I just booked this hotel for 3 nights in June for $215.00 per night.

Is this a good choice - or should I try and find a smaller hotel in Union Square?

I am driving myself crazy trying to make sure the vacation is a great one!

Thanks.

The Mark is a classic older hotel and its bar, Top of the Mark, is quite famous on its own. However, the hotel is atop Nob Hill and not very convenient nor easy to reach by foot since the hills are so steep. You'll have to take a cab (expensive) or the cable car (long lines). I really recommend staying at Union Square, but be sure to visit the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins anyway!

The Mark Hopkins for $215 is a very, very good price. I would go for it. Yes, you'll need to take the cable cars, but we were just at the Fairmont and managed to do so. The California St. Line is less crowded and you can walk down to Chinatown and North Beach or down to Union Square, so it's just a matter of getting back up. A wonderful small Italian restaurant on Nob Hill is Venticello--walking distance, easily at Taylor and Hyde. Two weekends ago the city was very quiet and getting a cable car was easy--don't know why. By June it'll be busier, but not as crazy as August. BTW, call now for reservations for dinner in any of the popular SF restaurants--including Venticello (it's very small) Definitely plan on having a drink first at the Top of the Mark. Another night you could walk down toward Union Square and have a drink at the bar at Farallon at Post and Powell and then dinner at Postrio or Kuleto's or if this is really a pull out all the stops event, Fleur de Lys. By the time you're finished with dinner, the cable cars will have settled down and you'll be able to get one to ride up Powell Street. Another way to do it would be to walk down to the Financial District (downhill on California) to Tadich Grill (old SF fish house), Vertigo in the Transamerica Bldg., Rubicon, or the very trendy, very expensive, very loud, and very good food, Aqua. You'll have no trouble getting the California St. car back up to Nob Hill after dinner. Don't make yourself crazy--SF is easy and charming--you don't have to plan every move. You're going to have a great vacation!

$215 is good for the Mark Hopkins, but I should warn you that when I stayed there last year the room was beyond tiny! (and I was paying more than $215 per night). You might want to search the net for the Fairmont - they're having some specials in certain cities this summer I understand from a friend of mine. Nob Hill is nice and you won't be disappointed with the location - it is not a problem getting around in SF at all - foot, cable car, bus, and cabs are plentiful! I agree about having a drink at the top of the Mark, but be warned - it's expensive! Worth it once though, definitely. Have a wonderful time - enjoy the city and relax about your hotel - how long are you really in your room anyway?

I think you'll enjoy the location. I usually stay at the Fairmont down the street, and have had no problems catching the cable car from there. Tea in the afternoon at the Fairmont is nice if you want to rest your tootsies after taking in the sights. Eat some dim sum at Yank Sing for me!