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SFO Hotels
Posted on 2/9/25 at 10:09 am
Posted on 2/9/25 at 10:09 am
Heading out to the bay area next week for a work trip. Planning to spend a couple of days in SF with Mrs. H2O and H2O Jr. Looking for hotels in the city, preferably Marriott but can do Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection via Amex.
Focus is on the touristy spots and being able to walk to most of them. Thanks in advance.
Focus is on the touristy spots and being able to walk to most of them. Thanks in advance.
12
Posted on 2/9/25 at 3:35 pm to H2O Tiger
I’d stay out of downtown SFO. A good buddy of mine lived there recently before movIng to LA. We were talking about how much SFO has deteriorated just last week. He confirmed how many homeless there are, poop in the streets, drug paraphernalia. Pretty much the worst you’ve heard is true. Many retailers have moved out of the area. He told me how he was in a retail store while a group of thieves committed large scale petty theft while he was shopping and the staff could do nothing to stop it.
I’d suggest staying up north in Marin County: Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley. You can take the ferry over to downtown but you’re not stuck there. Maybe go south to Palo Alto or just say F it and go up to Sonoma or Napa.
I really hate to be “that guy,” but I would not recommend SFO as a travel destination right now. It’s a shell of what it used to be. If the work trip is too much to work around, don’t take the Mrs and Jr on this one.
I’d suggest staying up north in Marin County: Sausalito, Tiburon, Mill Valley. You can take the ferry over to downtown but you’re not stuck there. Maybe go south to Palo Alto or just say F it and go up to Sonoma or Napa.
I really hate to be “that guy,” but I would not recommend SFO as a travel destination right now. It’s a shell of what it used to be. If the work trip is too much to work around, don’t take the Mrs and Jr on this one.
This post was edited on 2/9/25 at 3:45 pm
Posted on 2/9/25 at 5:24 pm to H2O Tiger
If you're traveling with Mrs. H2O and are up for using some FHR credit, then I would recommend the Fairmont San Francisco. This is the original Fairmont Hotel -- the one that started the entire chain -- and it's just as elegant and classy as can possibly be. And the Tonga Room absolutely makes for the perfect date night. I stayed in 2018, back in the days of the Fairmont credit card.
I don't think any one hotel is close to all the touristy spots, and the hills can making walking tiresome, but the Fairmont is right next to Chinatown, and that's a lot of fun (nearby Grace Cathedral is also worth a visit). Even better, most tourists enjoy riding the cable cars, and the Fairmont is ideally placed, as it's at the crossing of the California line and the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines. That means that the Fairmont is also very close to the Cable Car Museum, which is a museum but also the HQ and operations center for the cable cars, and it's great to see the giant wheels pulling the cables.
I'm by no means a San Francisco expert, but that's what I can tell you from my trip. The Ritz is only a couple of blocks away from the Fairmont, and the Marriott San Francisco Union Square isn't that far away either, but I would check current safety reports about Union Square before choosing it.
quote:
Focus is on the touristy spots and being able to walk to most of them. Thanks in advance.
I don't think any one hotel is close to all the touristy spots, and the hills can making walking tiresome, but the Fairmont is right next to Chinatown, and that's a lot of fun (nearby Grace Cathedral is also worth a visit). Even better, most tourists enjoy riding the cable cars, and the Fairmont is ideally placed, as it's at the crossing of the California line and the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines. That means that the Fairmont is also very close to the Cable Car Museum, which is a museum but also the HQ and operations center for the cable cars, and it's great to see the giant wheels pulling the cables.
I'm by no means a San Francisco expert, but that's what I can tell you from my trip. The Ritz is only a couple of blocks away from the Fairmont, and the Marriott San Francisco Union Square isn't that far away either, but I would check current safety reports about Union Square before choosing it.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 5:25 pm to bluestem75
quote:
I’d stay out of downtown SFO. A good buddy of mine lived there recently before movIng to LA. We were talking about how much SFO has deteriorated just last week. He confirmed how many homeless there are, poop in the streets, drug paraphernalia. Pretty much the worst you’ve heard is true. Many retailers have moved out of the area. He told me how he was in a retail store while a group of thieves committed large scale petty theft while he was shopping and the staff could do nothing to stop it.
To clarify, there are still fantastic neighborhoods outside of Union Square, Tenderloin, and SoMa. I'm in SF every couple weeks for work and always enjoy going into Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, Haight, Richmond, Outer Sunset, etc. A lot of great restaurants and neighborhood bars / cocktail bars.
This post was edited on 2/9/25 at 5:26 pm
Posted on 2/9/25 at 6:18 pm to hoopsgalore
The Orchard Hotel near Union Square and Powell Street trolley line and was a great European style hotel that we enjoyed several years ago. A five star hotel with reasonable prices.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 6:57 pm to H2O Tiger
Ok, so I work for a Fortune 50 company that has a major office in Mission Bay. I go minimum, once a quarter. The only area I "stay away from" is the tenderloin and the mission late at night. Just take normal precautions for a large city. SF is amazing.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 6:59 pm to H2O Tiger
I forgot, I am also a Marriott fanboy. Usually I try to stay away when there are big conferences. Otherwise I stay at the JW Marriott, the W, the Marriott Union square, or the Westin.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 6:59 pm to H2O Tiger
I just spent two days in San Francisco. We stayed down at fisherman's wharf area. Very very little homeless presence.
