San Francisco Hotel Tips by davequ

I like very much and in the past have stayed at both the Westin St. Francis and the York hotels, but I always seem to end up staying here at Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.

It seems the more you stay here the better they treat you.
Some people don't like this place for the huge interior lobby, the high rack rates, and the retro "forbidden planet" elevators, but I always end up staying here and am always happy with it.

I like some of Mel Brooks' movies, and I remember cracking up the first time I checked in at Hyatt Regency 5 Embarcadero when I realized this is where the "High Anxiety" hotel interiors were shot.

Unique Qualities: The location in Financial District / Embarcadero center is excellent. Right on the "triangle" of Drumm, California, and Market.

The California cable car line up to Nob Hill, the Ferry building, cabstands, BART, and the MUNI are all right outside the front door.

Financial district, North Beach, Chinatown, Embarcadero, SOMA, all within short walking distance.

Excellent views from the revolving restaurant (Equinox now closed) on the top/18th floor - a great place to have a late drink while the bay bridge and the rest of downtown SF go revolving by your table every 1/2 hour or so.

They have rate specials all the time, check the website or call 'em once in a while and ask.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415 788 1234
Address: Five Embarcadero Center
Directions: Financial / Embarcadero center, at the beginning address "triangle" of Drumm, Market, and California, right across Embarcadero from Ferry bldg and the east bay.
Website: http://sanfranciscoregency.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml
Other Contact: Fax: 415 398 2567

Some like it, some think it's tacky, ..... at least it's not boring.

Unique Qualities: Big, open from 4th floor lobby to 18 floor ceiling.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$180 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Five Embarcadero Center

Small, pseudo-hip, excellent North Beach location, not too expensive.
(approx. $175/night with tax).

A fave of writers, artists, eccentrics etc. and the staff (thanks Charles) is patient & helpful.
I would recommend it for a unique & offbeat romantic North Beach getaway.

Good for at least one stay if you like North Beach. I stayed 3 nights and liked it, but then I'm a North Beach freak.

Unique Qualities: Cool building, starts on the 2nd floor as it sits above a good pastry shop.
But for me it's all about location close to all my favorite restaurants, bars, and hangouts.

Good points / advantages:
location; intimate, almost romantic ambience; tastefully furnished with many beat-era photographs in rooms, halls & stairs; free wireless.
The staff is smart, hip, helpful but not overtly nosy.

Caution:
rooms are small with minimal electrical outlets (not for business "gadget freaks");
NO PARKING - you must park a couple blocks away in expensive lots that take cash only. Definitely not "car-friendly." I recommend you park over by Powell and Green St. at Allen Coe's lot next to O'Reilly's. Allen is a cool dude and will give you the best parking price in North Beach.

Some colorful guests as well (including me). NO STAFF on duty after ~ midnight. If you need assistance late at night (lockouts, etc) you have to find a phone, call, & wait (good luck if you're naked ).

I recommend "comfort room" 201 on top floor corner with window overlooking Columbus Ave. Can be a little noisy when Columbus is hoppin' but there are also quieter rooms that don't face the street if you're a light sleeper.

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 433-9111
Address: 444 Columbus Ave - San Francisco, CA 94133
Directions: North Beach on Columbus between Green and Vallejo
Website: http://www.hotelboheme.com
Other Contact: Fax: 415.362.6292

I'm relieved to know the Green Tortoise in North Beach was essentially unaffected by the landslide last night.

I actually had a reason ... a nice dude from Belgrade had asked me (via vtmail) about low-budget accomodations / hostels in North Beach, and I told him to check out the Tortoise based on funky-broadway location.

So I get up this morning and find out the hill behind it took a slide last night around 3am.
First thing I thought of was: " oh sh#, I wonder if the guy from Belgrade got buried because of me."

Luckily not so. I just called & spoke with them and (per the desk) all the Tortoise buildings were unaffected, as they were about 1/2 block west and sit on bedrock, not boulders & mud.

---

At any rate, I like the location of this place for dirt-cheap / affordable beds
(GT is a 200-bed hostel) right in the middle of one of my fave parts of town.

You're right across the street from Enricos' - 1 block from Columbus and all the good North Beach restaurants & clubs; just a few blocks from Chinatown & the financial district as well as the Embarcadero; etc. ... in other words,
it's about location.

If anyone tells you the area isn't safe, they're full of bs: I literally live in this area day & night when I visit the City. Broadway is definitely a little funkified, but imo it is as safe as any other part of SF @ night.

Unique Qualities: I walk by here all the time, I have been inside & spoken with staff, but truth be told, I have never spent the night here (or in any hostel).

I recommend it for the SF / North Beach location; it's close to Chinatown; and it is definitley cheap (about $20/night).

Free breakfast, 2 or 3 free dinners / week, internet, sauna, organized house-parties etc. in what I would describe as a youthful & definitely communal atmosphere.

I checked all over the web, and you will find reviews varying from "great, loved it; can't wait to go back" - to "yuk" and "don't stay here ever" / "bedbugs" etc.

Most of the reviews I have read here at vt and other places are mostly positive.
so my advice is check out their WEBSITE and see what you think.

Their website surely doesn't try to hide anything.

My impression from dropping in, talking to them, and web research is:
if you're into partying in North Beach with a group of young & mostly foreign travelers, and your main SF objectives are location and to save money, you might want to check it out.
If you're in any way: into privacy / quiet / stuffy / constipated / obsessive / 'neat-freak' / light-sleeper / conservative, etc. ... then the Tortoise may be (for you) a gateway to hell.

Let me know what you think if you ever stay there.

Hey, at least if there is a landslide in North Beach
and if you're partying with everybody @ the Tortoise,
it's likely you'll live to party another day.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415.834-1000
Address: 490 Broadway, , San Francisco, California 94110
Directions: Below Dunnes Alley on Broadway, right smack in the middle of North Beach. Across Kearny from Enrico's & the Broadway strip clubs ... just up the hill from the 'Lusty Lady'
Website: http://www.greentortoise.com/san-francisco-hostel/index.php
Other Contact: FAX 415-956-4900

CLOSED - Moved to Mexico

San Francisco hotels are expensive. And sometimes you don't even get what you pay for.

So what could be better than a comfortable bed & breakfast run by vtrs from San Francisco?

And who could give you or I better advice on San Francisco than a couple of vtrs who have lived here for years?

I'm getting sick of the same hotels and for fun I think the next time I go to the City I'm going to give guells place a try.

You can click here for a 20% off coupon,

and if you're a top 2000 member of vt, guells website says "50% off your nightly rate" if you're one of the first 20 VT Members ranked 2000 or better to reserve your room. (That's been up a long time so I don't know if that is still available).

Check out the Arlington Urban website and you'll quickly figure out there is little chance you're beating their prices anywhere in the city.

I've never met them but I hope to someday soon and the place looks like a great deal in a really good location.

Unique Qualities: CLOSED
Location is excellent, close to BART, check the website as the place looks great.

- Satellite TV and DVD player
- CD player and radio with alarm clock
- Wireless internet service – bring your own laptop or use theirs (available upon request)
- Shared phone line - local calls are free
- Hair dryer, iron and ironing board
- Complementary breakfast featuring an assortment of pastries baked on the premises by the resident Pastry Chef Maria, a graduate of Tante Marie's Cooking School
- Great morning coffee or tea
- Morning newspaper - San Francisco Chronicle

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Theme: Bed and Breakfast
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$80-120  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 286-3217 or (415) 286-3186
Address: CLOSED
Website: http://www.arlingtonstreeturbaninn.com/index.htm