SFO Hotels? W? Hotel Vitale?

We have 2 nights planned in SFO in September and can't decide where to stay. In the past we have stayed at the Argonaut and loved it.

We have been looking at W and also Hotel Vitale and although we have checked tripadvisor, we wondered if anyone here has any experience of either of these hotels?

We really want to be pretty close to SBC ballpark and not too far from Fishermans Wharf if possible.

Any comments?

Thanks
Shaz

[preiffer]

Originally posted by shazam
We really want to be pretty close to SBC ballpark and not too far from Fishermans Wharf if possible.

Shaz,

You might struggle with that, given that they're quite a distance away from each other .

I'd suggest somewhere around Union Square/4th & Market if you want to be near-ish to both places... The Marriot's quite nice (Great bar on the top floor, called "The View".

Originally posted by preiffer
You might struggle with that, given that they're quite a distance away from each other .

LOL - true, but they're easily linked by the public transport system That said, if you stay by PacBell Park (SBC Park sounds so wrong) and there's a game on, the traffic will be horrendous (it'd be advisable to check the Giants schedule first )

Cheers

Michael

[preiffer]

Originally posted by mcuth
PacBell Park (SBC Park sounds so wrong)

Agreed. I still have my photos of games there with the real name in the background. I don't think I know of even one local that actually calls it by it's "new" name.

PacBell Park (SBC Park sounds so wrong)

Sorry mcuth, I don't mean to offend, it's just that is what is said on the map and that's where Green Day are playing on the Saturday night.

Here is my reasoning....

Ignoring the Friday when we arrive as we haven't really got plans for that day/night. On the Saturday night we want to be somewhere that is within a reasonable walking distance of the PacBell Park, we have been in the situation before where we find ourselves out at one of these venues with not a cab to be seen. Now I can walk for miles when I've had a few beers, so a couple of miles is no problem, should the need arise. On the Sunday morning we like to wander down to the Eagle Cafe on Pier 39 for a chilli omelette and beer for breakfast before a leisurely stroll back to the hotel for a wash and brush up before the car picks us up to take us to the airport around 12ish

Mcuth, I will check the schedules but do you think there would be a game on the same day as a night concert? Is it held in the same part or is there a separate areana thingy?

So bearing those factors in mind now what do you think?

Thanks guys

S

[fozzyo]

We've only stayed at two hotels in SF. The Marriott, nice hotel - but nothing too special or exciting. We wanted to stay at the W (a friend tells me its fabulous) but had to trim the budget somewhere so this time we opted for a hotel on Priceline, can't remember where we ended up though.

The other time we stayed in a hotel, I think it was the Crowne Plaza - it was something Plaza. Anyway you have the nice end of Market Street by Union Square / The Apple Store and the other nice area - up by the Castro. Well this hotel was stuck in the scummier bit in between those two, but there is a Muni station right outside. Nice enough for a bed for a few nights, nothing out of the ordinary though.

Foz xx

Originally posted by preiffer
Agreed. I still have my photos of games there with the real name in the background. I don't think I know of even one local that actually calls it by it's "new" name.

Absolutely agreed - think the only time I hear the "new" name is when commentators say it! And here's me in front of the clock:

Originally posted by shazam
Sorry mcuth, I don't mean to offend, it's just that is what is said on the map and that's where Green Day are playing on the Saturday night.

Don't worry, no offence taken

Originally posted by shazam
Mcuth, I will check the schedules but do you think there would be a game on the same day as a night concert? Is it held in the same part or is there a separate areana thingy?

PacBell Park is one big stadium, no separate arena or anything - I'd say that logistics would make it impossible for them to hold an afternoon game, then do a big concert in the evening as well. The Giants are only at home on Fridays & Satdis on the 9/10th & 16/17th Sept (the Satdi games are both 1305hrs starts - which'll bode well for the traffic when I arrive on the 17th! [:(]), so I think you'll probably escape that. Mind, the traffic will probably be a nightmare for the concert too - LOL!

You could try the Hyatt Regency in the Embarcadero centre, which would put you about halfway between Fisherman's Wharf & PacBell Park - see this location map:



I've stayed there before, and it's pretty decent

Cheers

Michael

Hotel Vitale it is then

It's on the corner of Mission and the Embarcadero and I've read some great reviews.

I'll let you know how we get on. Hopefully we'll get to meet up on this trip Foz and Mcuth?

Thanks for your help

Shaz

[fozzyo]

Does anyone else love the way that the Muni annoucements say "Embarcadero"?

Hope so ... cocktails followed by giggling and falling over sounds fun to me!

Foz xx

Originally posted by shazam
Hopefully we'll get to meet up on this trip Foz and Mcuth?

You never know :D

Cheers

Michael

Originally posted by mcuth

Originally posted by shazam
Hopefully we'll get to meet up on this trip Foz and Mcuth?

