Fisherman's
Wharf
Argonaut
Hotel 
Moderate to
Splurge
Housed
in an historic warehouse building, overlooking
San Francisco Bay and the Maritime National Historical
Park, this luxury hotel offers rooms with a nautical
theme. Described as 'family friendly', the hotel
offers kids apple cider to sip while parents enjoy
the evening hosted wine hour, a list of kid-friendly
activites and even a small robe are available,
and the restaurant, called the Blue Mermaid Chowder
House and Bar, has booster seats.
Only
the suites can accommodate 5 people. They have
a king size bed in a bedroom separated by a sliding
door from the living area, which has a pull-out
sofa. A crib or rollaway bed can be added for
an extra fee. Free internet is available if you
sign up for a free membership with the parent
company. Valet parking is very expensive. Check
various sources for the best price for the king
suite room - it varied quite a bit, and the hotel's
expansive website also had specials, including
a page for AAA members. Then call or email the
hotel directly to arrange a crib or rollaway bed
and request the best room price.
Best
Western Tuscan Inn
Moderate to Splurge
Located at Fisherman's
Wharf, this hotel's decor follows an Italian theme.
To reserve a large room for a family of 5, you
need to call the front desk by dialing the hotel
directly, and press 0 - do not choose 'reservations'.
Then, you can check the availability for a family
room suite with 2 double beds and a pull-out sofa,
or a suite with 1 large bed and a pull-out sofa.
These rooms can accommodate a family with 3 children.
The majority of rooms
are non-smoking, and there is an Italian restaurant.
The hotel serves evening hosted wine hour, and
has free internet access for those who sign up
for free membership with the parent company. A
family tour package is offered. Parking is available
but expensive.
Holiday
Inn Fisherman's Wharf
Moderate
My kids and I stayed
at this hotel in August of 2006. Our room was
very clean and quiet. The hotel is so close to
Fisherman's Wharf, we walked there daily. My kids
also jumped in the hotel's outdoor pool every
afternoon or evening. I swam once but the water
was too chilly for me. Another factor keeping
me out of the cool water -- San Francisco is a
breezy place and even if it's mildly hot during
the day, it cools down when that wind blows or
when evening arrives.
Free internet is
available. Underground parking is very expensive.
And there is an on-site restaurant though we never
tried it. We had breakfast at Denny's nearby or
at a local cafe. One night, we walked to Ghirardelli
Square for giant ice cream cones. (Don't bother
taking kids there for fun though - it is full
of pricey art and gourmet shops, though there
is a burger diner and seafood restaurant they
might enjoy for a meal.)
Online reservations
systems and even Holiday Inn's own reservations
line cannot book 5 people in a room. You must
call the front desk (or have the reservations
line representative transfer you) and book directly,
requesting a rollaway bed in a room with two double
beds. Check for price comparisons first.
Columbus
Motor Inn
Moderate
Located between downtown
and the Golden Gate Bridge, this hotel is walking
distance to the Ferry Building. The hotel is 100%
smoke free, and some weekends require a minimum
night stay. Free wireless internet and free covered
parking. The room choices include a 2-bedroom,
1 bath suite, or 2 queen beds plus a loveseat.
Call the hotel to arrange an extra bed.
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Marina
and north area
Hotel
del Sol
Moderate
Located in the Marina
District, just off Lombard St., this hotel is
housed in what was a 50s-style motor lodge. Now
it boasts a few family- and budget-friendly awards
and is painted with bright colors. Children's
films and films set in San Francisco, as well
as beach balls for the outdoor pool may be borrowed.
Fresh cookies are baked daily, and free BBQ is
offered on Friday nights.
The hotel is non-smoking.
Internet access is free, as is parking, and a
complimentary breakfast is included in the room
rate. Two types of rooms can accommodate 5 people.
The Executive Suite is one large room with a king
bed, a pull-open bed, a kitchenette, and a rollaway
can be added. The Junior Suite has a queen, a
queen sofa bed, and a rollaway can be added (the
Junior Suite does not have a kitchenette).
You should phone
the hotel directly for availability and best rates
for these rooms. You could try to email, but I
did not receive a response to my email.
Cow
Hollow Motor Inn
Budget to Moderate
Located in the Marina
District, the Exploratorium is in walking distance.
