starrs

Tell him to book a room (that he can cancel without penalty) BUT check two days before.

The same thing happened to me in SF and the cost of my favorite hotel dropped 1/2 from what they were quoting earlier for the few nights they had available.

Right before the conference there will be hotel cancellations and he can take advantage of that.

gelatolover

Thank you everyone for all the help.

Here's an update. Two hotels opened up: Intercontinental Mark Hopkins (Hotel class is 4 stars) and Hotel Fusion (Hotel Class is 2.5 stars). No need to transfer mid-way thru his hotel stay.

Question: With the Intercontinental rated as 4.4, and the Hotel Fusion 4.3, (but noting the huge difference in the hotel class), would the Intercon still be the better choice?

As far as convenience to the Moscone Convention Center, the Intercon is atop Nob Hill next to three cable car lines, but the Hotel Fusion is walking distance to the Moscone, as noted by sf7307. My brother did say that it's not a problem to take a cab to the Moscone.

If cost is not a factor, what would you recommend?

susanna

The Intercontinental is very nice, as is the location. It'll be a quick trip to Moscone, cab, bus, cable car....

Although i don't know Hotel Fusion, I am not a fan of that street, which also has the Hilton Hotel....you have to make sure when you leave these hotels to go to the right and not the left, which leeds to the Tenderloin, where you don't want to be.

Nob Hill is a better choice, we're talking about 6 blocks from each other.

PeaceOut

I would choose the venerable Mark Hopkins. It's truly a San Francisco experience IMHO.

StuDudley

You realize, of course, that the Mark Hopkins is up a VERY steep hill (thus the name - Nob Hill). Your brother might not want to walk back from Moscone to the Mark Hopkins. Taxis might be hard to catch if events at the Moscone terminate all at once for everyone. No problem catching a cab at the Mark Hopkins, however. The Cable Car won't get you too close to Moscone Center.

BTW, if you stay at the Mark Hopkins, tell your brother to specify the "Mark Hopkins" to taxi drivers - not "Intercontental".

Stu Dudley

sf7307

It's possible that the convention will sponsor shuttles to the major hotels - I see them when I pass by Moscone Center all the time.

While I'm not a fan of Nob Hill at all (as a place to stay), I am a fan of 4* over 2.5* , so in this particular case I would choose the Mark Hopkins. Old time elegance (although I have no idea what the rooms are like now).

mjs

There are convention shuttles to the Mark Hopkins. I do not care for the hotel and the location is a pain with such a steep hill but it is ok. Do not know the Fusion.

Dayenu

This morning I saw an Oracle bus at the Carlton - and this is a budget hotel that caters to Cosmos tours. I was shocked - either the city is completely sold out, or the participants of this convention are trying to save on lodging?

gelatolover

Thanks everyone - so the Mark Hopkins it is for my brother.

Yes, Stu, we noted the Nob Hill address. I still remember a fairly recent thread about this matter - the OP was asking for recommendations on the Nob Hill hotels. There was quite a lively bit of discussion there about those "steep hills". I myself am a fan of the Fairmont, which unfortunately, isn't available on the dates when my brother is in town next week.

Noted Stu's advice about the hotel name (re: when giving the address to taxi drivers).

Thanks again!