SAN FRANSISCO -HANDLERY HOTEL
 

this hotel has been recommended by my local travel agent in the UK. Can anyone tell me if it is ok, does it have a good restaurant, is it right on Union Sq. Is it better to eat out in SF than in the hotel? This is a mid price hotel- are there better alternatives in the same price bracket.

I think they may be a block off Union Square...We stayed right in this area two years ago and liked it. The Handlery advertises in The New Yorker (or used to), and that alone, would make me think it might be worthwhile - they are targeting a very $$$ readership. For sure, when you get to SF, you will want to explore and eat out--not stay in your hotel and eat. Would you advise a friend to come to London -- and order room service? The Union Square location is close to a lot of shopping and a short ---uphill! -- walk to the famed Nob Hill area...We had a great dinner two years ago at a restuarnt that I think was on Hyde Street (Seafood...or Bistro...?) Found it in one of the in-room magazines and it was very good. Have you ever seen the Holllywood mini-epic "San Francisco" with Clark Gable (and Jeanette...???name/Nelson Eddy partner..). Anyway, for a non-US visitor, I think it would lay a good groundwork for a SF visit (and it's such a GREAT song!) Have a great visit. <BR> <BR>Oh...alternatives: We stayed at the Chancellor, which was right on Union Sq. on our visit...An older, smaller, but well-kept hotel (and by me, smaller is better). They have rates in the $100 bracket I believe. <BR> <BR>By the way, there are quite a lot of cheaper hotels in SF, but the surroundings are not interesting (and possibly not that healtful!) and are best-suited to US visitors with cars...So do opt for something in a known location such as Union Sq, or the Waterfront, etc...

Hi <BR>I've just return from there, its nice you can see Union Square from the front of the hotel, and the trams turn around station is about 2 blocks away. San Fransisco is lovely.. The rooms are a nice size which are serviced daily. There is also an outdoor pool and sauna <BR> <BR>One thing the restaurant is not open yet (around Spring) in the hotel as they are doing it up!! but a lovely restaurant located on the 36th floor of the Grandviews restaurant was excellent you could see SF birds eye view, and the food is great. Or even the CheeseCake Factory on the top of Macy's (one block away) that was lovely. (we don't have the Cheesecake Factory in the UK!!) <BR> <BR>Have a great time <BR> <BR>c

the Handlery is a very good choice! You actually don't want to be directly on Union Square as it can be very noisy. This is a bit off the square. For more information on SF, search for the Visitors Bureau or go to sfgate.com for the Chronicle reviews. Loads of restaurants near Union Square. SF is a small city--taxis and buses to all destinations--not big like London. Expensive like London, however. Enjoy.

Roy, <BR>The Handlery is a nice hotel, I guess 3 or 4 star, in a good location. We had a room with a bay window overlooking the street and you could see the cable cars and all the goings-on down below. My parents have also stayed there but had a view of a brick wall, not so nice! There are lots of places to eat nearby. It is very close to Union Sq but not right on it. <BR>Kay

roy, <BR>we had a similiar decision to make in the summer of 1999. we were offered the handerley or the villa florence hotel. we choose the villa florence, but we looked at the handlery. It is about 2 blocks off the union square good location, but if you came out the front door and walked in the opposite direction of union square the area seems to get quite seedy in no time at all. The villa florence is in a better spot but can be a little noisy at night, the rooms were small but very tastefully decorated, all its plus side the management hosted a wine, beer , mineral water tasting every night which translates into a couple of free glasses of wine, beer etc. The villa florence also has a fantastic italian restaurant attached a little pricey though, and wonderful little coffee shop with acess from the street as well as the hotel. On your point of eating out there hunreds of good restaurants about something for everyones taste and budget. you would be much beetter eating out. back to point of the handerly it did look like a nice hotel, but its location was not ideal, i do want to sound like a agent for the villa florence, but it was a small very friendly hotel with a grat location so ask your agent if it is available. when we went on our trip from scotland to west coast our travel agent offerd them both for approx £85 per room per night.but to repeat myself the handerly did look ok , i hope this has been of some help <BR>grant <BR>

My husband and I are returning to SF February 1 (last time was last October) and we always stay at the Handlery. (Have stayed there about six times in the last four years.)I am picky about my hotel acommodations and the club rooms at the Handlery exceed my minimum requirements. We have a king bed with a sitting area and balcony. The room has an ironing board, iron, safe, hair dryer, refrigerator, makeup mirror, scales, coffee and tea making facilities, shoe buffer ---- also a couple of terry cloth robes, and evening turn down service with a cookie placed on each pillow. I am paying $165 this time, which is the most we have paid for the room. The rooms in their "historic" section are smaller and less expensive, if that is a consideration (and when isn't it?). I find the location ideal. It is 1/2 block off Union Square and the cable car line. It is one block wide, so we can exit on Geary street or O'Farrell, depending on where we are headed. One tip: we ride the cable cars a lot while there. Don't go to the cable car turn around to get into line for a ride. The line is terribly long. Go up two blocks toward Union Square from the turn around and wait at the corner for a car to come along and stop (O'Farrell street), then hop on. There is always room for 10 or 15 more to hop on. But don't be shy! Be assertive. That is part of the fun. You will save a lot of time.

I have 2 rooms booked at the Handlery in early July in the older section. I have researched everywhere to find a good room at a reasonable price, and this is the best I found. I am glad to read the comments posted previiously as I have not been able to find any comments until now from anyone who stayed there. If there is are other places I should consider, please let me know. My kids wanted a pool, and we thought 2 rooms and 2 baths would be wonderful since we have 3 kids ages 17, 14, and 8. I would have liked a hotel with a good health club such as Club One at the Fairmont, but the room rate is $379. Ugh. All of your comments are so helpful, and we will try and get on the cable car as suggested.