San Francisco Hotel Tips by Ewingjr98

When I was looking for a hotel in the Union Square area, I was discouraged to see most were $200-$300 per night. After a few days of searching I stumbled onto the Kensington Park Hotel that had rooms for as low as $115. The reviews sounded generally positive, but a warning was repeated: they will often overbook this hotel, then try to move you to another hotel in the area that is not as nice. I decided to book the room on Orbitz.com so if they tried to move me, I had someone in my corner to complain to, rather than being at the whim of the hotel staff. It worked out in my favor, too... we checked in around 7pm, and the only room left in the hotel was their "Royal Suite" on the top floor. This small, but excellent room has views of Union Square, a flat screen TV, antique furniture, mirrored walls, a very nice bed, free wireless internet, and more. Maybe the biggest complaint was the in-room coffee only made one cup.

The hotel offers valet parking for around $30 a night and there is a nice restaurant on site. With Union Square only a half block away from the front door, you will be hard pressed to find a less expensive or more convenient hotel.

A few things to know about the Kensington Park: their website will not allow you to book a standard king or queen room for two adults; it forces you to book their more expensive "double-double" room. If you book on their website, they will often try to move you to another of the company's seven hotels in the Union Square area; if you book on a third party website such as Orbitz, you can avoid this inconvenience.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 800-553-1900
Address: 450 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Directions: 1/2 block from Union Square on Post Street
Website: http://www.kensingtonparkhotel.com/

When we go to San Francisco we always try to stay somewhere around Union Square, while avoiding touristy Fisherman's Wharf and the low-rent districts around the Tenderloin. The area around Union Square puts us close to AT&T Park and the trendy SoMa nightlife, a short walk to Chinatown and the Ferry Building, just a short cab ride (or long 45-minute walk) to the North Beach nightlife area, and right on the BART line connecting us to Oakland and the Mission District.

On our most recent trip, Memorial Day Weekend 2008, we searched for a hotel around Union Square, but on this busy weekend we ended up using our old standby, Priceline. Using their bidding feature, we were lucky enough to book the downtown Courtyard for two nights at about $105 a night, a real bargain for a hotel of this quality in the area (regular price for this weekend was about $200 a night).

We arrived at the hotel around 7pm, and quickly checked in with no problems. The only unique thing was having to sign a form saying I wouldn't have a prom party in my room... I laughed, thinking I'm too old to host a prom party, but it was a sign of things to come. As we made our way up to our room, the overly rich kids who can afford to spend a weekend in the middle of San Francisco on their parents' white-collar salaries were dressed up and heading out to prom. That first night we arrived back to the hotel late (maybe 3am) so all was quiet. Our second night, around midnight things got lively as these wealthy brats were running up and down the hallway from about midnight until 3 or 4 am. When we checked out the next day there was a pile of cake outside our door and tired high school kids trying to come in.

Other than the noise the hotel is good. It is just a few blocks from Market Street and the Montgomery Street BART Station, and maybe five blocks from AT&T Park. Parking is available for around $40 a day. They have a pool, fitness center, bar, restaurant, and outdoor patio. They also have free Cat-5 internet connection in the rooms.

A nice hotel if you avoid prom season.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-947-0700
Address: 299 Second Street, , San Francisco, California 941
Directions: Between AT&T Park and Market Street on Second
Website: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sfocd-courtyard-san-francisco-downtown/

The Mosser is a historic building just off Market Street, maybe two blocks from Union Square and just around the corner from the San Francisco Shopping Center. The building was constructed in 1913, but recently remodeled in 2003, so all of the rooms are new and modern.

We stayed here in summer 2007 due to the location (near Union Square and walking distance to AT&T Park) and the relatively low price... yes $140 + $20 in taxes is low for this neighborhood on a summertime Friday night (though just a month earlier, prices were much cheaper). We were heading to the Giants game, so we parked at a nearby garage ($30 for 24 hours) and walked to the stadium, deciding to check in after the night game. Later, after the visiting Pirates beat the Giants 8-7 and we stopped for a few beers...we finally checked in around 1:30am. Service was prompt as we were the only people in the lobby at that time of night! Our room was especially tiny...only in Japan have I seen hotel rooms barely 10 feet by 10 feet--so small the 6 inch TV was attached to the bed to get it out of the way. The queen-size bed was almost too big for the room.

The room was nice with a ceiling fan (no A/C), a new alarm clock/radio/CD player, and modern furnishings, but it lacked free wifi, had no view, and was noisy in the morning with the homeless guys out in the street below yelling at 6am.

Not a bad place in a pinch, but expensive considering the size of the room. Clean and safe are certainly plusses here.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Address: 54 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

The Marine Memorial Club and Hotel was created in 1946 to honor the Marines who died in the Pacific Theater of WWII. The club is considered a Living Memorial with a series of displays in the lobby to commemorate the history of the USMC since its inception in 1775. The 11th floor of the hotel hosts the General Ames Library/Museum and the rest of the building is covered with autographed paintings, authentic artifacts, and plaques memorializing key events in Marine history.

Besides the museum, the Marine Memorial Club is also a hotel! It has various rooms and suites starting around $250 for non-members, but only about $90 for club members. The hotel features a fitness center, pool, theater, and a few restaurants and lounges.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 673-6672
Address: 609 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Directions: One block off Union Square
Website: http://www.marineclub.com/

We stayed at the La Quinta Inn at the airport in South San Francisco because Laura had a relatively early flight in the morning. I made my reservations online for a $69 per night rate (plus about $10 in taxes and fees). When we arrived, my reservation hadn't come through their system yet, despite the fact that we had made booked the 8 or 9 hours earlier. The hotel is pretty nice, but nothing luxurious, like most La Quinta's. Though the room had internet service, I was unable to connect with my laptop. Coffee is included in the room, but the vending machines only had soft drinks and water, no juices. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and it offers make--your-own waffles, boiled eggs, sausage, fruits, cereals, and juices. Parking at the hotel is ample, and the airport is just 2 miles away. The hotel is right off Highway 101 and the parking lot is shared with Lyons Restaurant. Other nearby restaurants include a few fast food joints, plus Hungry Hunter and the Firehouse Grill. There are also a Howard Johnson's and a Motel 6 nearby.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Address: 20 Airport Blvd, south san francisco
Directions: Airport Blvd exit off Hwy 101 just north of the airport.