We just got back last week and stayed at the Ritz Carlton which is on Nob Hill. They spoiled us. We were upgraded to a one-bedroom suite on the concierge floor and it was wonderful. Service and restaurant were great. On top of everything else - I spent the weekend with 007 - Pierce Brosnan! O.K. so what it really boiled down to was that he was getting on the same elevator we were getting off. Since it was our anniversary trip, I took the high road and didn't push DH out of the elevator and leap back in to be alone with him! Sigh. Anyway, back on point. I highly recommend the Ritz.

OK~that lady with one lung thing made me LOL!!

If you are familiar with the location of the hotels and have no problem, then stay there. I'd probably go with the Mark Hopkins and recommend you have tea @ The Fairmont. They serve Miriage Freres @ The Fairmont.

Are you at all interested in the Ritz?

Have stayed at the Ritz a couple times before - was looking for another spot this year - those were the 3 i narrowed it down to - they all have the feel i am looking for. Any recomendations on who has the nicest rooms?

Oh, come on! It's just a bleeping hill! You do stairmaster at the gym? Same thing.

Seriously, when we stayed at the Stanford Court we used the California line all the time. It doesn't connect tourist attractions, so there wasn't a wait. Of all the silly things to worry about, a HILL?

AJ: Exactly! I'm sure people who plan to stay at one of the Nob Hill hotels know that it wasn't called Nob HILL just because.....

I'm glad the tale of the "70 y.o. one lunged wonder woman" amuses you, but for a woman who, 10 years ago was in extremely critical condition and had to be on the vent for 3 months, my mother isn't exactly a "wonder woman". Yet, 3 years post-surgery, she was able to go on pilgrimages to Fatima and Israel. So, a "little hill" in San Francisco wasn't exactly such a big deal to her. Obviously, we didn't RACE up the hill. We took our time and took frequent breaks.

We would be staying at the Fairmont again during our next trip to SF, and yes, we will be charging up and down those hills again. Oh, and taxi rides are incredibly cheap there too.

girl on the go: Yes, it's the Tonga Room at the Fairmont. Very good music, a WOW kind of place. Check it out, OP!!!

Oh, and just a gentle correction: it's "Mariage Frères", but the Fairmont now serves the hotel's own 'brand' of tea. Fairmont offers High Tea from 1:30 - 3:30, Saturdays and Sundays only.

"girl on the go: Yes, it's the Tonga Room at the Fairmont. Very good music, a WOW kind of place. Check it out, OP!!!"

There was something in the local press about Tonga Room closing due to Fairmont's conversion or partial conversion to condos. This is sad, I love Tonga... confirm if still opened!

Dayenu: I just called the Fairmont. The Tonga Room is very much open, and the hotel is not converting to condos. Whew!

Oh, good! What I read on SFgate may've been a proposal.

Thanks for all the help - I think we will go with the Fairmont - we'll definately have to pay a visit to the Tonga Room - its been a while.

Glad you've finally made a choice!

Try and get a room with a view of the Bay. On a nice day, it should be gorgeous.

(That's what staying at the top of a HILL is all about - the view! )