Union Square/Embarcadero Hotel Recommedation
 

Hi! My husband and I need a hotel recommendations for three nights in San Francisco. I'm nervous because I've read lots of bad hotel reviews on TripAdvisor, etc. We're looking for something that meets these requirements:

1. Safe area: I've heard that some areas around the Union Square can be seedy or unsafe.

2. Easy access to transportation: Since we won't have a car, we need a base that's close to transportation and/or walking distance to typical tourist attractions. (at the very end of our trip, we are renting a car to head up north, but won't need that until we check out, so a bonus would be a hotel that's close to a Hertz, Avis, etc.)

3. Budget!: We'd prefer to spend money on good food and wine rather than fancy hotels. Clean and simple is fine. Looking to spend $130-$160 per night.

I've also looked at the Cow Hollow area since it seems safe and inexpensive, but I've been told that without a car, it's not very convenient. Is this accurate?

Here are a few places I've been looking at:

* Monticello Inn
* Layne Hotel
* ???

Thoughts, please?

I stayed at the Galleria Park a few weeks ago and really liked it. My sister was there with her family and they liked it too. They paid $99 for a double room (Travelzoo) and I booked the hotel's internet special for $135.

The rooms are on the small side but newly decorated and quite stylish. They have a wine hour for guests every evening. The staff is very nice.

The location is very convenient ---2.5 blocks from the Montgomersry Street BART station (I took BART from the airport). It is about 3 blocks east of Union Square, toward the Embarcadero. Close enough to the action of Union Square if you want that, but much quieter. It felt very safe.

The hotel recommended by Enzian is on the "good side" of Union Square.

With your price requirements, I'd seriously check out Priceline.

Enzian, thanks for the recommendation. I have looked into it and right now it's pretty pricey but will keep an eye on it.

Anyone have any comments on The Cartwright (Sutter St.)? Right now they are undergoing some construction, which should be complete by the time we arrive, and they have very good rates and pretty good reviews. Thoughts?

dmlove....

What is the "bad side" of union square? I'm thinking of using priceline with the East Union square, Embarcadero area option. Could we get stuck in a bad area with that choice? Any recommendation on how to work the system with priceline?

We really liked the Hotel Rex, a Joie de Vivre property, in Union Square.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/rex/?cid=gl_rex

It is a charming boutique-type hotel, with excellent front desk service, located well for public transportation and walking. I think it's about $200/night, so I hope that's not too high. Wine reception at night, nice cafe next door for breakfast (I think it's still there).

Just checked the Joie de Vivre site, and it says Hotel Rex starts at $189. Also, check out their other lovely little hotels. It is a well-managed 'chain' of boutique hotels.

Galleria Park is a Joie de Vivre hotel as well.

The website says starting at $209 for weekends, but the internet special is lower than that,if your dates fit. But you need an access code for the internet special and I can't find it!!!

Have you checked the specials running on www.travelzoo.com? We found a great deal on the Harbor Court (a Kimpton Hotel, near the Embarcadero) last year for $130/night, harbor view.

There is no bad side of Union Square, the seedy area is the Tenderloin, several blocks west and south of Union Square. However, Priceline's Union Square West includes some borderline blocks of the 'Loin. But it also includes the top of Nob Hill, where some of the poshest hotels in the city are.

Priceline's Union Square East/Embarcadero includes a large area, most of which is neither "Union Square" nor "Embarcadero". This includes the Financial District, South of Market, parts of Chinatown.

If you bid 3 stars or above, I doubt

Sequoia, can you finish your last sentence (I'm curious as to what you were going to say)?

Thanks all for the advice. I found a really great "renovation rate" for the Cartwright on Sutter St. which got decent reviews on TripAdvisor (yes, small rooms but good location and nice staff). Unless there are objections, I think I'll go with that.

If anyone has any other good Southern California knowledge, please check out my post for Santa Monica hotel recommendations. We are staying in LA at the very tail end of this trip and I need help with best area to stay in as we are attending a game at the Coliseum that weekend.

THANK YOU ALL!

I have never seen anything seedy about Union Square.
Sir Francis Drake Hotel is reasonably priced and was clean and comfortable when we stayed there several years ago.

There is nothing seedy about Union Square (now; you should have seen it just a few years ago - you would NOT have walked across the square itselfd, period). The problem is the Priceline Union Square West designation includes parts of the Tenderloin.

I received an e-mail today from the Kimpton hotel group re their Summer special starting at $99/night for the Serrano Hotel near Union Square, and many others on sale w/in your budget.

Another good place to try is travelzoo.com, which has great specials. Right now, they have the new Intercontinental Hotel for $129/night. However, it's in the SOMA area so it appears to be not as convenient to tourist attractions as a Union Square area hotel.

We are going to San Francisco and Sonoma starting this Saturday so I've been looking at the different sites a bunch.