Hollywood Cafe for breakfast/brunch
Luigi's pizzeria at Pier 39
Napa valley Burger company over in Sausalito
Those were the food highlights.
Went to the ferry building on a Thursday, nice farmers market setup.
Walked the Golden gate bridge, did Alcatraz and spent a few hours in Sausalito.
Hollywood Cafe for breakfast/brunch
Luigi's pizzeria at Pier 39
Napa valley Burger company over in Sausalito
Those were the food highlights.
Went to the ferry building on a Thursday, nice farmers market setup.
Walked the Golden gate bridge, did Alcatraz and spent a few hours in Sausalito.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 7:01 pm to H2O Tiger
Let me know if you want to chat about it.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 8:53 pm to H2O Tiger
Thanks for all of the recommendations everyone! We'll be in Mountain View for work during the week (Mrs. H2O at least) and then headed up to the city over the weekend.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 9:26 pm to H2O Tiger
quote:
Mountain View for work during the week
Castro will be a good street to keep yourself entertained - a lot of restaurants and bars.
Posted on 2/9/25 at 9:29 pm to hoopsgalore
Thanks! I'll be on leave so Jr. and I will have plenty of time to kill during the day!
Posted on 2/11/25 at 5:59 am to hoopsgalore
quote:
Castro will be a good street to keep yourself entertained - a lot of restaurants and bars
Castro district has a ton of great restaurants and bars, but this is also the gay area, FYI
Posted on 2/11/25 at 6:51 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
quote:
Castro district has a ton of great restaurants and bars, but this is also the gay area, FYI
OP is going to be in Mountain View during the week. Was replying to that - Castro is a street with a lot of bars and restaurants. Wasn't referring to Castro District in SF.
This post was edited on 2/11/25 at 6:54 am
Posted on 2/11/25 at 8:08 am to hoopsgalore
Posted on 2/12/25 at 5:58 am to H2O Tiger
Ritz if you can swing it. Club level is awesome. Best service I’ve had from any Marriott property. Not a tall hotel but at the top of a hill so cool views. I’ve also stayed at Westin, Adagio, Courtyard Union Square, and W. All are ok.
Posted on 2/12/25 at 10:35 am to H2O Tiger
We stayed on the edge of Chinatown in the Financial District.
Was great to walk into Chinatown and down to the Wharfs from there. Easy Walk. We do Hilton so we stayed at the Hilton San Francisco and had a view of the Bay + Coit Tower out of our window. Away from alot of the "noise".
We had a jeep since SF wasn't our only stop, so was able to spend a day in Sausalito and would definitely rec going explore. We at at FISH, nice spot on the water. Got Cocktails for Happy Hour at Barrel House.
While in SF def rec to go to Top of the Mark for sunset cocktails. Great view of the Bridge and sunset. Plenty of History up there.
We capped the night with Dinner at State Bird, You'll need a reservation far in advanced, but fun way to eat a dinner with how they do things there. Top Notch experience.
San Fran is a great city!
Was great to walk into Chinatown and down to the Wharfs from there. Easy Walk. We do Hilton so we stayed at the Hilton San Francisco and had a view of the Bay + Coit Tower out of our window. Away from alot of the "noise".
We had a jeep since SF wasn't our only stop, so was able to spend a day in Sausalito and would definitely rec going explore. We at at FISH, nice spot on the water. Got Cocktails for Happy Hour at Barrel House.
While in SF def rec to go to Top of the Mark for sunset cocktails. Great view of the Bridge and sunset. Plenty of History up there.
We capped the night with Dinner at State Bird, You'll need a reservation far in advanced, but fun way to eat a dinner with how they do things there. Top Notch experience.
San Fran is a great city!
Posted on 2/16/25 at 2:59 pm to H2O Tiger
My personal favorite in SF is The Fairmont. It’s the one featured in the movie The Rock. Staying there gives you free access to The Tongo Room Bar. It’s a pretty cool place that has that 1970’s Polynesia feel. Tiki drinks, luau food, grass skirts. They make it rain there every hour. The hotel has an interesting history and a good location.
Posted on 2/17/25 at 1:34 pm to bluestem75
quote:
I really hate to be “that guy,” but I would not recommend SFO as a travel destination right now. It’s a shell of what it used to be.
maybe a shell of what it used to be, but my wife and I were there in September for the first time and loved it.
Stayed in the Argonaut Hotel overlooking the Bay and Alcatraz. Walked all around that area and felt safe. Beautiful city. Didn't see any homeless, drugs, etc.
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