Location Transport

Traveling to San Francisco...?

My friend and i are two Aussie girls who will be traveling around Canada/US in September and October. Our holiday is finalised and now i've just found out our hotel in San Francisco is located next to a homeless shelter (apparantly). It's situated on the corner of Market and Mason Streets, i checked out the Trip Advisor website and some reviews state it is a dangerous area. We really want to visit the nightclubs in the city, but i'm a bit worried about catching public transport or even walking around that area late at night. Does anyone have any comments/suggestions???

Public Comments

1. Im a skateboarder from san francisco and yes that area is pretty bad at night but its just hobos and taggers but theres always one kook that will try to fight you but thats how it is in the streets you just gotta roll like gangstas
2. Mason and Market street is in the Tenderloin, and yeah - it's a rougher area at night - although not necessarily for tourists - just dirty with a fair number of homeless. I've never understood why most of the tourist hotels are in the Tenderloin - as San Francisco has so much more to offer. When I used to book clients in San Francisco, I would put them up in nearby Union Square (right near the night clubs, but in a much nicer area). Two small, affordable, and safe hotels are the Chancellor Hotel and the Hotel Beresford. Check out www.chancellorhotel.com and www.beresford.com. You will still be walking distance from Ruby Skye and all the other major night clubs in the Tenderloin.
3. I agree with both above posters; it's a dicey neighborhood. I would suggest switching your hotel reservations, and the Beresford would be a good option.
4. I agree, not the best of areas. Try to change as stated, if you cant, my GF is from the bay area and her suggestion is to look crazier than everyone else and they will leave you alone.
5. Really bad neighborhood Nothing but homeless and hootlums You can immediately tell its different from the rest of San Francisco
6. I was in that neighbourhood the first time I came to S.F. - it's a little intimidating at first, but your hotel should be of some help. Get them to call you cabs - they're much easier at night than Muni. Also, most of the "bad" in S.F. refers to the large homeless population, and aggressive panhandlers. Be smart (aware) and you should be fine - it's no worse than any big city ;) Enjoy your visit "up above" (if Australia is "down under" I guess that's what it makes us?)