Family Travel Forum reviews help you find the hotel and the neighborhood that best suits your family when visiting San Francisco, California.

With a nickname like "City on the Bay" and favorite tourist attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and Fishermen's Wharf, many families think only of staying as close to the bustling harbor as possible. It is a good choice if you're only here for a night or two because of its convenience, but it can also be overwhelmingly commercial and busy. That's why we've picked family favorite hotels around touristy Fisherman's Wharf, classy Nob Hill, central Union Square, funky artsy SoMa, and for those will too little time, near the airport. With all these choices, the 17 million annual visitors (one-third of them from outside the US) make it tough to book a room anywhere! Contact the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (800/637-5196; 415/391-2000) for other lodging ideas.

Fisherman's Wharf - Harbor Area

Amongst the many hotels in the Wharf area of San Francisco, most are in the $125-$300/N per double price range, though frequent specials and weekend discounts are available.

Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel
2500 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
800/325-3535, 415/362-5500
Located southeast of the Wharf at Beach Street, just a block from the waterfront, this 529-room hotel offers a heated outdoor pool, movies, underground parking, a dining room and a late night coffee shop. Children <17 stay free with parents and connecting rooms are available.

Radisson Hotel Fisherman's Wharf
250 Beach St., San Francisco, CA 94133
415/392-6700
Formerly a Travelodge, this property underwent a major renovation, and is now nothing less than a first-rate hotel with many of the 355 rooms offering great waterfront views. Believe it or not, this is the only hotel actually on Fisherman's Wharf itself.

The Suites at Fisherman's Wharf
2655 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
800/227-3608, 415/771-0200
Located six blocks from the Wharf and two blocks from Ghirardelli Square, this small hotel offers 24 one and two-bedroom suites with private kitchens, two TVs, VCR and CD player. Other amenities include laundry facilities and a roof terrace. And, the cable car passes right in front of the hotel!! (Stop is 1 block away)

Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf
555 North Point Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
800/233-1234, 415/563-1234
Located just south of the wharf, this recently renovated 313-room facility offers family-friendly amenities such as a restaurant with a kid's menu, an expanded fitness center, heated pool and Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel. There is a fee for valet parking. However, the hotel offers area transportation included in the cost of the room. Hyatt Hotel devotees can also stay at their Grand Hyatt property on Union Square at 345 Stockton Street.

San Francisco Marriott Fisherman's Wharf
1250 Columbus Ave., San Francisco, CA 94133
415/775-7555

Located just south of the Wharf at Bay Street, this recently-renovated modern 285-room hotel offers in-room movie service and high speed internet access. Some rooms offer refrigerators and there is a dining room. Fluffy and Bowser are welcome, too.

Nob Hill - Downtown Area

It's posh and quiet, with stuning hilltop views and a quiet, fun playground for little ones.

The Stanford Court, A Renaissance Hotel
905 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
800/227-4736, 415/989-3500
Atop Nob Hill on the site of railroad scion Leland Stanford's mansion, this grand hotel features a Tiffany glass dome and a mural depicting San Francisco's history. There are 384 rooms, many with fabulous views of San Francisco Bay, and all welcoming families. Complimentary coffee/tea are served with wake-up, and in-room video games are available for rent. The hotel went through major renovations in 2008.

The Fairmont San Francisco
950 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
800/441-1414, 415/772-5000
Read FTF's full review of this classic hotel celebrating its centennial: San Francisco Fairmont Goes Family.

InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco
One Nob Hill, 999 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
415/392-3434
Located at the intersection of three cable car lines on the top of Nob Hill, with 380 rooms (most with spectacular views), this can be your posh address in San Francisco. Expect doormen, valets, Frette linens, fine cuisine. An on-site fitness facility is available.

Huntington Hotel and Nob Hill Spa
1075 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
415/474-5400
Family owned and operated since 1924, this classic San Francisco hotel has won much acclaim from guests and publications such as Conde Nast and Travel + Leisure. Overlooking Huntington Park and Grace Church, complimentary coffee/tea are served and facilities include an indoor pool.

Hotel Bijou
111 Mason St. at Eddy, San Francisco, CA 94102
800/771-1022
This is one of the small "boutique" hotels for which San Francisco is becoming increasingly well known. The jewel of a Bijou, with its wonderful Deco lobby, pleasing color scheme and hip but friendly style, is one block from the Powell & Mason cablecar line in a "real" neighborhood. Part of the Joie de Vivre chain, it's a movie buff's fantasy whose 65 rooms are each named after a film shot in the Bay Area. Each includes two double beds, and there's enough room amidst the dark velvets and Deco furnishings to add a crib or a rollaway. Rooms rates include continental breakfast for all occupants.

Union Square Area

Families staying longer may prefer the newly renovated shopping mecca at Union Square. Because of its proximity to the financial and theatre districts, it is also popular, with most hotels just a block or two from the Mason & Powell streetcar lines. You'll have to take a taxi to avoid a lot of crummy restaurants, but you'll be able to get a feel for why Bay City residents vote this the "Most Livable City in America."

