The San Remo Hotel (2237 Mason St., 415/776-8688, www.sanremohotel.com [1], $85–105) is one of the best bargains in the City [2]. The old yellow blocky building has been around since just after the 1906 earthquake, offering inexpensive rooms to budget-minded travelers.
One of the reasons for the rock-bottom pricing is the bathrooms—you don’t get your own. Four shared baths with shower facilities located in the hallways are available to guests day and night. The rooms boast the simplest of furnishings and decorations, as well as clean white painted walls and ceiling.
Some rooms have their own sinks, all have either double beds or two twin beds, and none have telephones or televisions—so this might not be the best choice of lodgings for large, media-addicted families. Couples on a romantic vacation can rent the Penthouse, a lovely room for two people with lots of windows and a rooftop terrace boasting views of North Beach [3] and the Bay.
Links:
[1] http://www.sanremohotel.com
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/san-francisco-and-the-bay-area
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/california/san-francisco-and-the-bay-area/sights/north-beach-and-fisherman-s-wharf