Fairmont in San Fran?
 

Trying to find a good hotel in San Fran, is The Fairmont a good choice? How about the Grand Hyatt?

The Fairmont is VERY nice. The location is on top of Nob Hill. The lobby is very elegant. Rooms are a bit small, but you could always ask if an upgrade is available. The Grand Hyatt is also nice, but in many ways felt like a convention hotel. Fairmont felt more elegant. I guess it depends upon what you're looking for. There are also other great hotels in SF that are smaller/boutique hotels.

I agree. The Fairmont is fabulous. I just stayed there last June for the second time. It's quite a hike up and down Nob Hill, but you can hop onto the trolley car if you don't feel like walking. There's a great little Italian cafe around the corner from the hotel, but for everything else, you'll have to head down the hill.

A wonderful little bed and breakfast hotel near everything is the Petite Auberge. You cannot beat this intimate hotel.

Just stayed at the Fairmont in November.<BR>Beautiful hotel, great location. Staff in the hotel were super nice. Almost didn't stay there due to negative comments found on this forum.<BR>We got a regular room and it was huge.<BR>Walk in closet, desk, make-up table,<BR>iron and board, bathrobes, huge bathroom. I think we were on the 4th floor of the old building - had a clear view of Alcatraz and Coit Tower. <BR>A couple of blocks to China town, down-hill. I couldn't stop laughing at how steep the hill actually is. On the way back to the hotel, we just went up one block, then over one, then up again and over again...I realized how out of shape I am!

Check the Rants and Raves section of Fodor's regarding the Fairmont.<BR>My opinion is more like many of the reviewers there.<BR>The Fairmont's greatest assets are views/location and nice public spaces.<BR>The rooms are dreary and worn at worst (recent renovations, though) and inconsistent at best.<BR>Unfortunately the Four Seasons is pricey, but the best in town, and the Ritz ain't cheap either, but is next best.<BR>For the buck the W is a very solid property, but no views worth crowing about.<BR>The Palace suffers from the same limitations as the Fairmont.

I've stayed at the Grand Hyatt on business and the location couldn't be better--on the corner of Union Square<BR>(which is closed right now for renovations) Sears Fine Food is just up<BR>the street on Powell for great breakfasts, Chinatown a block or two away, a short walk to the SOMA section.