Take an Express Holiday in San Francisco, California
Written: Oct 11 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Well priced, clean, very nice staff; great breakfast; location.
Cons: Some may want more frills.
The Bottom Line: Our experience was very positive. The rooms are small but clean; the buffet very good; service very nice and priced well.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites SAN FRANCISCO F... |
The third and last hotel in which I stayed with my adult children in California was the Holiday Inn Express.
General Information:
We chose the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites because of the location. It is rated 3 stars rather than the 4 stars like the other two in which we stayed but the Fisherman’s Wharf area is very expensive. Also we have had good luck with Holiday Inn Express Hotels in the past and we thought our kids would really like staying in this area. They had never been to San Francisco.
The Holiday Inn Express is not awe-inspiring. It is a functional hotel surrounded by the fun of vendors, lots of coffee shops and a Walgreen’s around the corner. The hotel is within walking distance of Ghirardelli Square, Pier 39, two Cable Car lines, and the Alcatraz ferry.
Holiday Inn Express is located at 550 North Point Street and can be reached at 415-409-4600. My husband dropped us off – there are metered parking spots (short term) in front of the hotel. He was always able to get a space close by to pick us up or go for a walk- and I headed to the check in desk passing by a very small area where the valet stands.
The hotel has 252 rooms plus 36 suites on 4 floors so this isn’t a high rise. We stayed on the first floor. Ordinarily I might not like being on the first floor and if my kids had been alone may have asked for them to be moved but the area is hopping all the time and we felt very safe.
We paid $110 through www.priceline.com in June 2004. The current prices are $121-$175.
There are fully accessible handicapped rooms and public spaces.
Service, Décor and Room:
The lobby is large and considering it is an Express they do a good job of dressing it up. You’ll find a few comfortable chairs and sofas. To the right there are a row of chairs with a table and across from that a booth-type set up. Part of that area but behind it and very spacious is the breakfast area. You’ll find many tables and chairs and I found it quite comfortable. The breakfast area itself, where the food is served, is right off this are.
One thing to mention that didn't seem to be advertised in the hotel are the computers. As you walk into the hotel you will see an area set off to the right. I saw brochures there and always look at them. That’s when I saw these totally free to use computers. At the time there wasn’t even a time limit on using them!
Every clerk with whom I dealt during a 4-night stay was very, very nice. Check in went really smoothly. I was able to get a non-smoking room with 2 double beds (This is not guaranteed using priceline.) and didn’t have to wait to get a clerk to help me. A non-smoking room was not available when we arrived but I was told that one might just have been cleaned. She was nice enough to check and that room was ready. Several times during our stay I asked various questions – about the trolley or parking and I was always pleasantly helped.
The room we had was small and utilitarian but brightly carpeted, as are the halls. As always I note the closet- if it has a door or not. It did have a door and the door was mirrored giving the room a bit more personality that the lack of décor (other than the carpeting) lacked.
We found a small round table and chair in the room as well as a television sitting in an armoire. We also found a coffee maker and the fixings, a safe, iron/board, a self-contained bathroom with the usual shampoos and soaps and a desk with a lamp. Like one of the other hotels I remember the coffee maker on the desk. There isn’t much counter space in the bathroom where you might at times find a coffee maker. The room was spotless as was the rest of the hotel, which I am glad to be able to note.
Amenities:
I was very impressed with their Continental Breakfast. I have had some awful ones in the past. This was quite good. Not only are foods such as pastries, fresh fruits, coffee, and toast served, there were eggs that were actually edible. Quite often I forgo these buffets, but the one at Holiday Inn Express in San Francisco is worth eating. As I mentioned above, there is plenty of seating so you won’t be walking around with a plate in your hands. It was a good experience. It is served from 6:30am – 9:30am and is free.
There are 52 parking spaces for $28.00 a day. That sounds like a lot but you won’t be able to find a parking lot in San Francisco for much less. If you have a car, park it and then get a 3-day or week (however long you will be there) transit pass. The garage is underground and as I said above there is a valet.
There is a Fitness Center in the hotel. It is on the lobby floor and has 3 treadmills, 2 stationary bikes, and 1 stair machine. There are no weights. If you are walking San Francisco you may not need any more cardio-vascular activity but just in case you want it you’ll find the fitness room open 5:30am-11:00pm)
There are no stores in the Holiday Inn Express but as I said before Walgreen’s is around the corner and open 24 hours a day.
Jo’s Final Thoughts:
My daughters and I were very pleased with our experience at the Holiday Inn Express. Although it is not a 5 star hotel with fancy amenities for San Francisco the price is right. You will get a clean, decent hotel with a very good buffet and even a small fitness room. The location couldn't be better. I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again or recommend it.
Please feel free to leave a question or comment.
I am keeping track of the reviews I am writing chronicling our 3-month cross country trip:
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Recommended:
Yes
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