JW Marriott is a good location near the shopping of Union Square and the cable car tracks, and the knee wrenching Nob Hill walk up to the InterContinental Mark Hopkins and Fairmont Hotels.

If you want great views of the San Francisco skyline try and visit the Grandviews Restaurant two blocks away at the top of the Grand Hyatt or the Top of the Mark at the Mark Hopkins. You can visit these places for photo snaps even if you aren't desiring to stay and eat.

As far as price, mid-October is peak of peak season for the city. One of the most likely times of the year to break 80 degrees downtown, but not that common.