Thanks for the review. I am thinking about spending one night at the SF Hilton in November. Do you know whether they had non-smoking rooms on the other floors at the time you checked in and whether non-executive level rooms are even smaller than the one you had?
As I had booked a non-smoking room, I assume they were available when I checked in. But since I wanted to see what I would get for an upgrade, I took the only smoking room on the Executive Level that I was offered. I am not certain, but I don't think I can use the Executive Lounge as a Gold member unless I am also booked into an Executive Level room. That's why I took it, even though it was a smoking room.
I don't think it would be possible to have a smaller room, not in a Hilton, anyway. This room was tiny.
One point I did not mention was the area - the SF Hilton is a few scant blocks from some of the seedy sights of the city. When I was leaving at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning I had a "derelict watch" on my way to the airport. Shaking, drugged up streetwalkers looking for a trick/fix, pharmaceutical entrepreneurs on several corners, a couple of bag ladies pushing shopping carts, etc.... AVOID the area to the west of the hotel under all circumstances. (Unless that sort of thing attracts you, heh heh heh....)
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by OttoGraham: One point I did not mention was the area - the SF Hilton is a few scant blocks from some of the seedy sights of the city. When I was leaving at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning I had a "derelict watch" on my way to the airport. Shaking, drugged up streetwalkers looking for a trick/fix, pharmaceutical entrepreneurs on several corners, a couple of bag ladies pushing shopping carts, etc.... AVOID the area to the west of the hotel under all circumstances.</font>
The planned stay coincides with a meeting at the Hotel Nikko, which is supposed to be about a block or two away from the SF Hilton. I picked the Hilton over the Nikko for two reasons, namely, the Hilton rate I booked is cheaper than the convention rate offered at the Nikko and participation in HHonors. Now I am not so sure that is a good idea (for a single female). My meeting runs all day until 6 pm so I will have to walk back to the Hilton after the sun sets (in November) to pick up my car and luggage. I am not sure if the Nikko is located to the west of the Hilton; I better check mapquest.
Thanks for the not so positive review. I'm going to spend a week in SF in November too and was thinking of the Hilton. Guess I'll check around for another HH facility.
Hey, for 109 bucks it was not a bad deal. But as an alternative try booking the Westin St. Francis through Yahoo Travel, I have stayed there in the past at a $129 rate, wasn't able to snag it this time.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Scotch: Now I am not so sure that is a good idea (for a single female). My meeting runs all day until 6 pm so I will have to walk back to the Hilton after the sun sets (in November) to pick up my car and luggage.</font>
I think Otto's description of the area is accurate but incomplete. SF is kinda just like that downtown, and there are also lots of safe people wandering the streets. Also, some of the unsafe appearing people are actually just fin. I'd really think you'd be OK in the area. The Hilton is just a block from Union Square which is quite nice. Just be smart and be alert.
I've stayed at the SF Hilton 3 or 4 times - never took a room on the Exec floor because they always offered me a nicer room elsewhere - e.g., junior suite, etc.
They will give you a pass to Exec Floor Lounge anyway, so no need to be on that floor.
I recommend one ask for the best available room in the hotel wherever it is and just get the pass.
How is the cab situation around the hotel. I'll be there in mid-Sept and have to leave for my office at 3:30am. Given the description of the 'area', how safe should a woman feel hailing a taxi at that time???
HHonors Gold gets executive lounge access by using their room key to enter the lounge. Beautiful view on the 45th (or so) floor. Free appetizers, free soda, paid liquor. Breakfast is open there too. It can get pretty crowded.
The rooms can be small. Try to get one with a balcony. It will give you more room and the illusion of more room too. Rooms overlooking the Tenderloin are FAR less scenic than city view rooms. If you don't like your room when you get to it, call the desk BEFORE unpacking.
As for safety. The Nikko and SF Hilton are practically on top of each other. I wouldn't worry about safety there at all. If you stay at the Westin St Francis, the walk will to the NIkko will be about the same and you are just as likely to get in trouble as walking from the Hilton. (You have to stop in the Westin lobby eventually to check it out and ride the outside elevator.)
