lodging near public transportation (San Francisco, San Mateo: rent, hotels, cost)

[miruca]

I need to stay in the San francisco area for two weeks and need to be where we can easily access public transportation into San Francisco.

I've focused on the airport area just because I've been there and 1) it's cheaper than SF 2) the hotels will shuttle you to the airport metro station - and there is also a free shuttle to Burlingame so we can get to the grocery store.

Does anyone have suggestions for other areas where lodging is convienent to the metro and other things?

[humboldtrat]

There are plenty of hotels in and around SFO airport and there is a BART and Caltrain station nearby to get to SF. There are also plenty of motels in the area that might be cheaper along El Camino Real (Hwy 82) in San Bruno, South San Francisco and Millbrae. Samtrans (San Mateo county transit) has busses running up and down El Camino all day long and go into SF.

[sonarrat]

I think you're on the right track. You can also take the 292 bus from the Old Bayshore Highway in Millbrae/Burlingame straight to downtown San Francisco without having to switch to the train, and the 397 runs along the same route all night in case you miss the last bus.

[miruca]

So .. it sounds like the airport area may be more accessible than north areas such as Larkspur or San Rafael?

[sonarrat]

If you stay in Marin County, you better rent a car and carry lots of cash, because it's $6 to cost the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco.