The Farimont in San Francisco
 

If you could stay at the Fairmont for $169 a night, would you? With parking it will be over $200. I know I could get a motel with free parking for around $120. Are the rooms and the location worth the extra? It will be a 2 night stay on a weekend.

You know the hotel is on a steep hill, right?

It's impossible to compare The Fairmont to a $120 motel; however, I would rather stay at a comparable hotel that is near Union Square.

I've stayed there and think it is a nice hotel. I had always wanted to stay there as it is a historical hotel. We had a lovely, large corner room. It depends what you are looking for too. There are so many choices in the city. Are there any packages where parking is included?

Well, I'm certainly not trying to compare a $400 hotel with a $100 motel. Just wondering if the rooms are so luxurious and the location so central that $169 would be a GREAT deal. We have two full days and we're really looking to walk the city.

I don't think I can get any kind of package there with parking. My sister can get an employee rate for me at $169. Some of the historic hotels don't have great rooms - they're either really small or not nicely furnished. It seems maybe I'm better off going cheaper in SF and blowing $200 a night in Sonoma in a wildly comfortable room.

I'd be ok with the hill, but maybe I'll check out Union Square.

The top of Nob Hill is plesant neighborhood but it is not central.

Are you familiar with www.tripadvisor.com, which posts users' reviews of hotels? It gives the Fairmont mixed reviews. If I were planning to stay at the Fairmont, I would be discouraged after reading what other travelers have to say.

However, I read that the place had an $85 million renovation in 2001.

Why don't you call the hotel and ask them to describe the room you will get for $169?

We've stayed at the Fairmont many times and have never regretted it. We've stayed in the main building and the tower. We've never had a small room in the main building. They were always large and elegantly decorated.

The location is fabulous - Nob Hill. The cable car goes right by the hotel and you can walk across the street to the Top of the Mark for a sunset cocktail with views of the GG Bridge if it's not foggy. Stay there, you'll regret it if you don't.

We stayed there in 2002 and Loved it! Nothing was too far since the cable car is right outside the door and we were easily able to walk down the hill into Union Sqaure area and take the cable car back up. If we go back to S.F. we would love to stay there , again. Also, Don't miss the Tonga Room there - great HH and atmosphere!

As a San Franciscan, I have never had the opportunity to stay at the Fairmont, but over the years I have visited friends and family staying there. Nob Hill has always been a magical, historical, area for me. I love walking around there.

In my high school days the Fairmont Tonga Room or Blum's Ice Cream parlor, were was THE places to go on prom nights or special occasion dates.

For $169 a night, I'd spend a few nights there at the drop of a hat. We're paying $145 with tax and free parking at motel in the Marina for visiting relatives in August.

For a few dollars more, go for 'Snob Hill" which it was originally called.

If you stay the Fairmont, please post a trip report and let us know how it was.

Enjoy your trip.

Nina

Nob Hill is a great location to stay in. We stayed at the RC -- had no problem walking everywhere(close to Chinatown). The cable cars go right up/down the hill if you chose not to walk.

I forgot to add that we didn't find the location a detriment at all. My husband, 3 children, and I walked all over the city from there with no problems. We took the cable car plenty of times too. It is also very close to Chinatown. I would go for it!

In addition to the cable cars (which go on the North/South axis of Nob Hill), the 1-California bus goes East/West along Sacramento Street (westbound) and Clay Street (eastbound). It's called the 1-California because for the rest of its route west of Divisadero, it goes along California Street. I think Nob Hill is a grand place for visitors to stay. The views are excellent, the proximity good restaurants in North Beach and Chinatown are ultra-easy, and the department stores are just a slide down the hill!

We were there for a wedding in January. You can actually park down the street in a covered parking structure for a much cheper rate (I think $20/day). Since we had kids, my husband would drop us off at the lobby and he would get the car (same with picking us up). But it's basically across the street and down 2 blocks. The rooms were gorgeous and huge. The bathroom was so big, I stuck the crib that they supplied (also very nice) in the bathroom and let my 5 month old have her "own room". The restaurant and room service there is outrageous, I think we had breakfast downstairs once and my husband threw a fit. But if you are planning to eat out, I think you're getting an excellent deal for the room.

That's an excellent price for the Fairmont. I'd go for it. And I'm guessing the $120.- motel isn't as centrally located as the Fairmont.

Nina- I went to the Tonga Room for my prom, LOL. I lived in Walnut Creek then and now am in San Jose. I've stayed in the city several times, either overnight or 2 nights at a time. I love it. I stayed 9 nights (at a B&B near there) last year when my DH had surgery at UCSF.

The Tonga Room, when I was a senior in HS that is where we had our senior dinner. I won't mention how long ago that was,lol. My best friend and I were invited by the band to go out on the raft while the band played and the singer seranded us. Oh my, were our other friends jealouse, lol. Great memories!!!

The Tonga Room and Blums - sweet, sweet memories. Now, visit the Tonga room for pupus and drinks but don't have dinner there. You can do much better for the price and your palate, elsewhere.

Hi TravelTess, yes Blum's too. I always took my daughter when she was growing up to Blum's..how she enjoyed those trips! And I don't know about you but I sure miss I.Magnin's! Take care.

Thanks so much. I think the Fairmont could be a good bet. We were thinking of making Sonoma our 2 expensive nights but I think I'll look for somthing more reasonable (by that I mean not Healdsburg!) and have SF be our $200 a night place.

I saw Tonga in a guidebook and knew we had to go there. It's so odd that it's in the Fairmont.

As a long time, on again, off again customer of the Fairmont, you pose a difficult question. But to make a short, quick, answer, ask the hotel what kind of room you will get for $169 as the other writer indicated. If you get an "inside" Fairmont room, then your window will overlook the inner area of the hotel (basically kind of ugly); the room will probably be larger than most hotel rooms, as will, likely the bath. And that is the only drawback - if you can get a "city view" room, then, you would probably like it! Good luck and enjoy your trip!