Marina Motel, San Francisco

Our check-in was good. We upgraded to a kitchen and that was a great decision! The staff was nice and helpful in all matters about the room, information on using buses, on where to dine out. We needed a scale and they lent us one to weigh our bags so as to not be overweight on the plane. We had nice garages to park our rent car and was free parking which was important to us. Everything about the room was positive. The place was quiet most of the time. We really had a great time in San Francisco and The Marina Motel, the owners, staff, and workers just made it better. We look forward to staying there again! It was worth the time and money we spent to stay there! Thank You Marina Motel, Tish and Jesse from San Antonio Texas

well, me and my friends were in san francisco for a two nights stay on labor day weekend, and we hadn't booked ahead, so just as we were about to give up looking for a room and decide to sleep in the car, we found this little motel. not only the room was very clean and charming, the price was fair and the staff was very friendly.

We always stay at the Marina Motel when we visit San Francisco with and without our dog. The rooms we have always stayed in are in their quiet courtyard with lots of flowers and wall murals. A few of the rooms do face Lombard Street, which I imagine are noisy but we were told that no reservations are ever put on Lombard Street unless guests request one of the street facing family rooms. The Marina Motel's location could not be better. Its in a really nice neighborhood where I feel completely safe walking around at night and its just six blocks from the beach. It is also around the corner from bakeries, deli's and dozens of unbelievably good restaurants plus great shopping. The bus to all the sights stops just one block away from the motel. Very easy. The housekeeping staff is totally sweet and we have always found the front desk staff to be friendly and very helpful when we want to explore the city. In the past year we have noticed that they have new carpet, drapery and a warm paint job in the rooms. The kitchen we stayed in was newly remodeled as well. I think probably every hotel has a room or two on the chopping block to be remodeled so ask to see a few rooms to decide which one suites your taste. Since have found that each room has such a different personality, the front desk has always let us look at a few rooms open so we can choose which one we want to stay in. Very accomodating.

Saw the picture of this Motel on the web while searching for pet friendly places. It looks nothing like shown!! It is very old and needs a face lift. (Might have been OK 50 years ago! :) Staff was not as friendly as past reviews stated (and I am a friendly person). I was given NO pet treat as advertised in their "Pet Package!" They just made you sign a paper about your pet not being left alone or they would call a pet sitter and charge your credit card or get on the furniture. (The furniture wasn't as good as what my pet sleeps on at home.) Bed very old and HARD! Heat was an old radiator where you had to open a valve at the bottom and then it started to bang and clang,(and you weren't sure if it was working until hours later, when it was finally warm) :) They also charged a per day pet fee,(which they tried to charge me the full three days upon checking out the next morning.) Getting into the garages took skill even with a small car and that was after all the birds flew out. Bathroom was a hall with the sink and toilet on one end, shower behind the door. Mirror was on the left side of the sink which made you have to stand between the toilet and the wall(in less than a foot of space) to see into it. : I had a reservation for three days but the first afternoon I walked up and down the street looking for something better. Days Inn is only a couple of blocks down and so much better! They had real parking, friendly staff and at a much lower price. This Days Inn took pets, made you sign nothing, and no extra pet charge. Rooms were very clean, much, much bigger. They even made accommodations for me to check in at 11:00 AM when I checked out of the Marina Motel. Drew a map of the bus line for me, and were pleasant in every way! I WOULD recommend them! And will to the head office of Days Inn! Both places in the same location and location is the ONLY thing the Marina Motel has going for it!

We (2A, 2K) have just returned from month in California, kicked off with a week at Marina Motel. Stuck out against advice to book downtown. What a great start. Pluses: Charming and different from modern soulless cubicles. Very clean. Pretty quiet if you get an inner courtyard room. Just pretty with flowers. Friendly service although we didn't see much of anyone really. The Marina location is excellent. OK Lombard is Highway 101 but Chestnut St is a real gem. Like a village. Lots of choice of restaurants, plus deli, supermarket, bakery, retro diner, big classy bookstore, cinema, chemists, post office, laundrette, camrea shop, loads of manicurists, GAP (+Baby Gap), even English lingerie whatever that is. Golden Gate walkable by kids - my wife jogged across every morning. 24/7 buses downtown and one to Haight / Golden Gate park. Exploratorium great for kids round corner. Drawbacks? Family room a bit tight by modern standards but four of us cosy for six nights.

This place was a bargain for what other comparable places were charging. The staff were all very helpful, and friendly with local attractions, restaurants, and directions. As for the rooms, they each seemed to have it's own unique style, and all very cute. The Motel is quite close to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the park. Also, the free wireless internet connection was most convenient. We'll be back for sure.

Lombard Street rooms VERY noisy at all hours! Windows were VERY flimsy- screens broken. Second Room we were in was nicer- in the courtyard. Other than that, the area is not as nice as it was seven years ago- the last time we were in San Francisco. The free parking garages are nice, but tight- especially for mini- vans. The motel rooms need renovation badly. The staff was very friendly and helpful. No pool. Location was within walking distance of the Palace of Fine Arts.

We have stayed at the Marina twice in as many years, and were impressed with the staff, cleanliness of the rooms, free parking ( though the garages are a bit tight ), and accessibility of the shops in the Marina district and municiple transportation. You will never have to use your car during your stay. Any place in the city is within 20 minutes via the excellent bus line, which is only a block and a half away. This city is filled with excellent places to dine, but the village-like Marina district just a few blocks away from the motel has some of the best restaurants and delis...definitely tailored for a budget. During our last stay, the loud talking of a family in the adjacent room kept us awake late, but that was an isolated incident. Very nice place to stay, quaint, and the price is right.

The best motel we stayed in during our three visits to the USA. We were made to feel most welcome by Heidi. Very good location, near to the bus stops.

We spent a great week in San Francisco June 4th through June 12th 2005. The Marina Motel was not quite as nice as it looked on the photos online when I booked it. The location is very close to things, although that part of Lombard Street is very busy. It was nice to park the car in a garage and have a kitchen to cut some of the food costs. Our first room was not clean, and there was no problem changing to another room, but 2 out of three were not as clean and kind of older. They did provide maid service every morning which was nice. Some of the staff were very helpfull, while a couple just seemed to want to give you a quick answer and have you on your way. So for cleanliness and age I only give it a 3 out of five stars, and would only suggest it if you are more interested in location and price. The only other tip to give to anyone interested in visiting San Francisco...which is an incredible city...breathtaking....is to get the City Pass and absolutely do not try to see it in your own vehicle. Besides being expensive, there just is NO parking. With the city pass we had for 7 days unlimited use of busses, cable cars, and even the underground MUNI.