I like the Palace Hotel, but I do not like the beds there. I have stayed in three rooms over the past month and the beds were all too soft and bouncy for my comfort.

I also did not receive more than a one room category upgrade from what I booked during my visits. I was upgraded from Grand Deluxe to Junior Suite last week. I had hoped for a corner room suite on Market Street.
Lack of suite upgrade was not due to a booked hotel. Last week I estimate there was less than 10% occupancy at the hotel based on my newspaper count at 6am.

I have received better upgrades at the other Starwood hotels in San Francisco.

The hotel has old style charm, but not much of a view from most rooms as the Palace has only 8 room floors compared to the towers at the other Starwood Hotels downtown (except Fisherman's Wharf - 4 stories).

The historic section of the St. Francis is similar to the Palace. The experience all depends on the room category you receive. There are rooms at both the old St. Francis and the Palace that have only plain brick wall views. I was actually given one of these rooms as a platinum member for a stay last month at the Palace Hotel.