It's the Typical family travel conundrum: a big room at a great price is in all likelihood under an overpass far from anything interesting. If there’s a pool, you probably wouldn’t want to put more than your foot in it. But this being San Francisco, the usual conventions don’t apply.

The newly renovated Americania Hotel is a partnership between good ol’ Best Western and the urban innovation of the Joie de Vivre, managers of two other low-cost boutique properties across the street. Sure, the 143-room Americania sits on the sketchier side of SoMa, but an onsite, covered parking option for US$20 and plenty of foot traffic during the day mitigate most of the perceived threat to the jittery tourist. Inside, the rooms start below US$150, but if you’re travelling with three or more, spend the extra US$30 and get one of the 11 suites, which sleep up to six people and, combined with the property’s mid-century décor, resemble the shabby-chic California flats in posh home magazines.

The entire hotel is remarkably a destination in itself—a great accomplishment for a downtown bargain—with a cheap and cheerful licensed burger joint serving breakfast, and the clincher: a clean, large outdoor third-floor heated pool and sundeck… with city views.

Rooms start at US$137.

americaniahotelsf.com