Hotels in San Francisco

[Darren Wheeler]

Morning

Just doing the planning for next September and looking at hotels in San Francisco. Not too fussed in what area as long as it has good links to public transport as I'll have ditched the car by then.

I've looked at the Mandarin Oriental as they seem highly rated, but having now regained consciousness I think I need to look elsewhere.

Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks

Morning Darren.

The Family mdvipond (Senior Ponds as well) did the Four Seasons on Market Street last year and we all absolutely loved it. Very comfortable, extremely professional, pleasantly stylish. Great restaurant with (as of last November) a British executive chef who came out to chat with us (with complementary 'dipping desserts') when the waiters told him some Brits were in!

Two blocks from Union, cable cars pass in front of the hotel. Wish I was there now, actually...

[Pete]

Well, I've stayed in a few San Francisco hotels, and I can tell you where *not* to stay [;)]

Fisherman's Wharf is overpriced and overrated - I've stayed at the Sheraton there, and it was not of Sheraton quality. Almost as if because it's a tourist area, the punters won't notice. It seemed to be a similar deal in that area, and most of the hotels have that slightly 70s-dated look and feel.

Several places sell themselves on their historical charm. Don't be fooled - this just means they're run down old dumps. The hotel I was very nearly going to be in in a couple of weeks, the Westin St Francis, is ok, but it's a really quite old building that has the faint whiff of the Liverpool Adelphi about it. I think I'm going to stick with the modern places like the W and Westin Market Street from now on!

Bazz (and others) swear by the Mark Hopkins, although personally I'd put them more in the St Francis camp, being all 'historical' (in San Francisco, anything over 100 years is ancient). For me, the downtown / third street / moscone area is the place to stay. Good access to the rest of the city, and it's a pretty nice area around Yerba Buena Gardens (spelling?).

Pete

[Bazz]

We have stayed in the MO but something about the Mark keeps bringing us back, we have three nights planned there in early January. If you book a Club/Executive room you get complimentary membership of the Club Intercontinental which offers a open bar early evening with free soft drinks always available and breakfast/lite lunch/evening snacks all included in the Executive Club Lounge on the ground floor.

In February IHG open the brand new Intercontinental San Francisco on Howard Street. This looks very exciting. Link

The Ritz Carlton is a fantastic hotel but if the MO prices made you cough best not to look[:D].A couple of years ago we stayed at the Westin St Francis very good bed and that was it.Last few times been to the Hilton on O'Farrell street also right by union square.They do have some very nice rooms and seem quite generous with upgrades for HH Gold and diamonds.Nice bar area,public areas recently renovated,good top floor restaurant,good room service and room renovations have been going on a couple of years.Sometimes very good rates couple of xmas's ago we got a room for under $100 a night.Downside it's a big hotel with a lot of functions so always very hectic.They do also have some broom cupboards so unless you have HH status or are going to be paying for at least a junior suite you could end up with one of these I think all of the main tower rooms have been renovated.

I can't recommend the Hotel Vitale highly enough - I've stayed at many of the places others recommend and would add to any no list the Francis Drake (tiny rooms), the Clift (similar and now dated), W (staff have issues) and agree about the Westin with Pete. But nowhere has beaten the Vitale - spectacular rooms facing the bay, great modern design, fabulous amenities in room, staff were fab on my last two stays, location is a walk from Union Square but easy by transport / taxi to anywhere and close to Moscone / Yerba, and very good bars and restaurants on the doorstep.

[RichardMannion]

See I have an understanding with the Westin now after some patchy service, and it is in a good location. You can often get a rate there for ~$150 which is great.

Will possibly try the W next time I am in town though.

http://www.tripadvisor.com is indispensable for forming an opinion, but...

I stay at the Clift every time I go and I LOVE IT (dif'rent strokes, slinky! [:)]).

GJ

Hi All,

I'm actually am going to be at the Mark Hopkins IC in SFO in early Jan for the first time. Hopefully its a good one!

Bazz, I am there in early Jan as well, you think we are going to bump into each other?:)

[Bazz]

k3nnis see PM.

I can't recommend the Hotel Vitale highly enough

Going to give that a try on our next visit,looks very nice.

