Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre hotel

The Hotel Del Sol, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, is a three-story motor lodge dating back to the 1950s. It's situated on the tip of the Peninsula in the Marina District and is a good value alternative to some of San Francisco's more centrally located properties. The yellow exterior features Southwestern designs, including colorful murals and mosaic tile work. Blue and yellow mosaic tiles cover the front desk and one of the walls in the lobby. Coffee and chilled water are offered on a counter across from the front desk, which has a bowl of candy and newspapers for guests. Free cookies and milk are served in the afternoon. Bamboo and palm trees provide greenery on the grounds, and there’s a heated saltwater pool at the center of the hotel. The narrow deck has a few lounge chairs and a wheelchair lift. Outside the pool’s fence are patio tables and chairs and there's a circular lawn furnished with hammocks and colorful Adirondack chairs.

The hotel is located in the Marina District in a quiet area that’s in walking distance to Lombard Street, and two blocks from a Mel’s Drive-In and a Taco Bell.  There are plenty of shops, restaurants and bars five blocks away. It’s a 10-minute bus ride or five-minute car ride to Ghirardelli Square and Pacific Heights. The Presidio and Chinatown are each a 10-minute drive away. Pier 39, Aquarium of the Bay, and Alcatraz boat trips at Fisherman’s Wharf are also all a five-minute drive. The San Francisco International Airport is a 35-minute drive from the hotel.

Room categories range from Deluxe Kings to Junior Suites, and all have air-conditioning. Family Rooms have two trundle beds, while Cabana Queen Rooms have pool views. Both suite types have living rooms with sofa beds. Executive Suites are the largest and come with coffeemakers. Rooms have orange painted walls, white modern headboards, rattan chairs, and glass lamps. Features include safes, flat-screen TVs, writing desks, walk-in closets, iPod docks, free Wi-Fi, and irons/ironing boards. Small bathrooms feature wood furnishings, hairdryers, and walk-in showers with wall-mounted toiletries. Pet-friendly rooms are available for a fee. Bedding is washed with eco-friendly products. 

The Hotel Del Sol offers covered on-site parking with striped curtains sealing off garage stalls. There are snack and soda vending machines and an ice maker on the ground floor. The hotel also has a free morning Lincoln Town Car service for business travelers commuting to the Financial District and/or convention centers. For parents traveling with kids, the "Summer Kids Are VIPs Program" provides access to a movie library and snow cones.