Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Boutique Bedders
There's something gratifying about patronizing a hotel group that's dis-
tinctly San Francisco, as the following small, high-quality boutique chains
are. I've sprinkled a few of their best values throughout this chapter, but
have a look at these websites to see if you can snag deals at the pricier
properties not listed in this topic (it happens). And you'll likely see the
name of these places popping up among the deals at the discount sites.
Joie de Vivre (www.jdvhotels.com)
Praise be to Joie de Vivre, which takes worn-out old properties and trans-
forms them into something cheerful but still affordable. The local paint
stores must be out of teal and canary-yellow paints because of the appre-
ciated efforts of this chain to refresh old properties into sunny affairs. I
absolutely love this company not just for that, and for eschewing rip-off
luxury pricing, but also because it actually endeavors to share the best of
the city with guests. It has created the Golden Gate Greeters, a program
that pairs any interested guest with a like-minded local willing to share
the best of the city over a walking tour—for free.
Personality (www.personalityhotels.com)
I used to count this chain as one of the best fallbacks for budget travelers.
Its holdings are all well-located and mostly interesting: The Hotel Vertigo
(until recently the York) was where Hitchcock shot some of his famous film.
Unfortunately, Personality has been renovating its properties one by one
and reopening them with prices that are a little too high for this guide
($200/night). You might look around, though, and fish for deals, because
the company is still testing the market on how much it can charge.
orders, but there are dozens more options in the neighborhood. The Powell Street
cable car runs one building east, and National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car
are directly across the street.
$$-$$$
The 25-room
Golden Gate Hotel
555
(775 Bush St., at Powell;
%
800/835-1118 or 415/392-3702; www.goldengatehotel.com; AE, MC, V),
built
in 1913 as a working-class hotel, is the family-run B&B of my dreams come to
life. Staying here seems to put guests in a good mood, because each morning,
you'll find them meeting over the free continental breakfast (the fresh cinnamon
croissants are addictive) and gabbing cheerfully with each other. Pip, the garru-
lous tailless tabby, roams the creaky halls trying to charm those who cross his path.
Beds are supremely comfortable, paint jobs are fresh, and the rooms' furnishings
are mostly antiques, lending a comfy, homey vibe. A fridge and a microwave are
available for guest use, and to add to the charm, there's a cage elevator that own-
ers are pretty sure is the oldest surviving one in town. Rooms facing Bush Street
aren't terribly noisy (in fact, you can often hear the clang of the cable cars' bells at
the end of the block, which I find wonderful), but if you want to save money with
