We are thrilled that you'll make the trek to San Francisco to be with us at our wedding. We've put thought into your trip and hope this information will make your Fall travels a breeze. Places to Stay Reservations Things to Do Transportation Budget Minding Places to Stay in San Francisco Travel to San Francisco in September can be glorious. The weather is at its best, and the City is alive! Travel to San Francisco in September can also be costly. "Indian Summer" is high tourist season, and hotel reservations can be hard to come by. We strongly encourage you to reserve early! To help you both manage the cost and challenge of finding a hotel, we've arranged that blocks of rooms to be held for our guests. Rather than pick large, could-be-anywhere hotels, we have selected a range of hotels with a small number of rooms at each. Each hotel has individual style and flavor, and range in price from $85 to $205 per night. All of the following hotels are within a short cab ride of The City Club. Note: It is important that you book right away for two reasons: There are a limited number of rooms at each hotel, so booking early will afford you more choices Rooms at the Grant Plaza were released on July 14. All other rooms will be released on August 13. Note: All rooms have now been released, but you may still be able to get a room by calling Hotels To reserve rooms from our room-blocks, click the Make a reservation link, rather than contacting the hotel directly. Grant Plaza Hotel, $85 - no longer available 465 Grant Ave. Basic and tasteful, though a bit more pink than we'd dictate, with small rooms (better be cozy with your bunkmate). However, it is clean, and the location isn't bad, especially at this price. On the edge of Chinatown (a touristy edge, at that), the Grant Plaza Hotel is almost walking distance to The City Club as well as Union Square. Best bet for the budget-minded, but if you can afford a bit more luxury, take the step up. Make a reservation! Hotel Metropolis, $119 (excellent value) Hotel Website 25 Mason Street We can't say enough about this hotel. While located in a slightly gritty block (though nothing a New Yorker would even notice), the urban sophisticate will be amazed at the value of Metropolis' amenities. Modern, hip, and warm, each floor's decor has a different theme: "Tangerine, acid green, ice blue, aluminum: vivid colors and modern materials reflecting the forces of nature." Room design is definitely cool and hip--reminiscent deco. This location boasts a library, replete with an exposed-brick wall and skylight, and sports a tangerine iMac; a holistic wellness/meditation room; and a high-gloss delightful lobby (check out the sleek reception-desk waterfall). Market street is just steps away, providing easy transportation anywhere in the City. Make a reservation! Commodore International, $129 Hotel Website 825 Sutter Street Neo-deco, on the kitschy side of style, with newly remodeled rooms. Retro in that aqua-blue, gold-detail, etched-fishbowl kind of way. Big with the swing-dance, zoot-suit crowd (and good for spying the Eurotrash). Friendly staff. The Red Room (bar) downstairs makes for easy cocktails in an urban scene. Land yourself a red, vinyl banquette, order a retro-chic Citron-Midori Martini, and call it a fabu day, baby. Make a reservation! Kensington Park, $159 Hotel Website 450 Post Street An English charm and medium-size rooms. Clean, beautiful, and elegant. Furnished in Queen Anne antiques ... mahogony armoires, writings desks. Pleasant amenities. Very close to Union Square shopping. Make a reservation! Maxwell Hotel, $165 Junior Suites (excellent value) Hotel Website 386 Geary Street Art Deco and Asian designs, very stylish! The Junior Suites provide more-than-the-standard space for the price, and the details are quite appealing. Again, very close to Union Square and all its offerings. Max's cafe, at street level, has a menu for all palettes and every nosh craving. Make a reservation! Hotel Palomar, $205 12 Fourth Street Exquisite design with a warm, French '30s Deco feel. Lovely details and features (big, room-for-two spa tubs in suites), and amenities (cordless telephones, CD-player stereos, down comforters and feather pillows, terrycloth bathrobes). Walking distance from the Sony Metreon center, SFMOMA, and all the other diversions of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Also, within walking distance of both Union Square and great Market Street shopping. Late breaking recommendation: we had friends just spend a weekend there, and they loved it. Looks do not deceive! Make a