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To get the most bang for y our buck at any price point, timing helps. If your dates are flexible, you may benefit from reduced hotel rates. Downtown hotels are cheapest on weekends, whereas the opposite is usually tr ue in the M arina and F isherman s Wharf. During conventions, Union Square and SoMa hotel rates jump, but you could luck out if a hotel hasn t managed to sell all of its r ooms. I t may be willing to offer steep discounts. Another option is to look into hotels off the beaten track, such as in Japantown or Laurel Heights.

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