To get some good tips for Priceline, check out www.biddingfortravel.com It's a whole message board site dedicated to Priceline bidding. There is a Hotel FAQ section where you can read all kinds of information about bidding on Priceline. Then there are sections for individual cities. Click on the San Francisco section. The first thread in that section should give a list of hotels that people have gotten in each area of the city and each star rating. For many of the hotels there are reviews from people who have stayed there. The list may or may not be complete as hotels may have been added to the priceline list since that list was last updated, but you will be able to get a good idea of what type of hotels to expect. The other threads are pretty much all posts by people who have gotten winning bids. These posts show bid price, star rating, hotel name, and their dates.

I was really nervous about using Priceline the first time I used it, but I have used it several times since then and always gotten good results. The trick is to read up on it so you are educated before you make your bid.

Grainne,

Priceline always makes me leery. I personlly prefer Hotwire. It's owned by the industry, much like Orbitz, in fact it's the same people that own Orbitz, which is another fare/rate tracker you might want to check.

I plugged in FW, Convention Center and Union Sq East and saw rates between $57 and $220.

There is no cost to register with Hotwire. They won't tell you the name of the place until you pay for it, and the descriptions are pretty vague, but you might feel more comfortable going that route as you don't have to pay for anything straight up, you can scope your choices and nightly rates a little better.

Agree with Veronica's assessment of union Square. It is not the place to stay. The bad elements (street people, etc.) have really downgraded the area and as a result it has become run down. I also like Cow Hollow and Fisherman's Wharf is also nice. Never again will I stay in Union Square.

To the sad few who continually whine about Union Square: NOBODY listens, why post?

Look at this website. There are literally dozens of 4* hotels in the Union Square/Financial District. If it were really that undesirable to stay there, wouldn't something be done about the undesirables.

http://www.sanfrancisco.com/visiting/index.shtml#UNION

I think that this article in the Wasshington Post sums up the major problems with homelessness in San Francisco, especially in Union Square and the greater downtown area.

https://courseware.vt.edu/users/toni...sness2002.html

Dear Grainne:

We stayed at the Argent Hotel (www.argenthotel.com) last Spring and got a good deal with parking and a Gas card worth $20 for about $150 night at that time. Not sure what deals are available now. It was lovely, room was not very large, but there was wall to ceiling window with a big view and some nice amenities. Would have been even nicer had we spent a bit more for the higher floors.

The location is great for many things including that it just about adjacent to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Yerba Buena Center and is about two blocks from Union Square.

We had a car and used it for nighttime travel to restaurants out of the area. True about panhandlers, but the city just is that way.

I love the Cow Hollow/Marina area, maybe even more than being around SOMA but I only know a motor inn there which is just fine but not for honeymoon. Maybe someone else has experience with something romatic in that area. If you don't stay there, be sure to visit. Take a walk on Union Street (not the Square) for some nice shops and restaurants. Take a walk on Chestnut St (shops and cafes) in Marina district and be sure to go up to the water to walk along the parks. Also might want to check out the Exploratorium. If you have a car, drive around Presidio. Check out Golden Gate Park and the beaches. And at least walk through Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown... .it is all SF.

I am looking forward to getting back soon especially to see the new Asian Art Museum. If you think vegetarian food is interesting I highly recommend Millenium in that area.

Great Place to visit. Happy Marriage.

Meme

SFer:

Thanks for posting The Washington Post info. Very good article.

I was just in New York City for 5 days -felt so much safer in N.Y. than I did during my last trip to San Francisco - which is a switch!

To: SFer
I read the Washington Post article. Did anything change in the November electiosn in SF to change the homeless situation. I forgot how bad it was till I started reading these posts.

Veronica and goillini7,

We did pass a Measure N last November to stop giving such large cash subsidies to the homeless. However, I do not see much of an improvement in the situation. I hope that it does not have a negative effect by encouraging more crime by the homeless in an effort to make up for the money that they lost.

MeMe, I really like the look of the Argent Hotel. It seems to be ideal. Is it in a good location and within walking distance to the main sights?

Is it available on Priceline, do you think? I'm considering putting in a bid there but I don't know if I should just pay to ensure I get a nice hotel. It is my honeymoon after all.

