San Francisco Hotel Tips by madamx

The Hotel Vitale is located near the waterfront, right across the street from the Ferry Building. We had a short, but comfortable stay on a layover from Mexico heading home.The staff are extremely professional, pleasant and polite. The night concierge was especially helpful in arranging our shuttle back to the airport early the following morning.

Unique Qualities: The room was exactly what was depicted on their website, but there were .... um ..... slight issues with the bathroom. The door is a sliding door. It rests on top of the bathroom entrance, leaving a space of about 3/4 " not sealing the area like conventional door. Therefore, let's just say you better be very open to listening to bodily functions of your roomie. I was travelling with my husband, and there's just some things that should remain private between man and wife. Also, the bathroom has a huge walk-in shower with a clever hole cut out in the glass wall so you can reach in and adjust the temperature. However, if you are about 5'2" like me, your arm probably is not long enough and my husband had to run the shower hot for me before I got in. Not so clever after all.

There is odd use of space in the room -- an extra blanket and pillows are placed in a neat canvas bag in a corner, when there is a huge shelf in the closet, unused. Also, the hair dryer is tied in a little canvas bag hanging on a hook. Sort of tricky to get open when you are dripping wet and straight out of the shower. However, the Fresh lemon scented bath amenities are a nice change from the usual stuff, and of course I packed them away to take home to enjoy.

The room service food was superb, try the homemade chocolate chip cookies and organic milk or the brownie for dessert. Even on our late arrival that evening, it arrived within 20 minutes, fresh and very tasty.

Because of the bathroom issue, I would probably not return to the hotel, but the hotel is very nice and again, the staff couldn't do enough for us. We would return probably to the restaurant, where I hear the critics rate the food quite highly, and rightly so.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: 8 Mission Street
Directions: Right across the street from the Ferry Terminal Building
Website: http://www.hotelvitale.com/

I highly recommend this hotel if someone else is paying or if you have deep pockets for that very special occaision. In our case, my husband's company had deep pockets, and we had no idea what a wonderful experience we were in for as I arrived for a week's visit and my husband went to a software conference.

DISCRETION is the operative word here; this is the perfect hotel to hide out in or have a discreet rendevous. The bell desk is located up an alleyway, and the main desk is located 5 floors up from the bell desk. The main entrance on Market Street has silver lettering the same grey as the elegant outdoor granite walls, so you could very easily walk by the hotel if the doorman wasn't present.

The Seasons restaurant, washrooms and business centre, and elevators are all hidden behind half walls, so it can be very confusing for about a day and a half to find your way around or even out.

Unique Qualities: This hotel is a quiet, pampering oasis after experiencing the hubbub of San Francisco, and the staff cannot do enough for you. The decor is modern, warm and very elegant, but not over the top that you're afraid to sit down and relax on any of the comfy couches in the lounge area -- complete with gas fireplace and dubbed "The Living Room". I could not get over the decor -- all sight lines in the main areas are amazingly Architectural Digest-perfect.. The staff are so accomodating you do often wonder if they are for real, but they are genuine and do want you to have a good experience and I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends as we checked out.

The Frette sheets and L'Occitaine bath products are to die for, plus the turn-down service (those maids MUST carry an iron for those 600-count cotton duvet covers, I don't know how they get them so smooth) is complete with soft lighting and smooth jazz turned on your personal radio/cd player. All beds have down pillows and comforters. The pictures of the rooms on their website is very accurate.

If you want to stay here, please, puuuuleease spring for a view suite -- you will thank yourself. The rooms are bigger and either get a view of Market Street or Yuerba Buena Gardens; also, book on the high floors as the traffic can get pretty noisy. The bathrooms are all marble and huge, complete with separate shower and soaking tub.

This hotel is walking distance to many sites and shopping, and is also very convenient to public transit. The staff are very helpful in helping you find your way around, plus the hotel can give you a good map of the area.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: 757 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Directions: If arriving by car, ask the hotel for specific directions, as your entrance will NOT be on Market Street.
Website: http://www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco/index.html

We couldn't ask for anything more in this lovely accommodation. We found Rick, the owner, to be attentive but unobtrusive and quickly available by phone or in person. I highly recommend this place. It was nice to come "home" after a day out, make mac and cheese for a change from all the restaurant food, relax in your jammies, and watch tv or listen to music on the stereo.

Unique Qualities: Huge tastefully decorated one bedroom with two baths; one with an old fashioned soaker tub, and one with a shower. Full kitchen and living room; a nice deck with plants and chairs, also a beautiful garden in the back. It has it's own private entrance with a locked gate, only accessible by code. Located in a beautiful renovated victorian in Upper Haight. Very conveniently located near Golden Gate Park and public transit. Also across the street from Buena Vista Park; there's a playground and tennis courts there.

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-551-5111
Address: 1150 Haight Street
Directions: Upper Haight is otherwise known as Haight Ashbury; however, we felt safe in the area where the house is located. However, I wouldn't recommend wandering around late at night. Also, Rick will tell you which areas to avoid.
Website: home.earthlink.net/~ricksbb/
Other Contact: www.bedandbreakfast.com