San Francisco Hotel Tips by atufft Top 5 Page for this destination

Intercontinental Mark Hopkins: Classic San Francisco atop Nob Hill

This hotel is both one of the oldest and best hotels in San Francisco, and has been purchased and revamped by the Intercontinental chain of luxury hotels. The location atop Nob Hill is outstanding and celebrated, and most of the rooms still have excellent views of the city, even though a number of high rise building compete for view space. Service is also outstanding. Although rooms could be dated given the age of the hotel, they certainly are not. My room on the sixth floor included a suite with flat screen TV and comfortable furniture, while the bedroom had it's own flat screen TV and a very comfortable bed. My view wasn't the greatest, but then it was paid for by an insurance company that needed my testimony in a deposition.

Unique Qualities: This is old world charm at it's best. The service here is as good as it gets. Don't forget to eat the breakfast buffet at the top of the hotel, which has 360 degree views of the city. Don't park your car here. I'd park the car at the Stockton Garage, then take a taxi with the luggage, if you must have a car at all. During my stay, I came with only carry-on luggage via BART, then walked from the Embarcadero Station up California Street. Cable Cars won't permit tourists with luggage unless for some freak reason the Cable Car is empty.

Address: 999 California Street SF

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: 415-392-3434

Price: US$180 and up

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.intercontinentalmarkhopkins.com

Wyndham at 590 Bush Street: WorldMark Resort Members Only

The WorldMark Club hotels have a reputation for being self-contained resorts located far from where the traditional action would be. This is not the case with the 590 Bush Street (corner of Stockton) Wyndham Hotel, which is the newly renovated 9 story classic old Juliana Hotel building. The studio suites are actually sizeable enough, and ours had a good view across the city. Right above the Stockton Tunnel, Union Square, Chinatown, North Beach, and Nob Hill are all within easy walking distance. TV, refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker are all part of the suite. The rooms are well kept and the beds comfortable. The downside is that only WorldMark Club members may have access to this hotel. But, considering the patrons I saw coming and going, I'd e-mail or telephone the manager and ask for a rate even if you aren't member. This should be a budget minded hotel, and it's in a great location.

Address: 590 Bush Street

Other Contact: todd.caniglia@wyndhamvo.com

Phone: 415-248-2800

Theme: Hotel

Seal Rock Inn: Stay here August through October, Maybe Seal Rock Inn Review

I haven't stayed here, but I'm familiar with this location and the hotel's reputation. This recently updated but otherwise old fashioned and cramped hotel is remote from the usual tourist haunts--except for access to the Pacific coast, The Presidio National Park, Cliff House, Sutro Baths, Golden Gate Bridge, etc.

Unique Qualities: Most folks would find the weather here foggy, blustery, and otherwise simply dreary except during August through October when "Indian Summer" makes San Francisco a welcome escape from 90F plus days further inland. During this time, the fog tends to clear out mid-morning and return at night. Even so, neighborhoods on the Bay side of the city are more likely to provide the cool and pleasant late summer weather tourist expect from San Francisco. In winter, the bay side is similarly more protected from coastal winds and fog. One big advantage of staying here would be relatively easy access to the fine dining of the Outer and Inner Richmond Neighborhoods, which have some of the best kept secrets in the city. The Outer and Inner Richmond are real SF neighborhoods with authentic Asian and other ethnic California style restaurants, often highly rated by SF Gate.com. This hotel is also within flat no hills walking distance, albeit a long walking distance, from Golden Gate Park. The residential architecture of this city is mostly late 1920's, and of less interest to some other parts of the city. Some of MUNI's worst public transport is in this part of the city, where there are as yet no MUNI trains or trolley cars, and even the bus service has been a source of complaint for residents.

Address: 545 Point Lobos Avenue, San Francisco, California, 94121-1499, United States

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Within walking distance of Lincoln Park and Presidio. It's a long taxi ride from the SFO.

Theme: Hotel

The Orchard Hotel: Eco-Friendly but Upscale Orchard Garden Hotel Review

Unique Qualities: Among the renovated boutique hotels in town is the newly created Orchard Hotel, in the lobby of which is located a restaurant where we dined--Roots. I noticed right away though that the hotel decorations were made from recycled or sustainably produced materials, such as bamboo, hemp, etc. In fact, the following is found at the hotel website: Welcome to San Francisco’s newest and ‘greenest’ hotel – the Orchard Garden Hotel! Newly built in the heart of San Francisco, the Orchard Garden Hotel is California’s first generation of truly ‘green’ hotels – the only hotel built to the nationally accepted standards for green buildings developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – for which we earned a coveted “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” (LEED®) certification. When we earned this award in June, 2007, the Orchard Garden was only the third hotel in the U.S. and the fourth hotel in the world with this certification.* Thus, the building is not only green in construction, but also was renovated with energy savings in mind. Each well insulated and sound proofed room has not only recycling bins, but free wifi and an ipod docking station as well. The quality of this hotel is very apparent, and I expect that the service is very good too. I have no idea about prices or anything, so check out the website and contact the hotel for this information.

Address: 466 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Directions: 466 Bush, near Grant Avenue. One block from Union Square; half block from entrance to Chinatown.

Other Contact: 415-399-9807

Phone: 888-717-2881

Theme: Hotel

Website: http://www.theorchardgardenhotel.com/index.php

Craig's List Vacation Rentals: Consider Finding a Residential Home

To avoid the usual hotel suite, consider a vacation rental or bed & breakfast flat, particularly if you are staying for more than just a few days. Craig's List is a good place to start, although it's important to read carefully about the location. Take the address and put it into Google or Mapquest maps. There are also bed & breakfast hotel reservation websites for San Francisco that can be found by using Google. I provide an example here. I recommend trying to find a place in a neighborhood away from downtown. Finding a place with a view is always a bonus, but one that is near a Muni transit line is a must. So, compare the location with the MUNI website information. Many comfortable and classic old buildings are available for short term rent or vacation rental within the residential neighborhoods. Since San Francisco is so compact and easy to walk or ride the bus, don't be too concerned about being so far away from downtown. I would personally avoid the foggy Sunset district, although some bargains may be found here, and I am similarly less disposed to the Crocker-Amazon or Bayview neighborhoods to the south and east of the Outer Mission District. If you aren't sure, contact me for more specific advice.

Comparison: about average

Other Contact: http://www.bbsf.com/

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

Website: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/vac/