This is where you want to stay
My wife and I booked two nights at the Columbus Motor Inn, primarily because of its location and the fact that it has a garage for guests' vehicles. We lucked out on both counts. The Columbus was easy to find, convenient to just about everything a tourist would want to see or do, had comfortable and roomy accommodations (our room -- #101 -- even included a cozy balcony overlooking the avenue), and as a major plus boasted one of the all-time most helpful, pleasant and engaging desk clerks we've ever encountered. Noah really knows the town, can point you to the best places to eat in Chinatown, North Beach and Fisherman's Wharf, and is an endless fount of helpful tips on getting around San Francisco's maze-like street system. Highly recommended!