The Hotel Monaco really would be perfect hotel for them. Nice hotel with a funky vibe. It's my favorite hotel anywhere. You can even "borrow" a goldfish to take to your room for a pet for the night. Wine in the lobby in the afternoon. Tarot card readers too. Just a fun vibe.

If it's too pricey, look into one of the other Kimpton Group hotels in SF. They may like the Triton right at Chinatown. LOTS to choose from and all are great IMO (although I haven't stayed at them all).

www.kimptonhotels.com

ps - It sounds like you have a raised a very nice young man. Kudos to you on that too!

Oh too cool on the goldfish - I want to go and stay there now! LOL
My 40th b-day is coming up ;-).

I do not think it is too pricey. It looks like around what I was thinking of. I am sure they will have cash from wedding gifts for their spending money and honestly they just do not spend a lot of money - they are low maintance.

You also may want to take a look at two other Klimpton hotels--the Triton and the Palomar. Nothing against the Monaco--its lovely. But the way you have described the young couple, hip, artsy--the Triton or Palomar seem to be a better fit.

I agree on the Monaco recommendation. They have a Grand Cafe which is in a lovely room, but they also have a Petit Cafe off the bar. The Cortez, previously mentioned, is almost across the street in the Adagio Hotel.

Both the Petit Cafe and the Cortez do "small plates" so that you can order several different ones and share, rather than having to order pricey "dinner" with several courses. The atmosphere at the Cortez sounds right up their alley. Young, hip wait staff which really knows the menu and can make recommendations. Smallish with nice decor.

We have eaten at the Cortez three or four times after we have attended a Saturday matinee at the Geary Theater and did not have reservations. However, we got there around 6 pm.

Keep us posted, and let us know about the honeymoon after they have returned?

just reading over this as I need to book their air soon and get the hotel nailed down.

Yes, I promise to report back... on the wedding and their honeymoon.

I got to watch Dakota for a few hours tonight..always makes my day. She is just talking (gibberih - obviously though I must say she does seem brillant! LOL)

Greetings everyone - I just booked son and future DIL flight - they arrive into Oakland at 12 :18 pm on Monday June 30th.

They are going to take the BART into the city from there. Ryan (son) has taken the BART twice but always with me. When I asked him if he remembered how he just LOL and said no. Future DIL has also taken it once but again was with me.

I would like to give them instructions - I know they go outside and get the bus that takes you to the BART terminal.

They are staying at the JW Marriott
500 Post Street corner of Post and Mason
San Francisco, California 94102 USA

I seem to recall that it was almost right outside of the BART terminal when I stayed in Union Square last spring... but I could be mistaken.

Is anyone fimilar with this?

I am also looking for resturant recommendations for them. A few people have asked me about where they would like to dine etc so they could get them a gift card.

Remember - they are young - and neither are "foodies" They will be almost 20 and almost 19 at time of travel.

Any other tips? They indicated they want to go out to Alcatraz <sp> while they are there -

Thanks so much
Dawn

They might like Michael Mina, which is in the St. Francis near their hotel. It's a foodie kind of restaurant, but it's interesting. We ordered a seasonal menu, and each course comes with 3 tiny exquisite samples.

It costs about $100 per person, but it would be memorable. Also, you can make reservations on opentable.com.

http://www.michaelmina.net/mm/

Also in the area I like Max's Deli which is casual.

Thank you Kailani I will be sure to check those out :-)

Hi dawn! Here is the BART website which should answer all of their questions:

http://www.bart.gov/index.asp

Dawn, what type of food do the soon to be married couple like?

My very best to them as they plan their wedding and honeymoon in SF!
And imagine you will get to keep your little granddaghter! Happy times.

The JW Marriott is a lovely hotel, a good choice. It is about four blocks from the Powell Street BART Station. They need to walk up Powell to Post Street and turn left. The JW Marriott is on the next corner.

They might enjoy eating in the Petit Cafe of the Monaco Hotel. This is in the bar area and serves "small plates" rather than three course meals, so that they can choose two or three plates and share. The cost should be reasonable. They can eat here even if they are under 21, as long as they do not order drinks.

