Originally Posted by
Troopers
As a counter...the "steep" hills are a few blocks depending on where your at. Many local seniors walk these hills everyday. You'll likely be walking up the hills if you're coming back from downtown/Union Square or Chinatown. From Alcatraz, the wharf, embacadero, GGB and other locations, you'll likely be returning via cable car or car service. I wouldn't cross the IC MH off your list because of the hills.
The steep hills are just one negative. The rooms are small and many unusually shaped or laid out. The one I had on my last visit (which I swore was going to be my last visit,) was a little dated especially the worn out furniture. And remember to try the Top of the Mark for one of their $40 martinis (on a clear day, otherwise it's $30.). Ouch. And the front entrance can be quite the traffic jam going or coming.
6 people on the cable car at $7 each (OK seniors are only $3,) adds up quickly if you're using that as the primary means of getting around. And no "transfers" are allowed, so no hopping on and off, or transfer to the Powell street cable cars from the California St line without another $7 fare. I lived in the Gulch on Jones St a few blocks away, and only having a 10 speed and a Muni Pass (I could ride the cable car on that as I was like a half a block away from the Powell-Hyde line,) so even in my twenties I struggled with some of those hills.