Motel 6 San Francisco, CA - Fisherman's Wharf

The location near the Wharf was a real plus, with a corner store just across the street for drinks and snacks. There's even an ice machine on site, which made me happy. The room wasn't fancy and could use updating, but it was clean and had what I needed. Staff were nice and helpful.

I came to San Francisco often and used to live here, so the setting really matters to me. Fort Mason's open space and its beautiful bay and bridge views are close by, as are Ghirardelli Square, the north end of Polk, and the east end of Union. Fisherman's Wharf is a bit of a hike despite the hotel's marketing, but major MUNI bus lines meet nearby, so getting around without a car is fairly easy. For the money, I don't think the location can be beat. My room was beat up, but it was completely clean and everything worked, including the hot water, lights, plugs, and TV. The bathroom seemed to have newer professional tile work, a glass door, toilet, and other fixtures. There aren't any in-room amenities like a fridge, microwave, iron, or ironing board. Street noise can be heavy and the rooms don't block much sound, so earplugs are a good idea. The rest was more than tolerable, and who stays in a motel in SF all day anyway? Sleep, then go enjoy the city. I'd had my eye on this Motel 6 since it changed hands, and I've stayed at Motel 6 over the years without many problems. Negative reviews had put me off, but an unexpected extension to my brother's hospital release date left me needing a dog-friendly place on a Friday night. My first choice couldn't extend my stay, so I used the app for a discounted same-day booking during Hardly Strictly Bluegrass weekend, in beautiful October weather. This place gave me another option. Extending two more nights was easy, I just went to the office before checkout the next day.

The price was reasonable, and restaurants and sights are within walking distance. But the bathroom light kept switching off every 30 seconds without movement. It couldn't detect me in the shower, so I'd have to open it up and wave an arm to get the light back. The elevator was out, and since the ground floor is all parking, every room meant climbing one or two sets of stairs. After a recent back procedure, hauling our things up was difficult.

The only real upside was being near the Wharf. Parking was available, though very tight, and cost an extra $10; they also allowed pets. Still, it felt overpriced. The room was visibly dirty, with blood stains on the sheets and dirt on the floor. The mirror was cracked, the walls were stained, and the bed was hard as a rock.