asking for help with trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley area (San Jose: where to stay)

[Alexia1997]

I'm planning a trip to San Francisco, Monterrey, and Napa Valley area and need advice about where to stay.

I'm flying into Reno for business and renting a car and taking a week to tour northern CA. Is it better to stay in San Francisco, where the hotels are more expensive and dealing with traffic etc, or staying in San Jose or Monterrey or Napa and drive into the city to be a tourist. We're definitely taking the Napa wine train trip one day.



Thanks in advance.

[ttocs99]

I would suggest staying in Napa for the day you are taking the Napa wine train. The rest, you can stay in the city. You pretty much have to deal with traffic no matter where you go in the Bay Area. As well as high prices for hotels.

[tstieber]

You could also stay across the bay in Emeryville, which ismuch cheaper and has lots of corporate type hotels. If you avoid rush hour, then it's a ten minute drive and a bridge toll to get to SF.

[04kL4nD]

I would stay in Oakland or Berkeley instead of Emeryville if you're going to stay in the East Bay. They both have BART stations and much more character/flavor than Emeryville. Driving/parking in SF is a headache, while getting to/from Napa Valley by car isn't all that bad, except for some traffic on the freeways.

Oakland doesn't have a lot of great hotels, but AirBnBs are a good bet in Rockridge if safety is a priority.

I would NOT recommend staying in San Jose and driving to SF for sightseeing. It's a long drive to the City. Monterrey is even farther from SF and way too far from Napa.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by Alexia1997

I'm planning a trip to San Francisco, Monterrey, and Napa Valley area and need advice about where to stay.

I'm flying into Reno for business and renting a car and taking a week to tour northern CA. Is it better to stay in San Francisco, where the hotels are more expensive and dealing with traffic etc, or staying in San Jose or Monterrey or Napa and drive into the city to be a tourist. We're definitely taking the Napa wine train trip one day.

Do not stay in the East Bay unless you want to deal with miserable traffic on the Bay Bridge and the 80 freeway!

Most people like staying in central SF where they can take advantage of the walkable nature of the city. Check out the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway. One can drive in and out of that hotel more easily than the very crowded Union Square hotels.

I would stay in a hotel in Rockaway Beach. One day I would drive to Colma Bart, take the train to downtown and see Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf. The second day I would drive up the coast and see the western part of SF which is easily accessible by car. Highlights include the Land's End Trails, China Beach, Baker Beach, Legion of Honor, Twin Peaks and Golden Gate Park. You could also add a third day in SF if you would like to explore the museums of Golden Gate Park.

From a Rockaway Beach location you will be ideally setup to drive down the Coast Highway to Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero Beach, Santa Cruz, Aptos and Monterey.

[Alexia1997]

Awesome. I'm taking in all this advice. Keep it coming please.

[evening sun]

Rockaway Beach is in Pacifica & it is a beautiful location, & will include parking, many SF hotels do not have parking. SJ is too far to drive to SF on vacation.

[04kL4nD]

Originally Posted by capoeira

Do not stay in the East Bay unless you want to deal with miserable traffic on the Bay Bridge and the 80 freeway!

Hence the BART recommendations...