The hotel is 100% smoke free, and some weekends
require a minimum night stay. Free wireless internet
and free covered parking. Some rooms have 2 queen
beds, and a loveseat, or 2 double beds, and rollaway
beds or cribs may be added. Call the hotel to
arrange an extra bed.
Also in Marina and
north area:
Town
House Motel
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Union
Square
|
Grosvenor
Suites
Moderate to Splurge
This establishment
is located one block from Chinatown and
Union Square, and has 24 hour front desk
and concierge service. It offers hotel suite
stays by the night, as well as apartments
by month, and studios by week. A one bedroom
suite has 2 queen beds and a sofa bed in
the living area. A studio suite has 2 queen
beds plus a sofabed. Each has a kitchenette.
Parking and
wireless internet are available, and continental
breakfast is included. The building is non-smoking.
Hotel
des Arts
Moderate
Located near
Chinatown and Union Square, each room is
painted by local artists. There are two-bedroom
suites with a private bathroom, refrigerator
and microwave. One type has 2 double beds.
The other type has a queen. Both have a
second room with a sofa that becomes either
2 singles or 1 queen. Up to 6 people may
stay in a suite.
The hotel has
24-hour concierge service, free continental
breakfast, and free wireless internet. The
website describes how to reserve a room
and then select which artist. For a family,
you can make sure the paintings are age-appropriate.
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Westin
St. Francis
Splurge
This is a luxury
hotel on Union Square that has rooms with 2 double
beds that can accommodate a rollaway bed or crib
for a 5th person. Some rooms are costlier depending
on the view. Compare rates through online sources,
reserve a room with 2 doubles, then call to add
a rollaway bed or crib.
Internet is available
for a fee, as is parking. There is a kids club,
spa services, restaurant and lounge, and shopping.
Handlery
Union Square Hotel
Moderate to Splurge
On Union Square,
this luxury hotel's website makes no mention of
'family' guests. But there are rooms with 2 queen
beds, and by phone we confirmed that they can
accommodate a rollaway bed or a crib for a family
of 5. There is an outdoor pool described as 'serene',
and a restaurant serving American food called
Daily Grill. Internet access is available for
a fee (though special packages are offered), and
on-site covered parking is available and expensive.
There are two sections of the hotel; one has European
decor, and the other has modern decor. The rooms
were renovated in 2008, and are non-smoking. Check
online hotel sources for the best price before
you phone the hotel.
Also:
Best
Western Hotel California - 2 bedroom suite
Beresford
Arms Hotel - junior suite w/rollaway sleeps 5
Stratford
Hotel - queen plus 2 double beds
Golden
Gate Hotel B&B - lower level 2 rooms
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Civic
Center, west of Hyde St.
Holiday
Inn Golden Gateway
Moderate to Splurge
Some rooms in this
central downtown hotel are bigger and can accommodate
a rollaway bed or crib with 2 double beds to sleep
5. The hotel is non-smoking, and located 1 mile
south of Fisherman's Wharf. The outdoor pool is
on the roof and has city views, and most rooms
have city or bay views. Internet access is free
but on-site parking is expensive. The hotel also
has a restaurant and bar. Compare rates through
online searches, then call to arrange the extra
bed or crib.
San
Francisco City Center Hostel
Budget
to Moderate
Located near City
Hall and Civic Center, this hostel has 5-person
rooms with 5 dorm-style bunk beds and a private
bathroom. The hostel is situated in the former
Atherton Hotel, built in the 1920s. Chinatown
and Union Square are in walking distance.
Internet, linens,
towels, coffee, daily room cleaning, and continental
breakfast are all included in the room rate. There
is 24-hour reception, a guest kitchen available,
and guest lounges with tv, games and a library.
There is also an onsite cafe.
Also:
Nob
Hill Motor Inn - junior and family suites sleep
5
Castle
Inn Motel - 2 room family suite
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Chinatown
Royal
Pacific Motor Inn - max occupancy 5 in deluxe
double
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south
of Market
Best
Western Americania - deluxe family room
Rodeway
Inn - online reservation box for adding extra
bed
Hotel
Whitcomb - double rooms on Market side large enough
for extra bedBack
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South
Beach
Courtyard
by Marriott
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