t touch, no, come back honey, no stop, please — but was straight-up ignored by the older woman behind the counter, arguing with someone on the phone. It wasn’t until several minutes later, another employee entered the room, and I solicited his help (he didn’t ask). Woman behind the counter never looked up from her conversation even to make eye contact.

The Great Highway Inn is a pretty soulless place. One long beige cinder block of 54 rooms, with a big parking lot. It has lonesome strip mall feel, strange for the city.

What this place does have going for it, is a sweet location. This is the closest lodging you’ll come the windswept beaches and waves of the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. And, it’s one block from the less-traveled area of Golden Gate Park, pristine and dreamy.

The rooms that range from $139 to $159 per night have been recently renovated, smell fresh but not antiseptic and the queen/queen we had was more than adequate. It was large and had a little sitting area, new bathroom, refrigerator and microwave (available on request).

Ladda’s Thai Cuisine (Seaview Restaurant), serving Thai and American food, occupies the space near the office and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner — good option for families. I “yelped” them and the result was above average on the Thai part, less so on the American.

Java Beach Cafe near Ocean Beach in San Francisco.

But, Java Beach, one of my favorite cafes, in a city full of greats, is just two blocks from the hotel. A haven for locals, surfers, beach bums and writers, Java Beach is a great place to sip a pint outside on a sunny afternoon or hole up inside with a latte and a bowl of homemade soup in foggy weather.

The Great Highway Inn is also close to some of the only public (and surprisingly clean) restrooms along the beach and just two miles from the San Francisco Zoo.