InterContinental Mark Hopkins

I spent four nights at the Mark Hopkins over Memorial Day weekend (May 2009). It was a good choice, location-wise, although we did not do the typical touristy sightseeing. It's located at the top of Nob Hill, so while everything is found downhill from the hotel, afterwards, you do have to find your way back up somehow. There are good views of the TransAmerica building from the hotel. The Nob Hill location is very windy, particulary at night and then less so in the early morning. Cabs were plentiful at the hotel and throughout the city; there's a doorman to hail them for you. He can also hail the cable cars in front of the hotel using his whistle. There is underground parking at the hotel (but it's expensive at approximately $50 per day), as well as a small lot outside the lobby for pick-ups and drop-offs (rather than having to do it on the busy street). The lobby area is attractive, and there's a business center, café, and fitness center on the floor below. The gift shop closed a few months ago, so if you need anything, you must walk across to the Fairmont Hotel to use theirs--which is slightly annoying for a hotel of this renown. There are no mini-mart type stores immediately surrounding the hotel, but just walk a few blocks. The Top of the Mark is popular with hotel guests and others. We only peeked in on a Sunday night, but we did not drink or dine there. I believe that they have a prix-fixe menu on certain nights of the week, along with live music later on in the evenings for a $10 cover charge. My room was nicely decorated but on the small size (and I was upgraded to a deluxe room because I'm a Priority Club member, so I'm not sure what the standard rooms are like; the deluxe category may be the floor location rather than size, however), but the bathroom was well-appointed and large. There were decent toiletries, towels, sheets, iron, umbrella, alarm clock, minibar, hairdryer. The room décor is modern but not completely so--there was a CD player (not an iPod docking station) and a regular TV (not a flat-screen). Internet was about $12 for 24-hours, which could be used over your entire stay, not necessarily concurrently over the course of just one day. A cab from the airport was $45 and took approximately 20-30 minutes (without traffic). We got a great rate of approximately $120 per night, certainly due to the bad economy and lack of travelers. I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again, especially at those prices!

This is a very average hotel with an undeserved reputation. There is hardly a lobby to speak of. DRAB is the word to describe the rooms and other surroundings. The linens are cheap and the bedspread was a polyester blend. The "nominal" fee (the term they used) for the club room on the first floor is $60 a day. I met a couple on the elevator who asked about the hotel as they headed to the top floor lounge. I confirmed their choice of staying at the W as a wise one. They enjoyed that hotel very much. Spend your money more wisely -- stay elsewhere. Skip the Mark Hopkins - It is the emperor with no clothes!