Reviews of Starwood properties - San Francisco

[kevino]

The Palace is closest to a BART station exit (if you pick the right one).

On a Friday night, the St. Francis will be the busiest location since it's across the street from Union Square. If you're a Plat. you might be ug to either a Tower room or a suite in the old bldg. If you need a breakfast coupon for the buffet, let me know. It's an expensive buffet.

The LM is near the financial district which will be quiet on Sat. There's a couple of theatres nearby and you can walk to Chinatown.

The W has small rooms. It's next door to the SF Museum of Modern Art and there is a Frida Kahlo exhibit that just opened that is very good.

All the hotels are w/in walking distance of each other.

Let me know if you have any questions. When are you arriving?

I'd actually recommend the Grand Hyatt if you can get lounge access. It's cheaper too. Seanthepilot and I just had drinks there last Sat.

[kevino]

I think the Sheraton SFO exec. lounge is open now.

It takes about 30 minutes on BART to get into the city.

[HUGE AL]

Trying to pick an SPG property in San Francisco for a 1 night stay. Only previously stayed at the Hilton in town and Westin at SFO so open to suggestions.

I only get into SFO at 1730 and leave at 1415 next day. As it's not an early start no need to stay near SFO, plus, it's a Friday night.....

Rates quoted are 219 for Westin St Francis, 409 for St Regis, 254 for the W, 179 Westin Market St, 209 Palace and 239 LM. Not really inclined to pay 409 for St Regis as I'll only arrive early evening.

Any suggestions/advice ?.

MTIA.

MAN Flyer, have you looked at these St. Regis promos (wasn't sure if any worked for you or what your dates were):

http://specialoffers.starwoodhotels....ancisco/so.htm

I'd actually recommend the Grand Hyatt if you can get lounge access. It's cheaper too.

While it is less expensive, the Grand Hyatt is in desperate need of some work. Most of you know I'm a HUGE Hyatt fan, but since losing the PHSF (now the barely remodeled LM) I do not think they have a strong property in SF (which is a shame since they have so many).

I think the Sheraton SFO exec. lounge is open now.

It takes about 30 minutes on BART to get into the city.

With the Sheraton SFO, you will need to take the shuttle to the airport, then jump on the BART.

[kevino]

Yes, the GH could use some refurbishing, but I don't mind. When it's windy (which it usually is) all the guests get a note that says don't worry about the howling noise!

[HUGE AL]

St. Regis San Francisco Changes

Don't you hate it when businesses use the economy as an excuse to make cutbacks? It sucks even more when they raise their prices.

Recent changes ("enhancements" in SQ lingo) include:

• Plats are only upgraded to Astor Suites -- Metropolitan Suites are now only available as an upsell ($350 additional) -- despite the fact that when I was there there were TONS available as the hotel was operating at 58%. This comes with the new Director of Rooms. Many complaints have been logged against her for this...and most front desk agents have no clue how to properly communicate this.
  
• Potpourri in the closets have been removed.
  
• Magazines in the rooms have decreased from 10 to 3.
  
• Only one bottle of shower gel is in the bathroom (used to be 2).

Had they kept the rates the same, I probably would have understood. Boosting them by 10 - 15% gets them no sympathy from HUGE AL!

[MAN Flyer]

Well having just tried out both W and St Regis last week, I am afraid I am going to have side with KeithMEL over this and say that we preferred the W.

I suppose it didn't help the cause of the StR that they didn't give us much of an upgrade - no Suite at all, despite a fellow SQTalker speaking to one of the staff he knew who confirmed they were only running 55-60%. Normally I would be on the phone to the front desk pointing out the availability of all rooms for booking and getting moved to a Suite, but SWMBO 'talked' me out of it as she had already unpacked said she didn't want to move again, advising 'You might enjoy all that sh*t, but I'm on holiday and can't be bothered. There's nothing wrong with this room*'.

It was nice to be dropped off around the city in the complimentary Bentley, but the W just felt better to us. If you are wanting an easy mattress run or to try both out they are 2 minutes walk apart

*She was right about there being nothing wrong with the room, it was very nice, but wrong about me enjoying pulling them up when they deny you the upgrade you are supposed to get. I'm getting very bored of doing that....

[HUGE AL]

I must say that the SR has gone down quite a bit since the new Rooms Manager came onboard a couple years ago. There was an immediate mandate put in to only upgrade Platinums to Astor Suites even if the Metropolitans were empty. Keep in mind, it's union run...

[KeithMEL]

...SWMBO 'talked' me out of it as she had already unpacked said she didn't want to move again, advising 'You might enjoy all that sh*t, but I'm on holiday and can't be bothered. There's nothing wrong with this room*'.

I completely symphatise.