The Serrano Hotel, while it is across Taylor Street from the Hilton, is not in an especially nice area.

I believe the Serrano hotel is near a not especially nice area, the Tenderloin, not in the bad neighborhood.

Really dmlove, I have never ever felt uncomfortable walking through Union Square or anywhere around the Union Square area ever, even when I have stayed in SF by myself.

The Kimpton Hotel does have a summer special leeni.

Here is the info I received via email today.

http://www.kimptonhotels.com/promo_s...x#SanFrancisco

LoveItaly, I'm surprised, because until they redid the square a few years ago, I found it very uncomfortable; probably not dangerous, but not pleasant either.

Sorry about that dmlove, and all, I thought I'd erased that last half sentence before posting but I guess not. I was going to say, if you bid on three stars or above, even for Union Square West, I doubt you would end up in a flea-bag hotel, but you might be close enough to the seedy area to feel uncomfortable walking out after dark.

I've stayed at the Serrano, it felt perfectly fine and safe to me. I just stayed on the same block (Taylor and Geary) at the Monaco the weekend before last. We (two women) walked to the hotel fairly late at night 2 nights in a row and had no problems at all. We walked by the Serrano several times during our stay and again, no problems.

I mean, of course you need to take normal precautions as you would in any urban area but I'm not understanding the fear factor here at least not for Taylor between OFarrell and Geary.

Hi all. I did check out the Serrano link but rates during our visit are still $200. Oh well - thanks for the thought.

Lots of lively discussion about Union Square - love it or hate it, I guess!

Cartwright is still OK area right (Sutter St.)?

It's fine - it's kitty corner from the Sir Francis Drake, a block from Saks, around the corner from Sears (breakfast).

What about the JW Marriott (formerly the Pan Pacific, I believe). That is in the Union Square area. I saw some good rates on Orbitz

Just wanted to check in on what people might think of the Monticello. It appears to be renovated and is now the ABRI hotel.

Where is that hotel Melissa?

How about Chancellor Hotel across the street from the Sir Francis Drake Hotel? Great location and (at least used to be) reasonably priced.

Anna Roz

The Monticello is on Ellis St. The Chancellor is sold out.

For me, Ellis is too Tenderloinly area, sorry.

We've stayed at Hotel Rex on several occasions and love it. Small, very attentive staff, great location

I stayed close to the Serano at the Adagio, which in on Geary between Taylor and Jones. I felt fine walking there even at night, from Union Square. Just walk towards Union Square from the Serano and you should be fine.

While the Monticello is on Ellis Street, it is not in the Tenderloin, at all. It is on Cyril Magnin and Ellis, part of a block from Powell Street.

a post from a few months ago....
FYI, the Rex is next door to the Cartwright on Sutter St.---a very nice area


Author: socialworker
Date: 07/31/2008, 10:34 pm
We have stayed at the Rex twice. May '07 and June '08. It is one of my most favorite hotels ever! The bartender who mans the complimentary wine in the library bar treats every patron as if he/she were a treasured guest.

The rooms have an art deco type ambiance that manages to be sophisticated, cheery and relaxing all at the same time. We have rarely stayed in a place that so goes out of their way to make you truly feel welcome. One example is that the wine hour is from 5-6, but as were checking in the front desk said, "Oh, don't worry if you don't make it back in time. Any time all evening is fine."

It is a great hotel!

I just got back and wanted to let you know that I ended up staying at the Monticello, which is now the Hotel Abri (under new ownership--the Larkspur Hotels, which also owns Villa Florence). The renovations are so new, you can smell the paint as you walk down the hallways!

The rooms are smallish, but I would say normal by SF standards. The beds are plush--probably the same as the Heavenly Beds--and the bathrooms wonderful. I was a little concerned about street noise, but once the bed swallowed me up, I was knocked out for the night and did not hear a thing. I am guessing that if you are a light sleeper, you may not sleep as soundly as I did.

The service is outstanding, as well! The concierge, Hillary, knows everything. The location is exceptionally convenient. We had an in-room fridge and a gigantic flat screen TV. What more can I say? I had a wonderful stay. If I can get a good rate again, I'd stay there again.

I like The Clift, but am not sure it falls in your price range.

I seem to also remember a Best Western property in that general area, I always have good luck w/them in the larger cities.

Just wanted to give everyone an update (still need to write my trip report). We stayed at The Cartwright on Sutter St. and for the "renovation rate" price, it was a great deal. Rooms are super tiny, but quaint and location is great. Will write more but just wanted to thank everyone for the input.

Ditto exactly Melissa's review of the Abri. Stayed there last week with BGF for an overnight in SF and am returning with DH next week. In addition to Melissa's highlights, we loved the Occitane verbena shampoo, rinse, lotion, and soap.

Thanks, leeni, I always love to read updates! The Cartwright is right next door to the Rex. I love that area.