We highly recommend The Castle Inn if you are looking for a good, clean, quiet value for money budget motel located on Russian Hill. It is a walk, cable car or bus ride to Fisherman’s Wharf (eat at Scomas, everywhere else seems to be tourist traps) and everywhere else. It is close to public transport with connections that can take you all over SF. We walked a few blocks and then rode buses to Coit Tower, Haight Ashbury, AMC Cinema and the Golden Gate Bridge for instance.
Varsa was very helpful with our Internet booking and Marshall was super friendly and helpful on check-in. He looked after our luggage for us when we arrived early the morning of check-in. Marshall gave us a map and wrote down the places to see (and the areas to avoid). Varsa arranged some very good tours for us.
The hotel is close to many many restaurants that offer delicious and fresh food at reasonable prices, mostly on Polk Street. We stayed a week and ate very well each night in a different establishment.
Also on Polk is a Walgreens drug store (pharmacy/supermarket) and organic markets. Polk hosts a very good value laundry and dry cleaner (turn right from the Castle Inn, cross Polk and turn right, you will find it just up the hill from Broadway).
The rooms are a good size and clean; we had a non-smoking room with a comfortable queen bed. There is some street noise, but not intrusive. We heard footsteps from the room above.
The breakfast is not that good tho: lots of fat, sugar and carbs. We purchased fruit, yogurt and granola from the organic market on Polk (the market has plastic spoons available free of charge, we ate the granola from the cups in the room). The ‘fridge and microwave were very useful.
Marshall can arrange a Town Car transfer. The fare from the airport was $55. You can call the car direct on 415 756 7402, ask for Jun.
We will return to San Francisco and stay at the Castle Inn.
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