Most travel destinations have on and off seasons but San Francisco isn’t one of them. This vibrant city is always on. No matter when it’s always a suitable time to visit SFO. However, considering the large distances, we prefer hotels with a shuttle to San Francisco Airport. This service makes our life easier every time we visit the city. Whether it’s a free service or with a charge, we usually ask about the shuttle buses and their times first thing before we book.
We visited San Francisco many times, thus, we had the chance to stay in different hotels to compare them. This list includes our favorite stays with shuttle services to and from the airport. We didn’t pick any hotel that offers this service, we were keen on choosing good hotels that offer other facilities and services as well. You’ll find it a useful review whether you’re landing at SFO Airport to visit the city itself or to stay for a night or two before heading somewhere else.
Table of contents
- Hyatt Regency San Francisco
- San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront
- Best Western Plus Grosvenor
- Hotel Skye San Francisco
- The Atrium Hotel
- Hilton Airport Bayfront
- The Westin San Francisco Airport
- Hotel Aura SFO Airport
- Hotel Aluxor SFO
- Hotel 1550
- Grand Hyatt
- Our Verdict!
- Where to Stay in San Francisco?
- Why is San Francisco so expensive?
- Is it easy to walk around the city?
- Is the SFO Airport too far from the city center?
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
11
Hyatt Regency San Francisco is one of the most well-known hotels in San Francisco. Generally, we love the Hyatt Regency chain as their hotels usually keep a high standard. We stayed there for a couple of nights as we didn’t want to go far away from the airport. The free shuttle service works 24 hours. We also appreciate that it’s very frequent as our flight was a mid-night one. You don’t have to book or arrange anything before using the free shuttle service.
Further, we indulged in a mouthwatering breakfast at 3SIXTY Bistro. This on-site restaurant has a wide variety of options and they all seem delicious. The hotel is large with many room options. Similarly, our standard room was large including a wide bed and a sofa. Moreover, you can enjoy a few dips in the huge outdoor pool. This hotel is one of the comfiest. Check out all the amenities and facilities inside the hotel here on the official website.
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San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront
10
Next, we stayed in the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront. This hotel combines a few perks that make it one of our favorites. First, the location is what we wanted, right next to the airport. The shuttle service is available frequently throughout the day. It’s also free for all the hotel guests. Moreover, the hotel offers bike rentals to explore the area around. We rented some of those bikes and rode the trails overlooking the bay. It was very enjoyable.
Speaking of the views, we had a bay view room. It was the best thing we did that we booked such a room. Our room featured a comfy bed, a spacious bathroom, premium toiletries, and a professional coffee machine. We also had light snacks at the on-site restaurant. The view from where we were sitting was impeccable. We could see the planes taking off over the bay while enjoying our mid-day snack and drinks.
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Best Western Plus Grosvenor
9
Are you looking for a San Francisco hotel with free airport shuttle that also serves good food? The Best Western Plus Grosvenor Hotel is your destination. We stayed at this hotel last month during a quick visit to California. We wanted a venue where we could spend all day without looking for restaurants and entertainment outside. Thus, we chose this hotel knowing that the on-site restaurant serves good food. We had breakfast and dinner there, they were up to our expectations.
Moreover, the hotel has a nice outdoor pool to pass the time in the morning. We also used the fitness center, the equipment was modern and up to the standards. For business travelers, you’ll find a good business center there. We don’t think anything is missing in this hotel. The only thing that needs improvement is the shuttle bus timing. It isn’t available all day, so, we had to call the hotel before we arrived to know the shuttle schedule and arrange our flights accordingly.
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Hotel Skye San Francisco
8
Best value for money. Hotel Skye San Francisco is another good option because of its proximity to the airport. The hotel offers a free shuttle service every hour. Compared to most hotels there, this frequency is acceptable. We contacted the hotel and had the bus schedule before arriving to know how long we should wait for the shuttle bus.
