My DH and I will be in San Francisco for 3 nights/4 days over Memorial Day. I've been before as a teenager, he has not. We were supposed to go to Europe this summer, but due to some work obligations we are not going to be able to get away for that length of time. So, I want to make this a great trip because it will have to hold us over until September, when we hope to go to Nevis/St. Kitts.

We'd like a convenient location, but not too loud. Moderate sized rooms with comfortable bed, good bathroom (e.g., enough room to put my stuff on a ledge), and a good view (best would be bay view) are priorities.

Budget: up to $300/night.

Activities: Alcatraz, Ferry Building, Fisherman's Wharf (he's never been), Chinatown, and maybe ferry to Sausalito.

At present, I have cancellable reservations at Mandarin Oriental for a bay view room at a good rate of $295/night. However, while the hotel looks fantastic and the reviews are great, I'm concerned that the neighborhood is too businesslike and will not be good for restaurants and the like. I've never stayed at a Mandarin Oriental, but I'm already impressed based on my conversation with a extremely nice reservations agent earlier today.

The other hotels I'm looking at:

***Hotel Vitale: The bay view room is slightly less expensive than Mandarin Oriental, but room or bathroom does not look as nice. But, a plus is that it is on the water near Ferry Building (we'd definitely like to eat at Slanted Door).

***Campton Place: Looks nice and can get great rate (under $200/night), but it has gotten some mediocre reviews on TA.

***Hotel Palomar: A Kimpton Hotel, which I like and can get it for about $200/night.

***Hotel Monaco: Another Kimpton Hotel, which seems to be popular here, but when I called the reservation agent most of the rooms under $300 were about 250 sq. ft., which seems tiny.

Please give me your thoughts.

Thanks.

OMG! The Mandarin at that price is wonderful. Even so, I'd stay at the Monaco (MY favorite hotel). Great location near Union Square with lots of options for restaurants and things to do. Also near the cable car and BART. I LOVE the vibe of the Monaco.

Starrs- I'm so glad you responded as I just read your funny trip report on your recent Monaco stay.

The Monaco looks great and the reviews are wonderful, most in line with your views on the hotel.

What kind of room did you have and do you think that a king room (app. 250 sq ft) seems too small for 2 adults?

First of all, my DF commented on the trip that he really wants to stay at a Mandarin Oriental sometime. Yet, he loved the Monaco. The rooms are GREAT and the vibe is just...special.

Yes, the rooms are smaller than... the Hyatt or other conference hotels. It's a boutique hotel. But, the rooms are wonderfully appointed. I'd prefer a smaller Monaco room over a larger, blander room.

Join the Kimpton group frequent stay program and who knows, they may give you an upgrade.

IMO the location of the Monaco sounds more of what you want.

I'll comment on some of the other hotels in your list.

If a view is important to you, then the Vitale and the Mandarin Oriental would be the two choices.

The Vitale is a very nice boutique hotel on the Embarcadero. Expect boutique hotel treatment.

The Mandarin Oriental is way up at the top of a very tall building but convenient in location. That's a fantastic rate you got for the Mandarin Oriental! It's one of a handful of premier hotels in San Francisco.

If a view from the bathroom is important to you, then the MO also has that to offer. Google "Mandarin Oriental bathroom photo San Francisco" and click on the link to Virtual Tourist for a lengthy description of the different types of rooms you can get at the Mandarin Oriental.

I've stayed at MO hotels in Asia and the service is superb in these hotels. If the SF one comes anything close to Asian hospitality, then you're in for a treat!

Campton Place is convenient in location, but a friend who stayed recently was not that happy a camper, so service can be up and down and the room size seemed to have been part of the problem. (I just run the "taxi service" for friends and have never been inside the hotel, so can't comment one way or the other.)

Enjoy!

At that rate, I'd definitely go for the Mandarin Oriental. The rooms and views there are really spectacular. And it's not THAT far to walk to Union Square or the Ferry Building from there (I stayed at Club Quarters for a family wedding recently which is nearby in the Financial District and we walked everywhere or just grabbed a cab).

I also stayed at Campton Place on that same trip and really liked it--no issues with service whatsoever and my room was very comfortable--not overly large but certainly not small (and with a really nice bathroom). But for that rate, I'd go for the Mandarin Oriental.

I've stayed at the Monaco in the past as well (as well as the Palomar) and while I like it I'd still go for the Mandarin, especially since you want a view.

Thanks for your responses.

I think I'm going to stick with the Mandarin Oriental as comparable rooms (400 sq ft w/ bay view) in higher end hotels seem to be more than $295/night. By all accounts the service will be fabulous (and the bathrooms look awesome!).