The Herbert Hotel - Powell Street

Looking for good value accommodation for two adults and two children aged 6 and 7 in San Francisco for four nights from May 7th to 11th.

Came across this hotel, at a very good price for two rooms, which would be a bonus for us as most hotels we are sharing with our Grandchildren.

We have read that it is noisy, but we have been offered accommodation on the 7th floor, if this would make a difference.

Is this area of downtown safe?

Would appreciate your comments.

Mal NZ

The Herbert Hotel - Powell Street

This is in a very safe area, just a block or so from Union Square.

The hotel is a small, historic one, which has recently been redecorated It looks quite attractive on the website, which is here, if you have not seen it...I have not stayed there.

http://www.theherberthotel.com/index.html

The noise will be from the clanging of the cable cars which run down Powell Street, on which it is located. We stay in the area often, and usually just keep the windows closed at night. (some people, however, love the sound and think it is part of the charm of the city.) The hotel probably has only 7 floors, but, if not, ask for a room as high as it goes.

I would not hesitate to stay there if you have a good rate.

May is a nice time to be in the city. Have a good trip.

The Herbert Hotel - Powell Street

Also, the TA reviews on this site for 2008 (there are three) are very good.

www.tripadvisor.com/Search鈥?/a>

Thanks for your quick response.

I think we will book this hotel.

We are driving up from Las Vegas and after four nights in San Francisco we are flying to Victoria.

Had thought of dropping off the car on arrival in San Francisco. I have heard that the transportation in SF is great and we would not need a car, is this correct?

While in San Francisco, are there some must do%26#39;s - would appreciate any help with planning our four days.

Thanks

Mal NZ

Yes, drop off the car. you won%26#39;t need it.

Public transit is excellent here. You can buy Muni Passports for unlimited SF transit (including cable cars) at the SF Visitors Center just a block or two away, just below the Powell Street cable car turnaround at Hallidie Plaza. They%26#39;re sold in 1, 3 and 7-day segments.

If you%26#39;ve got a good price, grab the Herbert hotel. The Herbert is value lodging. It%26#39;s in an excellent location, very safe. I noticed recently it had been redone, since it caught my eye while walking up Powell Street. Mind you, these old hotels tend to have small rooms.

As for noise, you want to be away from the front of the hotel. You are right on Powell Street and the cable car line and all the stuff that goes on there, you definitely want to be away from the front. Often times, hotels may only have windows that look out onto the light well, i.e., the narrow space created so that there is some light in the building, but I%26#39;d prefer that to more noise. There%26#39;s no real way to get away from city noise altogether, particularly in older hotels, so keep that in mind. Bring yourself some earplugs for sleeping if this sort of thing bothers you.

We have booked this hotel - seemed a very good price for a two room hotel unit and being in central downtown.

We are in the process of renting the vehicle from Anaheim and drop off in San Francisco.

Where would you suggest we drop the car off, somewhere not too far from the hotel. I know that it depends on the hire company but here we seem to have them all quite close together.

On the 11th May we need to get a plane to Victoria, is the train service convenient to get to the airport and do you know how much it would be?

Is it possible to walk over the Golden Gate Bridge, probably a silly question, as you can not do that here with our Harbour Bridge.

How do most tourist experience your famous bridge?

What will the weather be like in early May?

Appreciate your comments.

Regards

Mal NZ

We have booked this hotel - seemed a very good price for a two room hotel unit and being in central downtown.

We are in the process of renting the vehicle from Anaheim and drop off in San Francisco.

1. Where to drop car: Choose anything with the location description of ';downtown'; or ';Union Square.';

2. You are very close to the ';train service to the airport.'; This is BART. The Powell Street station is about a block or two down Powell Street from your hotel. Allow at least a 35-45 minutes to make the trip. See www.bart.gov to use their trip planner and plug in the stations (Powell Street and San Francisco Int%26#39;l Airport). It will give you the fare ($5.35). Make sure you have small enough bills or be prepared to use two sets of bill changers at the station.

3. It is possible to walk the bridge. Best to use the east side.

Most tourists like to walk it. You can rent bicycles and ride across to Sausalito, then take a ferry back. You need to do watch for car traffic.

4. Weather is lovely. Tempertures usually in the 70s (F)