Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
92
parking, it's up to y ou if the plastic-co vered mattresses, shared showers, and absence of
closets are worth the savings.
Fort Mason, Building 240, San Francisco, CA 94123. & 415/771-7277. Fax 415/771-1468. www.sfhostels.
com. 164 beds . Family rooms $58-$125; single beds $23-$29. R ates include c ontinental breakfast. AE,
DISC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Cafe; kitchen; Internet access at kiosk for small fee; laundry facili-
ties. In room: Free wireless Internet access, lockers, no phone.
San Remo Hotel Built in 1906 by Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) founder A. P.
Giannini, this charming I talianate Victorian originally housed I talian immigrants, among
others, made homeless after the ear thquake and fir e. These days, E uropean travelers and
vacationing families on a budget ar e happy to find the S an Remo. An unabashedly old-
fashioned pension, the period furnishings, bev eled glass, and Victorian detailing take y ou
back to a bona fide slice of S an Francisco that's all but disappeared. The bedrooms, which
look like they w ere decorated b y someone's grandmother, are small and quaint. R eminis-
cent of E uropean boarding houses, r ooms have no phones, televisions, or en suite bath-
rooms. Guests share one of many polished and tidy r estrooms down the hall.
Families of thr ee can stay in a r oom with one queen and one twin for $90 or less.
Larger families will be relegated to twin-bedded rooms for the kids and queen rooms for
the adults—the r ooms don't connect, so this hotel isn 't ideal for families with y ounger
kids. The location is within walking distance to N orth Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, and
public transportation, but this is a tough neighborhood in which to par k. Bottom line:
the San Remo isn't for ev erybody. If you expect a high lev el of ser vice and comfor t on
your vacation, you'll be better off at a mainstr eam hotel.
2237 Mason St. (near Chestnut St.), San F rancisco, CA 94133. & 800/352-7366 or 415/776-8688. F ax
415/776-2811. www.sanremohotel.com. 62 units. $75-$89 double. No rollaways or cribs. AE, DC, MC, V.
Self-parking $16-$19. Amenities: Laundry facilities. In room: No phone.
4
4 THE EMBARCADERO
Following the 1989 ear thquake and the 1990s building boom, this forgotten par t of
town saw the constr uction of ne w condominiums and commer cial space. Although
hotels remain scarce, the proximity to downtown, the Ferry Building, and plentiful pub-
lic transportation make this waterfront neighborhood an ideal place to stay.
VERY EXPENSIVE
Hotel Vitale Opened in 2005, the Vitale bills itself as the “ only luxury water-
front hotel” in San Francisco, offering “luxur y naturally.” What this means for y ou and
yours is fabulous vie ws from many of the guest r ooms, decor in soothing ear th tones,
playful photographs of natur e, and other “natural” touches such as hallway lighting fix-
tures that ev oke sunlight str eaming thr ough a for est canopy. Also, to be clear on the
meaning of “ waterfront,” the Vitale does hav e a largely unobstr ucted, and v ery lovely,
view of the S an Francisco Bay, but it 's actually acr oss the str eet from the water 's edge.
Also, I would note that while the Vitale has plenty of opulent touches such as sandstone
bathroom floors and some deep-soaking tubs (not all r ooms have bathtubs), not all the
details add up to the same exclusive experience one might find at more established luxury
chains such as the Ritz-Carlton or S t. R egis. The spa consists of just thr ee tr eatment
rooms; the fitness center is quite petite; and while guests may use the
YMCA pool for
free, it is 1 block do wn the street.
 
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