I'm trying to decide between the above two hotels for a trip in July. Based on recommendations from this site Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square are the preferred areas to stay. I would prefer a hotel with a pool, and can get roughly the same rates for the above two hotels. Do I go with the nicer hotel (Hyatt) at Fisherman's Wharf, or the better neighborhood,(Handlery)? It is our first time to SF, so looking to do the typical tourist activities, Alcatraz, some walking tours, Golden Gate, etc. Also very into good food, shopping, and oh yah, try to do some relaxing as well.

Not specific to the hotels, but I'd rather be in the Union Square area at night.

have stayed at the Handlery, and would stay there again. Lots of shopping in the area and the Handlery is nice.

In July (our foggy season) a pool won't be a place where you might want to "hang out", unless you're using it for exercise purposes.

Whenever we stay anyplace (hotel, B&B, rented house), the three most important things we consider when choosing a hotel are the same ones we used when choosing a house - location, location, location.

Stu Dudley

Got it! So based solely on location, as I know you live in SF and don't stay in hotels would any of these be a better choice for 30ish couple w/ no car - Hotel Monaco, Palace Hotel, Campton Place, Sir Francis Drake, Le Meridien? I have comparable rates for all, am having a tough time deciding!

Olive, what happened to the Handlery? Of the ones you listed (all of which are probably a step above the Handlery), I'd choose the Monaco, but all of them would be good choices. The Monaco is a Kimpton hotel and the rooms are individually decorated. It just doesn't look like a sterile corporate hotel, but it also isn't old and stodgy. And it's just a couple of blocks off Union Square itself. The Meridien is in the financial district, but is a lovely hotel, the Palace is a historic hotel, with magnificent public spaces, but the only time I was in a room there, I noticed it was very very small (I don't know if that is the norm or not). The Palace is on Market Street, a few blocks east of Union Square and on the edge of the financial district. Campton Place used to be considered one of the best, but I've read on this board that maybe it's not quite as "kept up" as it should be??? It's directly ON Union Square. Lastly, the Sir Francis Drake is one block off Union Square. It's an older property, but I believe it may have recently been renovated. It does have the Starlight Room at the top if you're interested in dancing (not club, more like old-fashioned nightclub) and a decent Italian restaurant downstairs (La Scala), but that's not a reason to stay there, since you're so close to so many things.

All in all, for a 30-ish couple, I'd still choose the Monaco for style.

(Note that all the hotels you mentioned are within a few blocks (no more than 4) of BART, so getting around will not be difficult, and you shouldn't select based on proximity to public transportation, since they're all close).

In the last five years we have stayed in three hotels in SF. All were in or near Union Square. In order of my preference:

Palace
St. Francis
Sir Walter Drake

I would stay at any of these again, depending on rates avaialable at the time.

I'm sure Bill means the Sir FRANCIS Drake (rather than the Sir Walter Drake, but still ot the same as the St. Francis!)

We stayed at the Hilton at Fisherman's Wharf. The Hyatt was right around the corner. The Wharf area was great. I hear that Union Square is great for shopping though I've heard that it borders on a questionable neighborhood.

Maybe a couple thoughts in addition to the previous posts that are all good advice:

Hyatt has a nice pool on the roof top. The weather comment is accurate, but if you get some sunny down time...

You can walk to the Alcatraz ferry, Ghiradelli Square and Pier 39 shopping from the Hyatt. The cable car stops right outside your door. You are closer to the Golden Gate Bridge at the Hyatt. At the Hyatt you have a very touristy crowd at Fisherman's Wharf.

At Union Square you have very fine shopping. BART station is one block away. It's a modest walk to the Terminal Building, Chinatown, and the waterfront. You have a lot of street people around Union Square.

Great restaurants are nearby both hotels.

SFO is a fine vacation whatever your base of operation. Have fun.