Aside from this service, the hotel provides a couple of other free things including free WiFi, free parking, and free daily newspapers. We believe this hotel was the best value-for-money accommodation we had near the SFO airport. It wasn’t expensive, yet, we had many facilities. Besides, our king room was spacious and clean. The housekeeping was very keen on leaving the room spotless every day. Best of all, the location was perfect. It was close to public transportation that we used to reach most of the nearby attractions. You can get an idea of the most common attractions close to the hotel from their official website.
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The Atrium Hotel
7
The Atrium Hotel offers a wide range of complimentary services whatever room you book there. We had a king room that included very simple furniture but it did its job. The hotel’s style isn’t the most modern thing in San Francisco, yet, it was good value for money. Our room had basic furniture; a bed, a flat-screen, a working desk, and a sofa. The bathroom was good with basic toiletries as well. We didn’t expect more as this was what we were looking for. Everything was clean and comfortable.
Considering the complimentary offerings; we had free Wi-Fi, parking, breakfast, and most importantly, free airport shuttle. Whether you want to use public transportation or rent a car, both are easily accessible from the location of this hotel. The nearest station is the San Bruno Caltrain station. On the other side, the SFO rental car center is also a walking distance from the hotel. You can park your rented car in the hotel’s free parking.
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Hilton Airport Bayfront
6
What if we can get both a good location and a great view? Hilton Airport Bayfront offers both as it’s located in Burlingame overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The hotel is large as well as the rooms. We had a Deluxe Double Room with a Bay View. It was wonderful and very relaxing. We were very close to the airport and at the same time, we could enjoy peaceful moments looking at the bay and gardens from our room.
The shuttle service is free but other facilities there are paid. For example, the Wi-Fi, Electric Charging stations, and parking are all paid for. They also offer pet rooms with extra fees. You can check the official website to know all the prices. We weren’t bothered with these fees as we got what we paid for. The services were of premium quality and worth it. Even more, the on-site restaurant was not to be missed. It offered indulgent food from the Californian cuisine over a magnificent view.
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The Westin San Francisco Airport
5
The Westin San Francisco Airport is one of SFO hotels with free shuttle buses that run 24 hours. We reached the hotel from the airport in minutes. It’s very close to the airport. Plus, it’s a short distance from a Bay Area Rapid Transit public transport station. Our stay in the hotel was so comfortable. It boasts several facilities to ensure the ease of the guests.
One of the perks of this venue is the soundproof walls and windows. When we closed the windows, we barely heard any sound. Thus, we could relax in our room after a long tiring day in San Francisco. Moreover, we enjoyed the indoor pool. It was large and the lounge chairs by the pool were convenient. Adding to the convenience, the Grill & Vine Restaurant inside offers a wide variety of selections and you can order food inside your room.
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Hotel Aura SFO Airport
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Most friendly staff. We enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Aura SFO Airport thanks to the professional people working there. They exerted much effort to make us comfortable and happy. They even offered help without asking. For example, they offered to arrange trips in the city and told us everything we needed to know about public transportation to and from common attractions.
What’s more, the rooms were comfortable to stay in. They had modern furnishing and the bathrooms included good-quality toiletries. We used the airport shuttle service free of charge. The staff will tell you when to expect the shuttle buses. Moreover, we used the free parking in front of the hotel all the nights of our stay. Some hotels with free parking in San Francisco that also offer a secure garage are rare, so, we were happy to find such a feature. The hotel was lovely and the vibes were so intimate. You’ll love your stay there.
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Hotel Aluxor SFO
3
Best for a layover. Hotel Aluxor SFO was our choice for a one-night stay in San Francisco. It isn’t a luxurious hotel but has everything needed for short stays. Our room was super convenient with speedy WiFi accessible from anywhere inside the hotel. In the middle of the day, we opted for some snacks from the vending machines in the lobby. They also serve tea and coffee which was another plus.