Heading west on O'Farrell out of the Hilton, however, is another story and not advised. Heading east, you are at Powell and Union Square within minutes. It is a city, and San Francisco has its share or derelicts, as do most big cities. Keep your head up, leave yourself some room, and try to walk with a partner.
[This message has been edited by OB one (edited 09-04-2002).]
I stayed at the SF Hilton over Labor day weekend too. And, I really enjoyed my stay. As a Gold, we are given keys with the Concierge markings on them that allows us access to the Lounge. (It also gives you free access to CityScapes on Friday and Saturday nights; there's a cover charge in the evnings when there is live entertainment.)
We were given breakfast vouchers, to allow us to avoid the crowds in the Lounge. But, I have always enjoyed the lougne there.
The last time I stayed there, it was just my wife and I and we took a 1 King room on the 35th floor that was rather small, but had a great view of the city! This last time, we brought our 2 year old, and got a room with 2 Queens on the 8th floor of Bldg 2. Nice view of the public parking garage across the street, but the room was a very nice size! Gave plenty of room for our 2 yr old to play.
$30/day for parking, but you can take your car in and out as much as you want. Normally, I don't have a car in SF, but we drove this time. And, I was able to drive to Muir Woods, see Marin and Sausilito, drive across the Golden Gate, got right up to Lombard St (car accident, so they closed it), and had a wonderful time driving around SF. Normally I spend $100-200 on cabs, but this time I spent less than $30 (took cab to wedding and back).
Hotel Nikko really is right next door. And heading North or East of the hotel is no problem. I wouldn't leave sight of the hotel after dark though. It isn't unsafe really, but why take chances? The Tenderloin Police Dept is about 3 blocks away, but the area still isn't the best. (Right across the street [Taylor?] from the hotel is a Thai place open until 2am and a convenience store that is much cheaper than the mini-bar!)
This is a completely servicable hotel, in a nice central location. I have enjoyed staying here, and plan to stay there again on my next trip to SF.
As for the lines at check-in...I must be lucky I have never waited behind more than one person at the HHonors check-in.
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I grew up in Marin, lived in the City (the only other U.S. city that calls itself that other than NYC) from 1985 to 1990, and have returned many times since. For a year I used to walk daily (absent rain) the three miles from Haight-Ashbury downtown along Haight and Market Streets.
The personal security concerns greatly increase WEST of the Hilton, particularly after dark. But from a safety viewpoint, the Hilton is no worse than the Nikko or the Westin St. Francis.
I was there in July, memorable experience as well.
Only 40% of the rooms have DESKS! Jr Suite (I laughed when I saw it) do not.
I had called the morning of my arrival and estimated my arrival time within 15 minutes of actual. Still no upgrade, then three different rooms before I found one with a desk!
Scotch: The Nikko is directly across the street from the Hilton to the east. Stayed at Hilton with my elderly father 2 weekends ago and had no problem walking around during the day or twilight hours (it was light till nearly 8 pm). There were lots of regular folk out and about at all those times. I was initially concerned about safety after reading some of the posts on this site, but was assured by a FT local the the area east of the hotel is OK, but not to venture to the west.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by JerryFF: I've stayed at the SF Hilton 3 or 4 times - never took a room on the Exec floor because they always offered me a nicer room elsewhere - e.g., junior suite, etc.
They will give you a pass to Exec Floor Lounge anyway, so no need to be on that floor.
I recommend one ask for the best available room in the hotel wherever it is and just get the pass.</font>
Jerry's right on the money.
I'm here now, typing this from my room. I didn't get the Executive Level Room, although I could have. I have a King-size bed in this room, in Building 3, overlooking the pool (which is 2 floors down from where I am), vs. a Queen-size bed that was offered to me on the Executive Level.
I have the special room key that accesses the Executive Level, and the Post-it for the two free bottles of water.
Check-in was quick - I used Zip Check-in. The computer up front didn't have my Gold Status, since it was just changed from Silver, but the computer in the back room had it, and the issue was resolved quickly.
I took SuperShuttle in from SFO, and got to see part of the theater that is the Tenderloin on the way in. Very interesting.
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