Many of San Francisco hotels are located right downtown and come in a variety of categories. With cheap youth hostels, you will sacrifice on comfort but you will get your money’s worth. During off-peak seasons, you can use discount vouchers from specialized local magazines and you might even try to bargain when staying for several nights.

Hotels

For budget travelers, youth hostels are undoubtedly the best San Francisco deals. Most of first-price hotels offer the same comfort than a youth hostel but for a higher price. Most of the hotels are located downtown, where a lot of homeless people beg for change or for used cans that they can resell. San Francisco’s homeless are spread throughout the city but are more visible downtown, especially in the Tenderloin district.

Motels

You will find some San Francisco motels in the Marina and Pacific Heigths districts (on Lombard Street). They are convenient especially when you arrive by night in San Francisco and want to drop your luggage to go out and explore Downtown. Motels often offer free car parking but you should know that San Francisco motels are generally more expensive than elsewhere.

Camping

Travelers on a budget looking for San Francisco vacations may even consider camping as a low-budget alternative. However, this option will generally involve a fairly significant drive as there are no campgrounds within the city proper. Several camping facilities do exist within about an hour’s drive from the city. Among the most popular camping facilities are Angel Island and the Candlestick RV Park.

Rentals

Some vacationers would prefer San Francisco rentals to a stay in a hotel or motel. Many people have a preference for a self-catered vacation where they are completely independent from other hospitality establishments. Be aware though that renting a vacation property in San Francisco is likely going to be one of your more expensive options.