You never know :D

Cheers

Michael

Don't tease me Michael!

S

Originally posted by fozzyo
We've only stayed at two hotels in SF. The Marriott, nice hotel - but nothing too special or exciting. We wanted to stay at the W (a friend tells me its fabulous) but had to trim the budget somewhere so this time we opted for a hotel on Priceline, can't remember where we ended up though.

The other time we stayed in a hotel, I think it was the Crowne Plaza - it was something Plaza. Anyway you have the nice end of Market Street by Union Square / The Apple Store and the other nice area - up by the Castro. Well this hotel was stuck in the scummier bit in between those two, but there is a Muni station right outside. Nice enough for a bed for a few nights, nothing out of the ordinary though.

Foz xx

Fozzyo - please don't bother with the W. Great bar but the rooms are tired, the staff snooty, and even tho SF is expensive you can do better. Stayed for 8 nights a couple of years ago and on a $3,500 bill they made a $40 mistake and wouldn't accept it and were incredibly rude.

The St Francis can be a nightmare too. Have had some good times at the Drake and think Harry Denton's Starlight Lounge is fabulous, was in a Richter 5 earthquake up there once and glasses fell off the table but all carried on with great fun!

Overall though I have to concur that the Marriott is decent, well located and good value for the city.

Originally posted by slinky09
The St Francis can be a nightmare too. Have had some good times at the Drake and think Harry Denton's Starlight Lounge is fabulous, was in a Richter 5 earthquake up there once and glasses fell off the table but all carried on with great fun!

The time I stayed there, I ended up in a room directly under the Starlight Lounge - believe me, it felt like there was a bloody earthquake going on! [V]

Originally posted by shazam
Don't tease me Michael!

Me? Would I?



Cheers

Michael

[fozzyo]

Not doing the W, can't remember where Priceline got us in the end. It begins with an A and is one or blocks down from the Marriott.

Foz xx

[preiffer]

Originally posted by fozzyo
Not doing the W, can't remember where Priceline got us in the end. It begins with an A and is one or blocks down from the Marriott.

Was it The Argent, by any chance? (between Market & Mission, on 3rd Street.

We booked the Hotel Vitale last night and managed to get what looks like a good deal. Time will tell!

Will let you know what it's like on our return.

Mcuth - I will hunt you down if you don't manage to meet up with us this time....gotta be third time lucky surely?

Shaz

Shaz,

Thanks for the good recommendation of Hotel. I have also booked this hotel for my few days in SF after the v-flyer bash in vegas. Great location and a very good price on expedia[y] Nice relaxing spa. Just what a need to recover. Superior King waterfront rm for £82/night:D

Thanks
Iain

iforres1

No problem, the reviews I saw on Tripadvisor were very good.

You got an excellent price! We booked a Deluxe Waterfront King and got it for $269, which was what they call a Grand Slam Baseball Package - original price was $339 The part I liked was 'All Deluxe Waterfront Rooms feature spa-style bathrooms with rainforest shower heads' I don't know what it is but is sounds heavenly [^]

I'll take some photos and post them on my return.

Shaz

[Decker]

Rainforest shower heads will be those things with a flattish head the size of a side plate so the water falls softly and in quantity like a tropical rain. Very nice too. :>

[fozzyo]

Was it The Argent, by any chance? (between Market & Mission, on 3rd Street.

Yup - thats the one. )

Foz xx

Originally posted by shazam
Mcuth - I will hunt you down if you don't manage to meet up with us this time....gotta be third time lucky surely?

Uh-oh, that sounds ominous
Am fairly sure I'll be in the city at some point while you're over - just exactly when is another question altogether

Cheers

Michael

Hotel Vitale is a great hotel to relax and recharge when in SF.

On the Seventh floor there is a Waterfront Terrace that is get for watching the sunrise with a cup of joe and the sunset with a great glass of wine.

The rooms at great with four choices of relaxation CDs, 24 in flat panal TV and high speed internet.

I suggust staying at here on a Friday night so you can visit the Market at the Ferry Terminal that is across the street on Saturdays 8AM to 12:30PM.

Katana

[ChuckC]

Welcome to VFlyer, Katana, and thanks for the update on the Vitale.

Regards,
Chuck-

[preiffer]

Sky and I just met up with mcmbenjamin this afternoon - he was staying at the Vitale. His impression was certainly good - and also mentioned the terrace...

[mcmbenjamin]

And I hear they put lemon shampoo in the rooms and will serve milk and warm chocolate chip cookies on the seventh floor terrace. BTW- Do not get room 704 as it over looks the terrace and people on the terrace can see everything that is happening in the room it the curtains are not 100 percent closed. The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day; second level. No charge for in room high speed internet. And offer an industry rate too.

I have had been mcmbenjamin, mcmben, etcara for seven years now; It is time for a change.

BTW - The new iPod kicks ar@e!