Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
$$$ Executive Suites
(1388 Sutter St., Suite 904;
%
888/776-5151 or 415/
776-5151; www.executivesuites-sf.com)
has about 75 units around town. It
focuses mostly on corporate rentals and stays of longer than a month, but two of
its properties—2000 Post (at Steiner, near Japantown) and Archstone South
Market (at 3rd and Folsom)—permit stays of as short as 3 days. The company has
controlled many of its apartments for upwards of 15 years, and it furnishes all of
them completely, down to pots, pans, toasters, coffeemakers, and ironing
boards—everything you'd need in a place, including weekly housekeeping. In
business since 1980, it now maintains about 75 hotel-decor units throughout
town. Per-night prices for studios (for two people only) start at $149, one-bed-
rooms (for three) at $189, and two-bedrooms (mandated for four, even if two of
them are kids) at $309, although you'll be able to negotiate deals for 30 days or
longer. All apartments have both queen-size beds and a queen-size sofa bed,
including studios, which means you can squeeze up to four people into a place at
the lowest price.
$$
It's got a range of sizes, but prices for studio apartments at the
Steinhart
Hotel
5
(952 Sutter St. between Leavenworth and Hyde;
%
415/928-0260; www.
personalityhotels.com; AE, DC, DISC, MC, V)
go from $99 to $115 during most
periods. That includes a Murphy bed, fridge, sink, and—miracle of miracles—
two burners so that you can actually do some cooking and save cash, which is
something to talk about in this tourist-priced tangle of hotels west of Union
Square. Keep in mind that's for the smallest studio; larger studios are $150, and
all of the units require a minimum stay of 7 nights. This one is run by Personality
Hotels, so it's got a boutiquey vibe (but it's not too precious).
$
As long as you promise to stay at least a week, the value of
Gaylord Suites
(620 Jones St. at Geary;
%
415/673-8445; www.gaylordsuites.com; AE, DISC, MC,
V)
can save you a bundle. Your kitchen won't have a burner or an oven, but it will
have a fridge, microwave, sink, and utensils. There's Internet (it's free in common
areas), a 24-hour reception desk, free local calls, and weekly housekeeping. The
rooms are done in a simple black-and-white style that could be described as
“cheap chic.” Unfortunately, the deposit situation is onerous, but it's designed to
keep out the riffraff, with $500 required, separate from rent, that remains on your
card for a week after you check out. The building is 12 stories tall, and prices rise
with the floors, from $550 a week for those on floor nine or below, and $650 for
the better views above.
$ Vantaggio Suites
(www.vantaggiosuites.com)
runs three properties in older
buildings around Union Square and the Civic Center, all of which are geared for
folks who need to stay for a few weeks, but all of which do rent by the night.
Expect a simple room, tired but clean, with a fridge and a microwave but noth-
ing that can burn the place down—there's a community kitchen for that. A small
fitness room and weekly housekeeping round out the amenities. Nightly, that
costs $95 double, but stay at least a week and you'll pay $485 to $525 double
($460-$500 single), depending on the floor; upper floors, which are quieter, are
more expensive. Of its three properties, the lavender-hued one at 761 Post St., at
Leavenworth, (called “The Cosmo”;
%
415/614-2400; prices above) has the
best mix of amenities and location. Rooms are fairly small in all three. The Turk
