Seven no-nonsense hotels in San Francisco

It is no secret to Bay Area residents that San Francisco gets its best weather in September and October. It's the best time to enjoy the city before the rainy season starts and without so much of the chilly fog that typifies San Francisco summers.

But if you are thinking of visiting and staying overnight, brace yourself for sticker shock. The resurgence of the high tech industry has translated into even more demand on hotel rooms, and that of course means higher prices.

But there are some strategies to save money without having to stay in a dump.

The first and obvious thing to keep in mind is that the price of a hotel room goes up with demand, and that demand is influenced most by the season and conventions. Some hotels use software programs that automatically jack up the price with demand and lower room rates during slower times.

The summer through October is the busiest overall time for leisure travelers. But if you hold out until December and early January, you can grab some great bargains. If you are in easy driving distance of San Francisco, you have a big advantage over someone who has to fly in and book weeks in advance. You can wait until good winter weather is forecast in the city and enjoy both low hotel rates and sunshine.

The airbnb home-sharing service is another strategy to save money, but the price of rooms also depends on supply. Airbnb is not as reasonable as it was a couple of years ago before hosts began charging the standard 14% occupancy tax charged by hotels in the city.

Parking scarce

Most Airbnb rentals do not include parking, and street parking in most San Francisco neighborhoods is scarce. Many parts of the city have residential parking that allows only two-hour parking for nonresidents.

When choosing a hotel, make sure to ask about parking. You can get by without a car in San Francisco, but you will need someplace affordable to park when you arrive. Downtown hotel parking rates start at about $50 per night, while other hotels offer free or low-cost parking.

Another big variable in San Francisco room rates is location. Where is the best place to stay without having to spend a fortune?

Some of the best bargains are in the Marina, Cow Hollow and Presidio neighborhoods, just south of the Golden Gate Bridge. Hotels there are not known for luxury, but many offer free or cheap parking. Best of all, you are in upscale residential neighborhoods with a lot to do, night and day. And you won't have to worry about running the gauntlet of homeless people who congregate downtown and South of Market.

Hotels in the Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods are within easy walking distance of the Presidio which, if you haven't been there lately, you haven't been there. Since the Army gave it to the National Park Service a little over 20 years ago, the property has been transformed into one of San Francisco's most unique neighborhoods, and it is constantly changing. A new visitors center is under construction now, scheduled to open next year.

Where to look

The Coventry Inn on Lombard Street and its neighboring sister properties - The Chelsea Inn, The Cow Hollow Inn, Cow Hollow Suites and The Lombard Inn - are good economical choices in the Marina District, with rates as low as $108 in December and January (twice that in summer and early fall). The rooms are clean but very basic. If you are sensitive to street noise and are considering hotels on Lombard Street, ask for a room on a high floor or in the back of the property.

Coventry Inn, 1901 Lombard St., (415) 567-1200, Coventrymotorinn.com. Click on “sister properties” for information about the other hotels.

If you want to splurge, consider the Inn at the Presidio (not to be confused with the Presidio Inn), which maintains the buildings' historical character but includes modern amenities. This 22-room boutique property is run by the Presidio Trust, the organization that oversees the former military post, and is the Presidio's only hotel.

The main building, Pershing Hall, dates back to 1903 and used to be bachelor quarters. The four-unit Funston House is a few steps down the street and is often rented out by small groups. Plans are underway to add more rooms in another nearby building.

Rates start about $285 and a complimentary continental buffet breakfast, evening cocktail hour, free passes to the Presidio YMCA and free bicycle rentals. Parking is $8/day.

42 Moraga Ave, (415) 800-7356, innatthepresidio.com.

If you want to stay in the heart of downtown, a couple of good choices are the Orchard Garden Hotel and the Hotel Triton, just a few steps away from one another with rates that start around $200 (Orchard Garden offers a 10 percent discount to California residents). Both are located next to Chinatown's iconic gate over Grant Avenue at Bush Street. They also are a five-minute walk from Union Square and a few more minutes' walk from the Westfield San Francisco Centre, Northern California's largest mall.

The Orchard Garden Hotel is classically designed in natural wood tones by Architecture International. Valet parking is $50 a day. The Hotel Triton is known for bold, bright colors and a quirky, eclectic motif. Valet parking is $58 a day. with self-parking at the nearby White House and Sutter Stockton garages runs $36 a day.

Orchard Garden Hotel, 466 Bush St., (415) 399-9807, theorchardgardenhotel.com.

Hotel Triton, 342 Grant Ave., (415) 394-0500, hoteltriton.com.

The newly remodeled Beck's Motor Lodge is a great find in the Castro District, a good base for exploring all of the city and just a 15-minute walk from Mission Dolores and the Mission neighborhood. Beck's has maintained its kitschy 1950s exterior, but the remodeled interior is as upscale as any downtown hotel. Parking and coffee are free.

The underground Muni Metro station is steps away, as is a stop for the historic streetcar line that goes to Fisherman's Wharf. In December and early winter you could find a room there for as little as $129. 2222 Market St., (415)621-8212, becksmotorlodge.com.

If you want to stay in the city but without the city pollution and noise, the Seal Rock Inn is a good choice. The hotel is across from Sutro Heights Park and just steps from the Cliff House and Ocean Beach. Parking is free, the hotel has a pool, and many rooms have an ocean view.

Muni's 38 Geary bus stops nearby, taking you to the heart of downtown. Rates start at about $140. 545 Point Lobos Ave., (415) 752-8000, sealrockinn.com.

Days Inn San Francisco at the Beach is near the southern end of Ocean Beach, in the city's Sunset District. It is located across the street from the San Francisco Zoo, a short walk from Lake Merced Park and a short drive from San Francisco State University, the adjacent Stonestown shopping center and the popular hang gliding spot at Fort Funston. Rooms start around $145 in December and early winter, about $100 more in summer and fall. Parking is free, with Muni L streetcar service to downtown. 2600 Sloat Blvd., (415) 665-9000, daysinn.com.

Ed Walsh is a San Francisco-based travel writer. Contact him at edwalsh94105@yahoo.com.