[Darren Wheeler]

Thank you ladies and Gents. Given me many options to investigate. Please keep them coming.

A suggestion for the 'cheaper end'

We stayed at the Comfort Inn by the Bay, we wanted/needed to be in the Wharf areas as a friend lives in Fort Mason which is nearby.

Rooms were ok, clean tidy but nothing flash.

Like others say the area is expensive, we paid £60 per night through BA holidays but heard reception trying to get $220 per night out of people.

I know the Wharf is overpriced and I suppose over rated to a degree, but with it being my first time in SFO I really enjoyed it, however but I am sitting here in miserable Middlesbrough so know where I would rather be today

One of our best meals was at a Japanese BBQ place where I had Kyobi steak for the first time, you cook everything yourself on your own grill. http://www.jubanrestaurant.com/main.htm

Lesley

The Orchard is very nice.

Or rent yourself a nice apartment -

http://www.vrbo.com

[Darren Wheeler]

Been having a look through the other treads and the Hotel Nikko has been mentioned. It looks very nice too. Any recent experiences?

The Nikko in SF -- indeed, the entire Nikko chain -- used to be rather chic. Kind of Mandarin Oriental before Mandarin Oriental was Mandarin Oriental. My parents used to stay at the one in LA (it was very close to my house), and I spent a night or two at the one in San Francisco. A very minimal vibe pervaded, and some rooms had Japanese tubs (sit up in deep water) and shoji screens.

I haven't a clue what they are like today, but I rather got the feeling they'd lost the luxury plot. Maybe not...

Cheers!

GJ (Who still swears by The Clift)

[ChuckC]

I worked at the St. Francis about 35 years ago, and it's much the same as back then. The Mark is, after all, the Mark, and along with the St. Francis and the Fairmont, the Clift et al are the historic gold trust of SF hotels.

The Nikko is good; I've stayed there twice.

Chuck-

[mcmbenjamin]

IIRC folks for shack up at the MO can use the Equinox Gym free. The Equinox Gym is in a really cool building (old Federal Reserve Bank).

Originally posted by mcmbenjamin
IIRC folks for shack up at the MO can use the Equinox Gym free. The Equinox Gym is in a really cool building (old Federal Reserve Bank).

I would also give a thumbs up to the LA Sports Club in the Four Seasons on Market Street -- a wonderful facility!

GJ

[mcmbenjamin]

Oh,

If anyone plans on running the SF Marathon then stay at the Hotel Vitale as it is ON the start line.

[Bazz]

Ben, I would rather stay at somewhere on the finish line! [;)]

[y] @ Bazz. Me, too -- so I could raise a glass to all those poor sods what just ran 26.2 miles whilst I relaxed [:p]

GJ

[Darren Wheeler]

I now have hotel browsing overload. Too many choices. Looking at some, I have the feeling I would be taken out the back and either fumigated, dunked in the Bay or just shot [B)]

I wonder how they'll cope with my vagabond appearance after 10 days in Yellowstone getting close to nature? After 3 days in the Adirondacks even the local Days Inn nearly hosed me down.

Sorry - late to the thread. The Vitale is one of Joie De Vivre's (http://www.jdvhotels.com/) hotels, and they're all pretty good. My company has a rate at their Adagio (http://www.jdvhotels.com/) on Geary Street and I've never had a bad experience there - just a few blocks up from Union Square, big, well appointed rooms, and really friendly service. Cortes, their restaurant, has won various awards.

It's not in the MO/W/Four Seasons league for swank or price, but I've recommended it to several friends going to SF and they've all appreciated the recommendation.

Sorry to bring up old topic, but am on information overload for hotels in San Fran, but first need to know which area to stay in and it seems there's quite a lot of experts amongst you.

Bit of backgroung, short 2 night stay as a catch your breath stop over, never been to city before, intend to visit Alcatraz, Fishermans Wharf etc. On my own with two teenage boys, need to feel safe and comfortable, dont need nightlife, or noise.

On hotel front not in MO/RC league but like comfort and good service and would prefer to stay clear of any one of the big chains. But have Marriott points so if in a chain it would prob have to be one of those. So if anyone knows which is in best location would be helpful

Any opinions would be great, cheers

Lynne