Is Marina District a good place to stay in San Francisco?

The Marina is a good base if you want good-value rooms, easy parking and the Golden Gate Bridge close by. Most hotels are motels along Lombard Street, the main road to the bridge, and Chestnut Street and Union Street are a short walk away. Buses run to Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf, which is a pleasant walk along the waterfront.

The neighbourhood is bright, young and well-off. Chestnut Street is full of cafés, brunch spots and bars, Union Street in Cow Hollow has boutiques in Victorian houses, and the Marina Green is lined with joggers, kites and yachts. The Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Fort Mason are all within walking distance.

The downside is the distance from downtown. There's no BART or cable car, so trips to Union Square or SoMa mean a bus ride, and Lombard Street itself is a busy, noisy highway. Rooms facing the road can be loud, and the motels are simple rather than stylish.

What makes the Marina special is its setting. You can walk along the bay to the Golden Gate Bridge, eat on Chestnut Street and sleep in a motel that costs much less than downtown hotels, with free parking for a road trip. For families and anyone with a car, it's a relaxed and sunny base.