Is there a chance that if I bid for a four star on Priceline I could end up with something pretty rubbish?

Most people are getting the Hyatt or Grand Hyatt when bidding for 4*'s on Priceline anywhere from $47 to $65.

Go to biddingfortravel.com and check it out. You shouldn't get anything rubbish in a 4*

Here's another recommendation for Hotwire.com - I've always been thrilled with the hotels. I've gotten somewhat lower rates with Priceline now and again, but have not been as pleased with the hotels, though have never gotten anything objectionable. But, especially for a destination with lots of areas, Priceline requires considerable studying and attention to avoid overbidding or getting caught up in the process and doing something not to your advantage, such as lowering your bid a star in hopes of it getting accepted.

You might also want to try Hoteldiscount.com or Expedia.com. Both often have great bargains. You can see the hotel descriptions here and their location on a map. But, shop a hotel that looks appealing to compare rates before booking with either of these.

Message: My husband and I frequent SFO on a monthly basis and although we have stayed at the Clift when it was a more " old fashioned" experience, it was delightful. It has changed hands and is now more moderne and sleek...rooms are small and a bit sterile.....We like to stay very close to Union Square with it's shopping and sense of city aliveness.....I would recommend a very European style hotel called the Orchard....rooms are under $200 and impeccably clean...it comes with a wonderful breakfast and has a good lounge for that after dinner nightcap....it is a block to Union Square - Walk to the St. Francis Hotel and view it's splendor, then to Kuletos for dinner........if you want to take a taxi, go to Pane E Vino, our favorite little Italian restaurant out in the Union St. district....or Plump Jacks.....It is a wonderful city, full of romance and there is very little pan handeling, so look up and the beautiful buildings and enjoy the beauty of the city by the bay......

I agree with ghcsales about the Orchard in Union Sq. We almost stayed there, but having never been to SF at the time, we chose Fisherman's Wharf. While touring the city, we went into the Orchard Hotel and were allowed to look around. It was as nice as it appeared on the web.

As far as the homeless situation, we encountered a few while in FW, but nothing while in Union Square. I highly recommend Union Square.

I stayed at The Orchard last Sept. and agree with the above revu. Nice place. Good people, bar and restaurant. Very helpful in assisting w/ our conference, too.

Far enuff from the "dreaded Union Square" ;-) and close to some nice resautrants. Catch the Powell cable car at the corner of Bush and Powell.

We just got back from SF and had another successful stay at the BW Tuscan Inn at FWharf. We stayed there in March and used Hotwire. Got it for approx. $80/night. Used P'line for this trip and got it for approx. $70/night.

We got a King sized bed o'looking the courtyard the first trip and got a room w/ 2 dbl beds but still big enuff for us and from one bed we could see Coit
Tower and a nice sunrise...which really killed my eyeballs after a day of watching the NFL draft @ Shanghai Kelly's and a great dinner at the "New Old Wash Sq Bar and Grill" (The Washbag).

Can't wait to go back to SF again.
Kal

Thank you all so much for your replies.

In the end, I got up the courage and put in a bid with Priceline. My bid of £34 (~$55) was accepted for the Park Hyatt.

Has anyone stayed there or have any comments on the hotel. It looks to be quite nice and I am over the moon with the rate we got!

I might try an get an upgrade using the honeymoon excuse, but we'll see... I certainly can't complain!

Thanks again,
Grainne

Congratulations!! and welcome to the Colonies.

Go to biddingfortravel, click on the "California San Francisco" tab under hotels, then click on the "San Francisco Hotel List" at the top, scroll down to "Union Square East" section, and click on Park Hyatt, and link to hotel review tabs.

I am sure you will have a wonderful time in San Francisc.

Grainne,
Cheers!

We stayed at The Park Hyatt last April. Very nice hotel. Very good, first class service.
We got it for around the same price as you did.

Quiet at night and weekends as it's pretty much business district.

Enjoy and congrats on the pending nups!
Kal

My wife and I stayed at Park Hyatt in March ($70 on priceline). We had a very pleasant stay. Hotel was very nice, and the staff was very good! We liked the location, too. Away from the busier areas, especially on the weekend, but an easy walk to Chinatown, North Beach, and Embarcadero.