I know it will be a wonderful trip.

LoveItaly - thank you for the link on the Bart and jtrandolph thank you for the feedback on the hotel AND the location. That helps a lot!

The are pretty basic down to earth kids. The big thing they wanted to do was get a tattoo on their foot... My Mom and I explained that was not a great idea to do on the first day of their honeymoon - their feet would hurt etc.

Also - they will be there over the 4th of July... anything special???

The food they like is basic - good steak, good seafood, Italian. Nothing too fancy.

You are sure welcome dawn. Do they like mussels? If so they would probably enjoy going to Plouf's..which is located at Belden Place..just a few blocks from Union Square. Here is the website for all of the restaurants at Belden Place including Plouf's which they might want to review.

http://www.belden-place.com/

Fourth of July! The fireworks are seen from the Embarcadero..they no doubt would enjoy seeing the fireworks and although there is always a worry that there is going to be to much fog it usually works out just fine.

Italian..they would no doubt like to go to NorthBeach. The restaurant we had our GTG at last night would no doubt please them and also many people like the MonaLisa, which is just up the block on the left hand side of Columbus from Broadway. Right before where Vallejo crosses Columbus. Lots of outdoor tables if they want to stop and have a coffee or whatever also.

From the SF Chronicle, their list of inexpensive places

http://www.sfgate.com/food/bargains/

and also the website for the SF Chronicle's top 100 restaurants

http://www.sfgate.com/food/bargains/

San Francisco is not lacking in restaurants!

And no doubt they would enjoy checking out the Ferry Building and the plaza behing the building which has a beautiful view of the SF Bay and the SF/Bay Bridge as well as watching the ferries arriving and departing. And if they are interested they could take the Sausalito Ferry to Sausalito, have lunch and ferry back to SF. The Sausalito Ferry docks behind the Ferry Building.

http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/

Good choice of hotel. The location is perfect-one block from Union Square. It's one of my favorites and I usually stay there when I am working in SF. But this trip, I am staying elsewhere as the rate at the JW Marriott was $299 and for example the Grand Hyatt was $199. And of course when you add on tax and parking (I have to have a car for work) that gets really pricey. Their prices have usually been in line with the other business type hotels so don't know why they are so high this coming week.

GREAT information!! Thank you Love Italy and I appreciate the more feedback on the hotel - I am using it because I have a lot of Marriott points but it is good to hear the positive feedback!

I will add a little description to the JW Marriott if you don't mind. The rooms are spacious, with a sitting area as well as a business size desk. The bathrooms are to die for, with a marble soaking tub in addition to a shower and a chrome and mirror vanity wall with a tiny TV.

The lobby soars to the top, with rooms on the floors arranged above it, and there are glass elevators in the middle of the whole thing. There are comfortable places to sit there, with two fireplaces. My favorite hotel in San Francisco. Good job, Mom.

awwhhhhh I am so excited for them... We are started to really getting into planning the wedding -future dil is really doing all of it but because my dh is having about 5 families come from back east we are making a party weekend at our home - with dinner Friday night, barbque Sat and then Sunday the big day everyone will gather here first.

We got them a room at the St. Regis for their"wedding" night and then they leave from Long Beach on Monday morning.

:-)

Thanks for the description - they are really very down to earth and will be thrilled to be on vacation together alone. It will be a first for them :-)

jtrandolph-Good description of the hotel. I love the bathrooms. The first time I stayed there, I was so impressed with the bathroom, I took a picture of it to show my daughters. Of course they thought I was a dork!! I have stayed in several rooms at the JW Marriott and not all of them have the same bathroom. Maybe the corner rooms have bigger bathrooms but I loved them. And the location is perfect.

Paula - I am hoping that the front desk is kind upon check in as they are on their honeymoon. :-)

They do not drink (nor are they old enough) but a friend is sending them chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling cider.

I am thrilled for my son to have a special week with his new bride. Their life together will be "tough" enough. I want them to enjoy this!