Westin St. Francis
335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
800/228-3000, 415/397-7000
Cablecars bells clang past this huge historic hotel, complete with marble lobby and luxurious accommodations and services. There are 1, 195 accommodations; rooms in the original building are smaller than those in the modern tower. Westin Kids Club amenities include child-friendly rooms, sport's bottle/tippy cup souvenir, baseball cap, and free jogging strollers, potty seats, and bicycle seats. Children <18 stay free and all five hotel restaurants offer children's menus.

San Francisco Marriott Union Square
480 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
866/912-0973; 415/398-8900
This hotel offers 403 rooms with an onsite Health and Fitness Center. Babysitting is available, and small pets are allowed.

Larkspur Hotel on Union Square
524 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
866/823-4669, 415/421-2865
A charming boutique hotel with excellent concierge services, offering a complimentary deluxe breakfast buffet and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Pets are welcomed with a special amenity.

Hotel Metropolis
25 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
415/775-4600
Bright colors and materials make this hotel's elemental theme exciting and comfortable to stay in. The Kids Suite is offered as a special amenity just for children. The room consists of kiddie sized furniture, a chalkboard and even an emac computer. The 3-room suite can sleep up to six adults and 3 children and has an adjoining family room. The bathroom comes equipped with rubber ducks, especially for children.

Hotel Carlton
1075 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Non-smoking and pet-friendly, this historic 161-room hotel offers a charmingly cultural experience. The hotel's design celebrates various cultures emphasized by Saha Restaurant and its Arabic fusion cuisine. Hotel Carlton is a Joie de Vivre Hotel, meaning that not only does it try to make your experience as enjoyable as possible, but that it also gives back to the community.

White Swan Inn
845 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
800/999-9570, 415/775-1755
From the outside, the White Swan and its neighbor, Petite Auberge (see below), appear to be renovated rooming houses in a working class neighborhood. Actually both properties are on the fringe of Nob Hill, a block from the Mason & Powell cablecar line and within a short walk of Union Square. Inside, you'll find 26 large, Olde English rooms with fireplaces, a minibar stocked with complimentary soft drinks, a king or queen bed, and a cozy sitting area with a pull-out couch. It's ideal for the small family; children will enjoy freedom to roam around. The huge Ashleigh Suite is done in quiet prints and sports a big canopied bed, a cozy living room with fireplace, another adjoining bedroom, two bathrooms and a bottle of champagne to boot! Ask about their many room configurations and services; rates include full breakfast and tea.

Petite Auberge
863 BushStreet, San Francisco, CA 94108
800/365-3004, 415/928-6000
A few doors away from the White Swan, the Four Sisters Group also runs this B&B with a French country style. It's bright and crisp, from the country prints to the pale lemon walls and wainscoting in the cozy breakfast room to the tiny back garden. Kids can stroll past ubiquitous teddy bears to the lounge to fetch complimentary crudités and hors d'oeuvres, or afternoon biscuits, tea, or wine (to bring to you, of course). Of the 26 unique rooms, 17 have a fireplace, queen bed, and a pull-out sofa to suit the family with young children. Teens, of course, would love their own room, and the friendly staff makes it one place where their being down the hall would feel totally safe and comfortable. Rates include breakfast, wine reception and snacks.

SOMA - Downtown

Interested in the artistically cosmopolitan South of Market Area, formerly The Mission district? Your family will fit right in at this contemporary hotel.

Westin San Francisco Market Street
50 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
415/974-6400

Located centrally in San Francisco's new downtown, the former Argent Hotel is within steps of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sony's Metreon Entertainment Center and Yerba Buena Gardens. The large rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows; fun decor and plush bathrooms; there's a renovated lobby meeting space and a new outdoor dining venue with a fire pit. Your kids will love the Family Fun package offered by the hotel. Included are complimentary carousel rides, ferry tours of the bay, video arcade tokens, and passes for the whirlwind Turbo Ride.

Airport Area

Stopping over on the way to Asia? Waiting to board a cruise? If you're flying in or out of San Francisco, the following two airport properties are convenient, comfortable, and offer affordable weekend rates.

Westin San Francisco Airport
1 Old Bayshore Highway
Millbrae, CA 94030
800/WESTIN-1, 650/692-3500
Five minutes from SFIA via complimentary shuttle. There are 393 modern rooms, restaurant, indoor pool, fitness center and Kids Club.

Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport
1333 Bayshore Highway
Burlingame, CA 94010
800/233-1234, 650/347-1234
Two miles south of SFIA via complimentary shuttle. The 793 guestrooms surround a 10-story atrium lobby filled with greenery and waterfalls. Facilities include outdoor heated pool, health club, four restaraurants, babysitting service in this AAA 4 diamond hotel.