Originally Posted by Alinlondon
Any recommendations for an SFO airport hotel that has a bit of local walkable night life near? only bars and eating places not downtown type action. Thanks.
Hmmm...SFO is pretty much in a no-mans-land. The nearest town is South San Francisco, which has a 'downtown' strip consisting of a few coffee places, a sandwich cafe, a few chinese places and some Mexican grocery stores (and some dive bars). But there are no hotels located 'on the strip' in SSF (that's South San Francisco if you need a quick way to abbreviate it).
Here are some places that I stayed
1. A La Quinta Inn..this is actually the closest hotel to the 'downtown' SSF. I have stayed here (about 5 years ago). It is next to highway 101...and I mean 'next to' as in you will look at the freeway. It's a budget hotel, not really a business traveller hotel.
2. An Embassy Suites. This is separated from downtown SSF by the 101 freeway...you could walk from here to downtown SSF in about 10 - 15 minutes...if you don't mind walking underneath a freeway underpass. But it's a nicer hotel than the La Quinta.
There is also a Hilton Garden Inn near the Embassy Suites, but I've never stayed there. Add 10 min to the walk time to SSF.
If you want to go further afield, there is a strip of hotels located south of the airport. Here you find the major chain hotels...Hyatt, Marriott, some Starwood property. Your options will be 'walk from hotel to hotel'. There are also some other restaurants in the area, ex. Elephant bar which offers a view of the planes landing at SFO.
The other towns near the airport (besides SSF) are San Bruno and Millbrae. Millbrae is connected to the airport by the airport BART. Millbrae also has a 'downtown' with some restaurants and coffee shops. However your hotel options here would be of the Best Western variety. I've never stayed at any hotels here so I can't vouch for them...but they look like the budget traveller variety. San Bruno has fewer options than Millbrae and is further away on BART.
Would you consider staying at a local airport hotel and taking BART to SF? Most local airport hotels have a shuttle that can take you to the nearest BART station (probabably either the airport itself or Millbrae)...