Great San Francisco Boutique Hotel for Business, Convention or Vacation
Written: Jan 14 '05 (Updated Aug 10 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Location near theaters, Union Square, convention center, SFMOMA, etc. Reasonable price.
Cons: Location near Tenderloin. Can get expensive in high season.
The Bottom Line: A great medium-sized, moderate-priced hotel for business, convention or vacation near Union Square and the Theater District.
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| jsquarejj's Full Review: Serrano Hotel |
The Serrano Hotel is one of San Francisco's little hotel gems. It's a moderately sized, reasonably priced luxury boutique hotel just blocks from the theater district and Union Square, one of the city's most popular shopping areas. It's also a good choice for conventioneers, as one of the city's largest convention hotels, the Hilton, is on the next block.
Most recently, I stayed here in early December, 2004.
Why Stay There?
This hotel is a San Francisco treat. You will be greeted by an exotic Spanish/Moroccan-style lobby with decorative wood grains and stone, tropical plants and muted lighting. The lobby can be quite fun and lively because of a nightly free happy hour and the hotel's policy of stocking every board game I've ever heard of.
But, the hotel is also a great base camp for a San Francisco vacation because of its moderate price and proximity to Union Square and the Theater District. It has a variety of room types to accommodate couples through families, a small number of ultra-luxurious "executive" suites, and a handfull of just the right pleasant amenities for a comfortable stay.
Location
The Serrano is located at the corner of Taylor and O'Farrell Streets, in the heart of San Francisco's Theater District. The San Francisco Hilton, which often hosts large conventions, is on the next block. Union Square is just a two-minute walk and the Moscone Convention Center and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art are 10-15 minutes away on foot. Chinatown is a bit farther (20-25 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride). Other San Francisco attractions (Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc.) are best accessible by car, taxi or public transportation.
It's also conveniently located from the standpoint of transportation. The Powell Street cable car line is just two blocks away, and Powell Street Station is about three blocks away. This station provides access to BART (the Bay Area's regional transportation system, which has a station at San Francisco International Airport, and San Francisco's own Muni metro and bus system).
A taxi ride from SFO airport will set you back a good chunk of change--about $45 plus tip. But you can take the 30-minute BART ride from SFO to the Powell Street Station at Powell and Market Streets for under $5 per person. BART has level loading and escalators so luggage handling is no problem if you're relatively fit. There are other shuttle bus/taxi combinations that may work for you and save a few dollars. Check any good guidebook like Let's Go, Frommers, Fodors, etc.
Rooms
Standard rooms are richly decorated, reasonably spacious, and come with complimentary high-speed internet access, two-line cordless phones with dataports and voicemail, hair dryers, bathrobes, irons and ironing boards, honor bars, board games, TV with on-demand movies and video games, in-room safes large enough to hold a standard laptop computer, bath amenities, and a complimentary overnight shoeshine.
There are also 19 luxury suites and "executive" kings, some with Jacuzzis and rainfall showers.
Prices
On our last trip, we paid $92 for a standard queen room, an excellent deal we got on PriceLine. A typical winter price for a double-occupancy standard room seems to be about $139, with a 10% discount for AAA or AARP members. High season rates for a similar room seem to be about $189, with the same 10% discount available. Suites and a few other special rooms go for quite a bit more.
Other Amenities and Services
There is a small but well kept fitness center and an amazing collection of board games as well as a nightly happy hour in the lobby.
There's also a flexible meeting area with up to 5 meeting rooms that can also accommodate a banquet of up to120 people
Ponzu, an eclectic Asian restaurant and lounge that also serves standard American breakfast fare is accessible through the lobby or from outside.
Valet parking is available and there's a self-parking garage across the street. Cost: about $31 per 24 hours, including in-out privileges.
Neighborhood
The Serrano is in a transitional area between the upper crust of the Union Square shopping district and the more down-and-out Tenderloin. You'll be just a short walk away from Macy's, Tiffany, Saks, Neimann-Marcus and Nordstrom but not much farther from the soup kitchen at Grace Cathedral and other homeless enclaves. Despite the proximity of a relatively run-down area, I've never felt unsafe here, and the lively day- and night-life seem to confirm that.
Nearby Restaurants
Ponzu is the only in-house restaurant, and it's open for breakfast and dinner but not lunch. Dottie's Blue Plate Cafe, right around the block, is a popular local breakfast "joint." The food is much more sophisticated than the typical greasy spoon, but the decor is San Francisco funky. You may also meet some colorful local figures while waiting in line to get in.
Beyond that, there are dozens of great restaurants within walking distance or a short cab ride. If you're shopping around Union Square, take a break at the Cheescake Factory, inside Macys. Just consult any San Francisco travel or restaurant guide for many more choices.
Useful Links
You can try using one of the internet hotel booking services to make your reservation at the Serrano, or you can go directly to www.serranohotel.com .
If you’d rather stay at a nearby mega-hotel, check out my review of The San Francisco Hilton.
For two inexpensive but comfortable hotels between San Francisco airport and downtown, check out:
- Hampton Inn South San Francisco
- Marriott Courtyard San Francisco Airport
The Golden Gate Bridge is a "must see" tourist destination. Click here to discover a little known view to die for on my Golden Gate Grand Tour.
For information on BART, the regional transportation system, go to www.bart.gov .
Get 1% cash back on your hotel bill. Check out my review of this great no-fee Visa card.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
jsquarejj
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Jim J
Location: Santa Cruz, California
Reviews written: 190
Trusted by: 78 members
About Me:
#7 in Personal Finance, #14 in Travel. My goal? Saving you money.
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