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California and savings don’t often belong in the same sentence. Take it from me, a San Diego resident who bought an electric car to avoid California’s notoriously high fuel prices, only to double my electric bill, which costs more than my previous gas expenses from the clunker I traded in.
Go figure.
For travelers, though, finding budget getaways in the Golden State isn’t an easy task. Honestly, when people ask me where to go in California for a good deal, there’s no immediate destination that comes to mind.
Well, that was before my recent trip to the Bay Area, visiting Santa Clara, San Jose, San Francisco and the charming island hideaway of Alameda.
Can you guess which of these cities I found to be the most affordable?
None other than San Francisco. Yes, San Francisco— a city normally belonging almost exclusively in the category for those with extra commas on their bank statements.
Backed by a new report from Kayak, along with my own recent experiences, San Francisco might just be California’s most affordable spring destination as the iconic city attempts to rebrand from well-documented (unenforced) crime waves to becoming a welcoming hub for tourism yet again.
Is San Francisco Safe To Visit?
The allure of affordability is only as strong as the sense of security a city offers.
I’ve been to nearly 40 countries and over 30 states, so I’d like to think my Spidey-sense kicks in when I should avoid a particular area.
That never happened a few weeks ago in San Francisco. I took the Metro and the BART and walked all over downtown, including well past midnight, and didn’t feel unsafe in the slightest.
However, I was on edge once the sun went down, knowing San Fran’s reputation in recent years. Local news essentially went viral about locals opting to leave their cars unlocked rather than wake up with shattered windows—that’s how bad crime got out of control.
Those days seem to be over, but of course, bad apples can act out anywhere at any time. The worst I saw was a group of teenagers being called out over the intercom for public urination on the subway platform.
Gross? Yes. Funny? Kinda. Unsafe? No, because this situation clearly showed CCTV was being closely monitored.
According to local news source ABC 7, downtown has especially been revamped after the wild aftermath of the 2020 pandemic, but also states that tourists have yet to return.
While I don’t have the latest tourism numbers to share, I’m not sure that’s true. The Fisherman’s Wharf seemed as busy as ever, tourists were hanging off the city’s famous cable cars for the perfect selfie capture, and Lombard Street, the weirdest road in America, was nearly gridlocked, which tells me I’m not alone saying San Fran is not only safe again, but on the rise.
Is San Francisco Really Affordable?
If I hadn’t visited recently, I would think Kayak’s Spring Savings Report claiming San Francisco as California’s most affordable destination was AI-generated (no offense to Gemini).
That being said, I know for sure it’s not San Diego, LA has never been cheap, nobody vacations in Sacramento, so that leaves San Francisco — so, yes, it’s quite possible that’s the case nowadays.
Kayak claims the average nightly rate for San Francisco hotels is $244, saving tourists $78 per night, which is a 24% drop since January.
As we inch closer toward summer, that’s almost unheard of since supply and demand indicate January isn’t the best time to visit San Fran with frequent chilly, rainy weather.
As we are in the midst of spring, San Francisco is a lot more enjoyable and enticing to visit. However, affordability is usually the big question mark here, especially for hotels. Getting around is relatively cheap with a Clipper Card that covers all Bay Area transit, including ferries.
As a multi-time visitor to SF, I’ve never seen hotels that are more budget-friendly — and nice ones too!
I’m not talking about the HoJo or some rinky-dink Tenderloin hotel, which is the one neighborhood you should avoid.
So Many Luxurious Hotels Are In The $100s This Spring
If Kayak crunched its numbers right, it says the average is $244, meaning numerous ritzy stays are still marked sky-high. I’m seeing dozens of hotels in the $100s this spring.
Here is a complete list of 4-star San Francisco hotels I found in the $100 range in May: (just know some will need to be booked through third parties)
- DoubleTree by Hilton San Francisco Airport – $143
- Hotel Zephyr – $144
- Parc 55 – $148
- BEI San Francisco – $149
- Warwick San Francisco – $151
- Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman’s Wharf – $154
- Hotel Spero – $157
- Hotel Zeppelin – $158
- The Barnes San Francisco – $161
- Club Quarters Hotel Embarcadero – $162
- Grand Bay Hotel – $166
For comparison, San Diego’s 3-star Courtyard at Liberty Station goes for $268.
Stay Where I Stayed: Taj Campton Place In The Heart Of The City
The 5-star Taj Campton Place is available for $195 late May and early June by booking directly. This is right on par with San Fran’s average nightly rates if you want the half-board package with select meals included.
If you happen to be enrolled in AMEX’s Fine Hotels + Resorts program, you can flex like me with $100 in dining credits, complimentary Wi-Fi (that actually works!), a room upgrade when available, and a guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the dining credit at Campton Bar & Bistro, who serve a wide selection of meticulously hand-crafted cocktails, as well as Bombay Brasserie for a phenomenal Masala Omelette and a pot of Chai to kickstart your day.
For a city that jam-packs every sliver of space, my Campton Suite was surprisingly spacious and offered great views of the bustling cityscape of Union Square.
For a building dating back to 1909, you would think city noises would seep through the storied walls, but I melted into the heavenly King bed recouping from a long travel day from hopping around The Bay and couldn’t have had a better stay, overall.
Make sure you check out the 24/7 top-floor gym with sweeping views of the city and ask for Suzette, who has some incredible travel stories up her sleeve.
Taj is a luxurious hotel brand based in India and as San Francisco is one of America’s most culturally diverse cities, there’s no better fit to blend Eastern hospitality with Western comforts.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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