If I was choosing I would choose the Embarcadero over Union Square. There is nothing wrong with Union Square, but I like the Embarcadero better.

Wow! 400 bucks a night? with that budget why not stay at the Fairmont?

Yes, we're splurging with $400/night and unfortunately The Fairmont isn't what we're looking for. Its a little out of the way and more of a corporate hotel for us after what we have read about. Initially, it was one we were looking at using amex points but then the more we read we didn't want it. Yes, the entrance is beautiful but its not what we want.

We would love to go a little cheaper but San Francisco is not a cheap city and we want to splurge on this trip.

We're still on the fence for Campton and The Vitale.

Please someone, push us to one side or the other!!

hi
from reading this it really really sounds like you are asking someone to tell you to stay at campton. i say this because everything i have read indicates hotel vitale is a nicer property, but that because it is not right in union square, you are not ready to bite the bullet.

i am only being helpful when i say you should re-read your own posts to see what i'm saying. i think you really want to stay IN union square. so, maybe you should look into the union square hotels again, or ask people to suggest other union square alternatives, since you truly don;t seem to want to stay elsewhere?

will it help to tell you that the area where vitale is is the cooler, newer part of town?

is there someplace in union square you think you might be visiting again and again? what is it you are expecting from union square?

honestly, after dark i would be much more comfortable walking around hotel vitale and the whole waterfront path than i would in union square.

if the weather is nice, it's about a 15 minute walk to get from hotel vitale to union square.

perhaps you should look up the ferry building and see what the area looks like by the water, because from reading your posts and everyone's answers, a neutral party would have selected vitale by now.

i think you want us to say campton place!

have fun!
kerikeri

I find Union Square to be dirty and a little depressing - more homeless people in the area - and it's adjacent to the Tenderloin, which you really want to avoid for safety reasons. It is a good location for shopping, but there are plenty of other shopping areas in SF that I prefer. On the Embarcadero, most everything seems fresher, newer, a more hip crowd...and being on the Bay so close to the Bay Bridge and all of the activity on the water is fantastic! You will be able to walk around at night with fewer worries than you would in Union Square.

Finally. The push over the fence. Thank for your post KeriKeri and Meo. Yes, I wanted to hear about the area of Embarcadero as my Frommer's guide doesn't tell me how much fun and 'cooler' that area is. And I think we will really enjoy staying by the bay to enjoy the views from our room -- however small it may be!

Now that this hotel issue is resolved, I can move on to more important issues like FOOD!

Thanks everybody!!!!
Sheila