San Francisco
North America · United States
Best Months
Sep, Oct, Nov, Apr, May
Rec. Nights
4 nights
Airports
SFO, OAK, SJC
Avg. Cash
$61 - $1,870/night
Best Value
Overview
San Francisco is one of America most distinctive cities, built on 43 named hills with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the San Francisco Bay on the other. Contrary to popular belief, summer is actually the foggiest and coldest season — September and October deliver the city best weather with warm, clear days in the 70s, a phenomenon locals call Indian Summer. Spring (April-May) is also excellent, with mild temperatures and fewer crowds.
The Golden Gate Bridge remains the city iconic centerpiece, but San Francisco rewards those who explore its neighborhoods. North Beach serves as the city Italian quarter with excellent cafes and City Lights Bookstore. The Mission District delivers world-class burritos and vibrant murals. Chinatown — the oldest in North America — pulses with dim sum houses and herb shops. Fisherman Wharf and Pier 39 draw tourists, but savvy visitors head to the Ferry Building Marketplace for artisan food vendors. A visit to Alcatraz Island, bike rides across the Golden Gate, and strolls through Golden Gate Park round out the experience.
Points travelers will find hotels across major loyalty programs, concentrated in Union Square, SoMa, Fisherman Wharf, and the Financial District. Standout properties include the Palace Hotel (Marriott), the St. Regis San Francisco, and the Hyatt Regency on the Embarcadero waterfront.
Cash vs Points
Hotels in San Francisco range from $61 to $1870 per night. Points redemptions offer 10.54+ cents per point value.
Points Hotel Recommendations
12 properties in San Francisco bookable with points, sorted by value
| Hotel | Program | Check-in | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA | Hyatt | 23,000 | $1,195 | 5.2¢ | May 13 | |
Hyatt Regency San Francisco | Hyatt | 23,000 | $1,195 | 5.2¢ | May 13 | |
Hotel Stratford San Francisco - Handwritten Collection | Accor | 10,595 | $244 | 2.3¢ | May 13 | |
Fairmont San Francisco | Accor | 25,346 | $583 | 2.3¢ | May 14 | |
Ramada by Wyndham Sunnyvale/Silicon Valley | Wyndham | 15,000 | $339 | 2.3¢ | Jul 1 | |
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square | Marriott | 80,000 | $1,399 | 1.8¢ | May 13 | |
Ramada by Wyndham Mountain View | Wyndham | 15,000 | $263 | 1.8¢ | May 13 | |
San Jose Marriott | Marriott | 57,000 | $989 | 1.7¢ | May 13 | |
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto | Hilton | 80,000 | $1,256 | 1.6¢ | May 13 | |
Home2 Suites by Hilton Alameda Oakland Airport | Hilton | 60,000 | $452 | 0.8¢ | May 13 | |
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley | IHG | 40,000 | $251 | 0.6¢ | May 13 | |
Holiday Inn & Suites San Mateo-San Francisco SFO | IHG | 50,000 | $303 | 0.6¢ | May 13 |
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Transfer Points Strategy
Find the best transfer path for your credit card points
If you have Points:
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA
If you have ALL Points:
Hotel Stratford San Francisco - Handwritten Collection
If you have Points:
Ramada by Wyndham Sunnyvale/Silicon Valley
If you have Marriott Bonvoy Points:
The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square
If you have Hilton Honors Points:
Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto
If you have IHG One Rewards Points:
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Berkeley
How to Earn Points for This Trip
The best hotels in San Francisco use World of Hyatt, Accor Live Limitless (ALL), Wyndham Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards points. Here’s how to earn them:
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG
$99
Annual Fee
140,000 IHG One Rewards points — transfers earns IHG One Rewards points directly
- 140K bonus points — enough for 3-5 free nights at many IHG properties
- Earn 26x total at IHG properties and 5x on travel, dining, and gas
- 4th night free on IHG award stays (saves 25% on 4-night bookings)
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton
$150
Annual Fee
130,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly
- Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status
- Earn 12x at Hilton properties, 6x at restaurants and supermarkets
- Free weekend night reward after $15K in calendar year spending
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton
$550
Annual Fee
175,000 Hilton Honors points — transfers earns Hilton Honors points directly
- Automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status (top tier)
- Earn 14x at Hilton properties, 7x on travel and dining
- Free weekend night reward annually + one after $60K spend
Bilt Mastercard®
Bilt
$0
Annual Fee
earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly — only card that earns points on rent — transfers 1:1 to all major hotels
- Earn 1x points on rent with no transaction fees (up to 100,000 pts/yr)
- Earn 3x on dining and 2x on travel
- Transfer 1:1 to Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and Hilton
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt
$95
Annual Fee
60,000 Hyatt points + free night (Cat 1-4) — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly
- Earn 4x at Hyatt hotels and 2x on dining, travel, and gym memberships
- Free night certificate annually (Cat 1-4) worth up to $300+
- Automatic Discoverist elite status
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Chase UR
$95
Annual Fee
75,000 Ultimate Rewards points — transfers earns World of Hyatt points directly, earns Marriott Bonvoy points directly
- Earn 5x on travel through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3x on dining, select streaming, and online groceries
- 1:1 transfer to Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG
Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you apply through our links. This does not affect our recommendations or the price you pay. We independently evaluate every card based on transfer value and earning potential.
Travel Tips
Best Time to Visit
Sep, Oct, Nov, Apr, May
Getting There
SFO, OAK, SJC
Visa & Entry
Check your country's requirements
Budget
From $61/night
Packing Essentials
Pack for the climate
Cultural Tips
Respect local customs
Ask AI About San Francisco
Have questions about traveling to San Francisco with points? Our AI advisor can help you plan the perfect trip, compare hotels, and find the best value redemptions.
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