I stayed here with my family - husband and two children. Bad first impressions of the place as the guy on reception who checked us in was unfriendly and didn't even smile (and this was our experience of him whenever we spoke with him during our 4 night stay - though we also saw three other members of the reception staff and they weren't much better!). We had to pay for parking although it wasn't stated on the website that parking wasn't free!
Our room was large but the decor looked tired and dated. The bathroom was tiny. One of the electrical sockets, at floor level, was broken and prime for young children to put their fingers into.
Breakfast was available but wasn't great - various pastries which my normally pastry loving kids thought were awful. One day I went to get juices for my children for breakfast and was told they'd run out the previous night but there was tea or coffee for them. Not the ideal drinks for children! However juice was found a few minutes later.
Cleanliness in the rooms wasn't too bad but the walkways and stairs around the hotel were dirty.
It wasn't until we checked out that we saw a friendly face on reception, a lady who I think possibly could be in charge and she was very friendly and helpful, it's a shame the rest of her staff aren't the same.
I'm giving it 2/5 because I'm factoring in the location, it wasn't too far to walk to the Fisherman's Wharf area.

Welllll....everyone's is right about the location. Excellent.

It looked like there was a construction crew staying at the hotel and they were kinda loud and unruly.

Guess we're a little spoiled. We weren't too impressed with the accommodations and our room smelled kinda musty. We moved to a Hilton in Downtown.

It's all a matter of personal taste and comfort.

The staff was very nice and helpful.

Stayed here with a group of friends for 1 night on the way back down from Lake Tahoe. The hotel staff were very accomodating in letting us book into a room earlier and dropping our bags off. We also managed to get rooms at the back which meant we were spared any road side noise in the evening. The location of the motel is superb. Basically follow highway 101(north) off Van Ness and on to Lombard St. It sits just at the beginning of Lombard St. The rooms were large, clean and comfy and fealt safe. The location as regards sightseeing is perfect. Not too far away from anything and for the price we paid, superb value. All in, well worth the stay, and would definatley use it again.

Just got home from 5 night trip to SF. The Travelodge By The Bay is in a good location! 10 minute walk to the wharf! Nice rooms-bathrooms. Mine just had a shower-but who wants to bathe in a hotel tub anyways. Room was clean and updated. Seemed like a safe neighborhood. Motel staff was great about taking care of loud people above us one night! I would recomend this motel to anyone on a budget who can walk a few blocks to wharf or cabele cars....closest you can get without being at the wharf (which will cost you)