Northern California Cheap Sleeps: Recommendations for the Budget Traveler

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as it should be
Review: I bought this book secondhand to compliment my web research into cheap accommodation in Northern California. I was hoping I'd find some hideaways that weren't mentioned anywhere on the internet, and maybe save some money when I travel there next year. Unfortunately, the places that are listed are either seriously out of date price-wise (there is a later version of this which presumably solves that problem) or in some cases no longer exist at all. The places that were useful I had already easily found by other means. The author aims to list accommodations under US$70 a night, but many of the places listed now have rates that soar waaaay out of that range! The other disappointment was that she really doesn't list that many places. The majority of the book is taken up with sightseeing information — some of it useful, but this IS called "Cheap Sleeps"! Where are they? Crammed into a page or 2 at the end of each section! Also, Northern California is made up of a great many more areas than she has included - only the "touristy" areas get a mention at all.. the rest are apparently non-existant in her eyes - not much use if those absent areas are the very ones you're visiting! In conclusion, DON'T buy this expecting to find the best cheap places to sleep in N Cal - I found many, many more places off my own bat which don't rate a mention in this book. The only thing I found it useful for was that it DOES mention a number of interesting places to visit in each area and covers a few things rarely covered by other guide books: used bookstores, interesting cinemas etc etc. Hopefully the latest edition is MUCH better than this!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, comprehensive, and personal guide
Review: Rebecca Poole Foree has written a guide to northern California from the Cascades to Lake Tahoe to Berkeley to Big Sur that is ideal not only for the budget traveler but for any traveler with good taste and common sense. The descriptions of all areas are not only budget conscious but perceptive and share the author's personal reflexions about what is of interest in each area. I finally put all the other tour books aside while visiting the area and used the insight and advise of Ms. Foree

exclusively. For the discerning traveler, this guide is the best! Unfortunately, the title implies that only accommadations are included. Perhaps in the future edition( I hope there is one), a title change would give the traveler a clearer sense of the richness of this travel guide. Also, for the budget conscious, The San Francisco Residence Club, 85l California St., (at the top of Nob Hill) is a wonderful place to stay while in San Francisco.