reservation! How to decide where to stay? (With all these choices!) Is your goal to spend as little as possible? If you can't stay with a friend or relative, act fast and reserve a room at the Grant Plaza before they run out. If you can handle the step up, you'll love the accomodations at Hotel Metropolis, and the Commodore International is still an option. Are comfort and luxury your goal? Palomar. Even ask for a suite! If they run out of rooms, go for the Maxwell. Somewhere in-between? Read our descriptions, visit their websites, and evaluate the tradeoffs in price and comfort. Or just e-mail Brent (he'll try to be helpful). Things to do We love San Francisco. It's a town you can really walk around in (bring walking shoes). The hotels on this list are all walking distance from many sights, and, in fact, just taking a walk can be a pleasure, especially on a delightful September day. Just be sure to TAKE A NAP before the wedding, since we'll have you up late! Within a short distance of the hotels, you are close to the following districts: Union Square SoMa attractions Chinatown Nob Hill Other sites: Coit Tower Exploratorium/Tactile Dome the Mission South Beach Transportation From the Airport The wedding festivities are readily accessible from San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK), and San Jose (SJC) airports. SFO generally offers the widest range of flight options, and is located just 14 miles from downtown San Francisco. However, the other airports are also served by several major airlines and frequently offer low fares and easy access to San Francisco. In addition, San Jose and Oakland airports tend to be less crowded and seem to be less prone to fog delays. From SFO: Taxi stands are on the lower level, by the yellow columns outside the baggage claim areas (lower level) of all terminals. Fares to downtown San Francisco average about $30 per car. To arrange for limousine service with an operator near the airport, go to the Lodging, Transportation and Attractions Board, located in the baggage claim area (lower level) of each terminal. This option tends to be a little pricey, but may be practical for a larger group or weary travelers looking to splurge on comfort. Shuttle service is also available from outside the baggage claim area (lower level) of each terminal. Companies include Lorrie’s Airporter (415) 334-9000 and SFO Airporter (415) 641-3100 and fares run between $10 and $15 per person. The BART train system offers service from the airport to downtown San Francisco. This option tends to be very economical, but may be a bit complicated for a Bay Area novice. The train does not yet go directly to the airport (wait until 2001 or so), but there is a shuttle bus from the United terminal and the North terminal that runs to the Colma BART station. The shuttle takes about 13 minutes. All train lines from the Colma BART will go to downtown San Francisco. Most of the hotel options we have recommended will be near the Montgomery or Powell street stations. From Oakland: Taxi stands are available outside both terminals. This is a small airport, so you really can’t miss it. A taxi to downtown San Francisco should run about $35 to $45 per car, depending on traffic conditions. Keep in mind that traffic across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco can be very heavy at certain times of day (like Friday evening). There are also shuttle services available from both terminals. A shuttle to downtown San Francisco should run about $20-$25 per person. There is a shuttle bus that runs from both terminals to the Coliseum BART station. The shuttle trip takes about 10 minutes. Take any train that is heading in the direction of San Francisco, Daly City, or Colma. Do not take any train that is heading toward Pittsburgh/Bay Point, Dublin/Pleasanton, Fremont, or Richmond. From San Jose: There are taxis and shuttles available from all terminals. This airport is the farthest from downtown San Francisco, although you don’t need to cross any bridges. A taxi to downtown San Francisco costs about $50 per car, and a shuttle should cost about $30 to $35 per person. Tips for the budget-minded Figure out your plan immediately! Options get narrower and more expensive as time passes. If you can, stay with friends or family. Ideally, you wouldn't stay outside of the City, keeping cabs and public transportation as a better alternative to renting a car (and paying for gas and parking. Stay at the least-expensive hotel we've set aside. It's close enough to keep all of your activities within walking distance or $4 cab rides away.