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In San Francisco, you will find palatial five-stars, convention hotels, friendly hostels, budget hotels, midrange hotels, and long-term apartment rentals. If you are up for a long-term one, check the classified ads in the San Francisco Bay Guardian or the San Francisco Chronicle.

You will remember San Francisco long after your visit – with artsy themed hotels with intimate bars and lobbies, stylish Victorians nestled in the side streets, and historic inns tucked away in between office towers. While friendly hostels and bright budget hotels have opened up in the downtown area (Marina and Mission), do not expect something truly cheap in San Francisco. You may pay over $60 at a budget hotel and at least $100 at a midrange hotel. If staying at a hotel, keep in mind that a hefty 14 percent tax applies on top of the quoted rates. Only hostels are exempted from it. Prices are higher during the summer months, June to August, and you can expect better deals on prices from September to May.

If you prefer to stay in the downtown area, typical hotels of this caliber are the Orchard, Nikko, Fairmont Heritage Place, and the Adagio. The Orchard is a green hotel with excellent amenities, lying at the heart of the city just seconds away from Union Square. This elegant boutique hotel features airy guestrooms with black and white photographs of attractions in San Francisco. The Hotel Nikko is located in the Moscone Congress Center. It features a Spa, a business center and a salon. A double room costs $308.70. Staying at Chinatown can be quite an experience. Grant Plaza is situated on a busy corner, at the heart of a fascinating ethnic enclave. Rooms come at bargain prices and are spotless clean. They are equipped with new furniture, electronic key cards, wireless Internet connection, telephone with voicemail, cable TV, and private bathrooms with hair dryers, sewing kits and irons, fax service, internet stations, and disposable toothbrush. These are available from the front desk.

Convenient airport hotels include the Holiday Inn Express and Travelodge Airport North. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites San Francisco Airport North is situated just one mile north of San Francisco International Airport and is just minutes away from the city center. It features a free airport shuttle, Internet access, a modern 24-hour business center, and spacious rooms. The rate is $120 per night. Travelodge Airport North offers rooms for $50 a night. There are deluxe king and queen rooms and group rates starting at $38 a night. The property is in close proximity to Monster Park and the downtown area.

Finally, you can always go for a motel in San Francisco. Decent motels range from $50 to $120 a night. The Buena Vista is known for its friendly staff and excellent location. The rate is 119 dollars a night. The Travelodge at the Presidio costs $105 a night and features a swimming pool, Spa, and nearby restaurants. The Star Motel offers easy access to all the main attractions of San Francisco, including the Fisherman’s Wharf and Lombard St., which is the most crooked street in the world. The rate is 74 a night.

If you want to leave your hotel/ motel room for a day in San Francisco, you should know that Pacific Heights, the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center, and the Fillmore are gems on the music scene. Pacific Heights offers performances of jazz, classical and modern music at very affordable costs. The Memorial and Performing Arts Center features many timeless performing-arts companies. As for natural attractions, this city boasts the famous Golden Gate National Recreation Area, comprised of a number of parks and almost all the beaches of the city.

There is no way you haven’t heard of the Scott McKenzie song (“If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair”). Be sure to bring along some cash and your AmEx card as well, because there is a lot to see and do here. There is no need to blow it all on nightclubs though – there are plenty of interesting and educative activities you can take part in. One can be a visit to the Aquarium of the Bay, the only waterfront aquarium in the city. The aquarium features over 20,000 fascinating marine animals, which you can see as you walk through 100 meters of clear tunnels. You can even touch a shark if you want (without fearing the consequences). Another interesting attraction is Golden Gate Park. This place is a planetarium, a natural history museum, and a reputable research facility all in one. It is often referred to as the greenest museum in the world.