The hotel is minutes away from the airport. The shuttle service is free and needs no reservation. You just need to contact the hotel to get the schedule. The bus arrived on time both times to and from the airport. Moreover, we reached restaurants and other shops easily from the hotel. It has a premium location next to many hotspots. There wasn’t much entertainment there but we didn’t need as we only stayed for one night.
“We paid a little amount for a one-night’s stay there and it was a great value for money, along with a great location.”
WOW Travel
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Hotel 1550
2
At Hotel 1550, we had the perfect accommodation we were dreaming of in San Francisco. However, we didn’t pay a lot to book a lovely king room with soundproofing walls and windows. Speaking of which, it’s a must-have feature if you’re staying near the SFO airport. You can watch the planes taking off but you won’t get intimidated by the sounds. The room had basic amenities such as free WiFi, a microwave, a small refrigerator, and a coffee maker. They also offer free hot and cold drinks all day in the lobby.
Further, the free shuttle service works around the clock, which is beneficial for late travelers like us. We wanted to reach the airport past midnight. You can find many hotels with shuttle to SFO airport nearby. Yet, this one is at the top of our list for our intimate stay. The hotel is small, similar to boutique hotels, so we felt at home.
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Grand Hyatt
1
Best location. Grand Hyatt combines all the perks of the previous hotels in one place. It’s literally inside the airport. The shuttle bus is always available and the ride from the hotel to the airport takes a few minutes. Of course, it’s free among other complimentary services the hotel offers. One of those free services was the breakfast. It was one of the most mouth-watering meals we had in San Francisco. We also had the chance to try the on-site Quail and Crane restaurant inside the hotel. The food there satisfied our tastebuds.
We can say that our stay there was a luxurious one. From the spacious room to the complimentary offerings and the room service who kept our room spotless, we didn’t need anything extra to enjoy our accommodation. Even more, the hotel includes a huge pool and a modern fitness center. What else might we ask for?
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Our Verdict!
As mentioned above, we didn’t choose hotels that only offer free shuttle services to the airport. Our selection includes hotels offering airport shuttle among other services. Here are our top recommended stays.
- Best value for money: Hotel Skye San Francisco
- Most friendly staff: Hotel Aura SFO Airport
- Best for a layover: Hotel Aluxor SFO
- Best location: Grand Hyatt
Where to Stay in San Francisco?
San Francisco is a large city with many beautiful areas to stay in. Choosing where to stay depends on your trip and the reason for visiting the city. Downtown is one of our favorite areas. There, we could find restaurants, attractions to visit, and malls within walking distance. Union Square is one of the remarkable attractions there. We love the Hilton Union Square Hotel in particular. You can check our review of this hotel here.
Another lovely district is the Marina District. Though it’s a bit expensive, the scenery there is impeccable. There are a couple of great hotels with views to consider. We also have a list of the best Marina District hotels here. On the other side, if you’re traveling for business, look nowhere except the Financial District. Think skyscrapers, business centers, workspaces, and all business-related venues. This area is also vibrant and worth checking.
Finally, if your most important priority is to reach the airport easily, you might want to look for hotels near the airport. Grand Hyatt is located inside the airport itself. Further, there are many hotels minutes from the airport. You can also consider some of the SFO hotels with free shuttle services mentioned above.
Why is San Francisco so expensive?
San Francisco is a tourism-oriented city with hundreds and thousands of visitors throughout the year. Hence, hotels are usually fully booked and expensive compared to other nearby cities. We picked some of the cheap hotels in San Francisco in case you’re looking for budget-friendly options.
Is it easy to walk around the city?
Yes, SFO is a walkable city. Most neighborhoods are pedestrian-friendly. So, don’t worry about wandering around the city at any time.
Is the SFO Airport too far from the city center?
Relatively no. It’s less than 15 miles from the Downtown. Many hotels offer shuttle services to and from the airport. Also, public transportation is easy there.