International Ramada Plaza Downtown Hotel San Francisco

So you want to stay inexpensively in San Francisco, but you want to be where the action is? You might consider the Ramada on Market Street.

Market Street is to San Francisco what Oxford Street is to London: it's the main thoroughfare, and you can take it to pretty much anywhere you want to go. However, San Francisco, unlike London, is only 64 square miles, so no matter where you stay you can still probably get to wherever you want to go.

The Ramada, though, is just across the street from the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the public library, and a Burger King. Union Square and the SF MOMA are a brisk walk away, but it's do-able.

The place itself straddles the line between "historic" and "run-down." The rooms are less-than-generous in size, but it's San Francisco - there's not a lot of room to go around. All the basic amenities are there, but it's not a luxury hotel, it's a conveniently located value establishment. Think of it as the Imperial Palace of San Francisco. You can stay for a night or two, but any longer might get uncomfortable.