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-   -   Hotel recommendation in San Francisco (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/hotel-recommendation-in-san-francisco-322697/)

trumpan Mar 13th, 2008 02:10 PM

Hotel recommendation in San Francisco
 
I'm afraid I posted this in the wrong forum so here goes again!

Next month I'll be staying for 3 nights in the new SF IC and I would like to stay in something quite different for my next 3 nights.
I was told by a friend that she stayed in the Tuscan Inn and she loved it.
Can I have the advice from the experts of San Francisco please?

ncounty Mar 13th, 2008 02:22 PM

I liked the Sir Francis Drake, right by Union Square. I've also heard great things about the Palace hotel and the Argonaut in Fisherman's wharf looks cool.

beth_fitz Mar 13th, 2008 02:32 PM

I second the Sir Frances. Since I live in the Bay Area I do not get a chance to stay in SF often but I did go up for a weekend and stayed there. It is close to many things since it is in Union Square.

jtrandolph Mar 13th, 2008 03:15 PM

I like the Chancellor Hotel, which is across the street, almost, from the Sir Francis Drake. This is a boutique hotel with an incredible friendly and helpful staff and management. All of the rooms were refurbished last year and are classy. There is a small bar and small restaurant, with a very upbeat staff.

trumpan Mar 13th, 2008 03:24 PM

Thank you so much for the suggestions.
I am trying to avoid staying in Starwood hotels as I don't really want to stay in any chain hotels except the IC and the reason for that is because it's so recently opened. That is why a friend suggested the Tuscan Inn. However
the Chancellor looks good.
Thanks again.

jtrandolph Mar 13th, 2008 03:36 PM

As I said in your other post, the Chancellor gets consistently good reviews on Trip Advisor. You should check it out.

dmlove Mar 13th, 2008 04:06 PM

I don't think the Sir Francis Drake is a Starwood Hotel - that's the Westin St. Francis (they're a block apart, but not owned by the same company).

(I just checked the Sir Francis Drake is a Kimpton Hotel, not Starwood. Kimpton is known for its boutique hotels).

ncounty Mar 13th, 2008 04:09 PM

I love the Kimpton hotels; they are my favorite group. Each one feels unique and very boutique. I think you've got two good choices; why don't you see how the prices compare. Regardless, you might check out the Harry Denton starlight room at the top of the sir Francis Drake for a drink one evening.

ncounty Mar 13th, 2008 04:58 PM

wow, interesting learning experience. I am going myself for one night in late April. I checked out Chancellor. It looks very similar to SFD but I still like SFD better; more interesting looking. Chancellor was not available on my date anyway. I found a rate of $189 for a room at SFD on their own website but then I checked other sites and found it $30 cheaper elsewhere! I booked a king bed room for $159 plus tax. These rooms can go for over $400 in high demand times.

trumpan Mar 13th, 2008 11:56 PM

Thanks to everyone for taking the trouble to reply.
From all the replies, I suppose I had better forget the Tuscan Inn.
The Chancellor and Sir Francis Drake are around the same price for my dates. What should I do?
Decisions decisions!!!! :)

ncounty Mar 14th, 2008 06:31 AM

Did you check out the pictures of the rooms? I prefer the sfd; chancellor is more generic in decor. I can also tell you the sfd has a beautiful lobby in a historic building. Both hotels are in old buildings so the rooms will be somewhat small but well appointed. There is free high speed internet at sfd, I don't know about Chancellor. I would pay a few bucks more to not get the smallest room available. They are in the same location and you really can't go wrong with either.

trumpan Mar 15th, 2008 12:28 AM

Thanks to all for your kind replies.
I have booked a King Deluxe room at the SFD for a truly excellent rate of $111+tax.
Thank you.

ncounty Mar 15th, 2008 02:25 PM

Whoa, fantastic rate! Where did you find that? Have a marvelous trip.

Kailani Mar 15th, 2008 02:30 PM

You might want to splurge on a meal at Michael Mina's (in the Sir Francis Drake). It's memorable!

trumpan Mar 15th, 2008 03:34 PM

Thanks both.
The rate was a special internet one on their own website!

TTess Mar 15th, 2008 03:53 PM

Umm...Michael Mina is at the much more elegant, St. Francis Hotel.

Good rate Trumpan, but how many square feet is your room? It"s a good location for seeing the sites, though.

ncounty Mar 15th, 2008 03:58 PM

Ttess- it is 225 sq ft at SFD. I just checked their website. The Westin St. Francis is $50/night more for the same bed accommodation.

LoveItaly Mar 15th, 2008 07:54 PM

Hello Trumpan, you might want to call the Sir Francis Drake direct and ask them if they are still doing renovations at the hotel. I don't know if they are finished or not but with that low of a rate for Union Square I am a bit tad suspicious that is the reason for the low price.

trumpan Mar 16th, 2008 01:02 AM

Actually, renovations wouldn't worry me too much. I'll be travelling on my own so it's not as if noise would impinge on any conversation. :) After all, won't there be noise from cable cars? I'm actually looking forward to that as we live in a rural part of the Scottish Highlands where we have the sound of silence!!!
Thanks again to all of you.
[ncounty,I sent you an email a couple of days ago.]


ncounty Mar 16th, 2008 09:30 AM

Thanks for the e-mail, trumpan. I only check that account once in a while so it is good to get notice.

I will be staying there myself in late April. There was no sign of renovations my last two visits in December and November. My first visit, I had a rate of 179, my second I really scored with $99! (and no renovations around). You really scored as well. Like I said, I am paying $159 for the same room you'll have. I think rates depend on demand times. Hopefully this translates to less crowds in general for your visit! Have a great time.


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