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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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!!!! :)

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.]

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.

Well welcome to SF trumpan! I too love the sound of the cablecars so they never bother me although some friends that are light sleepers get annoyed.

Since the renovations at the Sir Francis Drake are completed you did get a fabulous rate. Have a wonderful visit. BTW, Scala's Bistro which is attached to the Sir Francis Drake is one of my favorite restaurants in SF. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and you can pop in and have an afternoon drink also if you wish.

And the SFD is across the street from Sears Fine Foods, for a yummy breakfast.

I like both of those places as well....Sear's fine foods and Scala's bistro. I've had the corned beef hash at both restaurants; the version at Scala's is a bit more memorable. My eleven year old son declares that the hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli's is THE best in the world. For restaurants, I like The Slanted Door although you must make reservations now; I've waited till too late the last two trips. I also like the Fog City Diner especially for the red curry mussel stew. I hear that Gary Danko's is great as well though I haven't eaten there myself.