We're planning a July trip to San Francisco too, and since it will be our first trip there, I did a lot of research on TripAdvisor to find a hotel. We ended up deciding on the Marriott at Fisherman's Wharf. It had very good reviews, and is supposedly within walking distance of Ghiradelli Square, Chinatown, the trolley, and all the shops and restaurants on the wharf. We got a military rate of $152/night, which I thought was pretty decent for peak season. If you're driving, beware of parking fees when you're looking though. Most hotels I looked at were around $35-$40 per night for parking.