The SW Hotel is an 81-room, mid-range hotel in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Rooms and suites have Asian decor and come with mini-fridges and air-conditioning, but some have dated features such as tube TVs. The hotel offers concierge services, luggage storage, free breakfast and Wi-Fi, a mezzanine with patio furniture, three meeting rooms, a business corner, and an underground parking garage. Visitors may want to compare rates at the Hotel Kabuki, located in Japantown.

The intimate, 15-room Washington Square Inn features Edwardian architectural designs, European antiques, and a fireplace lounge and dining room. Charming rooms and suites come with small flat-screen TVs, and some have fireplaces, bay window seats, sitting areas, and Coit Tower views. As an older hotel, however, there’s no elevator and few amenities -- there's no gym or full restaurant, although the hotel does provide free breakfast as well as happy hour drinks. The Payne Mansion Hotel has an elevator and a similar historic vibe, but rates are typically higher and it does not offer breakfast.

The 26-room Petite Auberge is a moderately priced, three-pearl French country hotel in lower Nob Hill, with antique touches, a comfy fireplace parlor, a homey breakfast room, concierge services, and access to a nearby fitness center. Traditional, cozy rooms have flat-screen TVs and some have fireplaces. The hotel's only suite offers a terrace, a mini-fridge, and a whirlpool tub. However, the insulation in rooms doesn’t keep out noises. The rooms at the Cornell Hotel de France are quieter. 

The 57-room Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, is a retro motor lodge in the Marina District, with desert mosaic tile designs, a heated outdoor pool, hammocks and patio furniture on a lawn. Classically furnished rooms have pops of orange, traditional and modern furniture, and flat-screen TVs. The location is slightly removed from the San Francisco tourist sights, and travelers who want to be closer to attractions may want to compare rates at the Hotel Mayflower, which is walking distance to Union Square.

The 62-room, budget La Luna Inn is one of many motor inns along Lombard Street between Van Ness and the Presidio, but has a few more perks than some of the others. While the convenient location is the property's best feature, it also offers free garage parking on-site, and free -- though limited -- continental breakfast. Guest rooms are very basic, though nicely painted with accent walls, and have free Wi-Fi. Traffic noise can be heard in many rooms, and some are showing wear and tear. It’s an affordable option for tourists seeking only the essentials, particularly guests with cars who don’t mind being on the outskirts of the city near Golden Gate Bridge.

Located in a largely residential neighborhood in the Nob Hill District, the four-story, 52-room value Nob Hill Hotel offers a free breakfast and free evening wine and cheese reception. Other perks include a 24-hour fitness center and business center, and an Italian restaurant. Housed in a 1906 building with Victorian-style interiors, the hotel is not luxurious but appeals to those in search of historic character at reasonable rates. The immediate neighborhood isn't that enticing, but the hotel is within walking distance of Union Square and Chinatown, and is two blocks from the cable car for a 20-minute trip to Fisherman's Wharf. 

Although its name may conjure up the image of a dusty dive off a southwestern interstate, the Buena Vista Motor Inn is a charming, newly renovated budget hotel within walking distance of San Francisco’s marina. The 50 rooms are rather plain and compact; some have views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The hotel has a quaint garden and rooftop deck, and offers free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, and parking -- a rarity in San Francisco. However, some rooms can be noisy, and much of the decor is dated, as renovations are ongoing. This inn is a better deal than most comparable properties in the city, although booking early can be key to getting lower rates.

This artistic, three-pearl, 82-room hotel appeals to adult tourists and couples looking for a stylish, boutique experience. Rooms are on the small side but are quirky and modern, some with exposed brick or historic masonry walls. The hotel has a Charlie Palmer restaurant and craft cocktail bar, plus a spacious, stylish lounge. Delicious breakfast is included, and the location is superb for those wanting to be in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown near Union Square.    

Luxury vacation rental meets upscale hotel at the city's best, if most expensive, residence-style lodging. The Ghirardelli Square factory setting has plenty of character, and 53 modern one-, two-, and three-bedroom units feel like designer model homes with fireplaces, full kitchens, and top-of-the-line amenities. Personal grocery shopping, 24-hour butlers, and free breakfasts are among service highlights, though there's not much here in terms of features save for a fitness room and large terrace with fire pits and great views over the bay. Travelers searching for a similarly luxurious hotel with more facilities could look into the St. Regis San Francisco, which has two restaurants, a pool, and a spa, plus it's close to Union Square -- but rooms don't have kitchens.

The 51-room Wharf Inn is a no-frills budget motel in Fisherman’s Wharf, close to Pier 39. Rooms are traditional and some come with bay views from balconies. Suites have sitting areas and the Penthouse has a kitchen. However, all units lack mini-fridges and air-conditioning. The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf has rooms with more features, but prices may be higher.