Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
950 M ason St. (at C alifornia St.), San F rancisco, CA 94108.
&
800/441-1414
or 415/772-5000. F ax.
415/772-5013. w ww.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco. 591 units . $199-$499 double; fr om $500 suit e. K ids
under 17 sta y free in par ent's room. Rollaways $30; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $50.
Amenities:
2 r estaurants; outdoor terrace; bar; concierge; business c enter; salon; 24-hr . room service;
babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; complimentary morning coffee and tea in lobby.
In room:
A/C,
TV/DVD and games, fax, datapor t, high-speed Internet access, minibar, hair dr yer, iron, safe, CD player,
iPod dock in suites.
The Huntington Hotel
Owned and operated for mor e than 80 y ears by a local
family, the Huntington Hotel keeps a lower profile than the neighboring Nob Hill hotels,
but is equally upscale. For those traveling with young children, there are a few reasons to
consider this hotel. The location is gr eat: Huntington Park across the str eet has a nice
playground for under-8s, which may offer a w ell-deserved break for a kid who has fol-
lowed parents around the sights all day. Grace Cathedral, kitty-corner to the hotel, is also
a serene place to walk and stretch your legs, and the cable car stop is next doo. Moreover,
the building was originally conceiv ed as an apar tment bloc, so many of the r ooms are
very spacious and can easily fit a crib .
The hotel's most family-friendly feature may be the seven suites that have kitchenettes,
a rarity in upscale hotels. I n addition to the suites, connecting king and double-double
rooms are also an option. Although elegant, the decor is a bit heavy and in need of updat-
ing. The Luxury and H untington rooms on the upper floors hav e great views, but the
Deluxe and Superior rooms on the lower floors are larger. The hotel's exquisitely beauti-
ful spa, which unfor tunately is not open to guests under 16, is one of the nicest in S an
Francisco and offers divine tr eatments of every sort. The Big Four restaurant, dark and
clubby, exudes more than a hint of old S an Francisco.
1075 California St. (at Taylor St.), San Francisco, CA 94108.
&
800/227-4683
or 415/474-5400. Fax 415/
474-6227. www.huntingtonhotel.com. 135 units. From $315 double; fr om $540 suite. Kids 5 and under
stay free in parent's room. Rollaways $30; cribs fr ee. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $39.
Amenities:
Restaurant; bar; pool (16 and over only); spa/exercise room; concierge; courtesy car; room service (6am-
11:30pm); massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning.
In room:
A/C, TV/DVD w/movies, fax, wire-
less high-speed Internet access, kitchenettes available, hair dryer, safe, CD player (on request), iPod dock.
95
4
Mark Hopk ins In terContinental
The M ark H opkins, named after the
founder of the Central P acific Railroad, opened in 1926 and r emains a S an Francisco
landmark. The hotel is v ery family-friendly, providing a teddy bear and a backpack of
kids' amenities for 2- to 11-y ear-olds, as well as kids' menus in all the r estaurants. (Ask
about the “Kids in Tow” program when you make a r eservation.) With advance notice,
the hotel will rent strollers or other baby paraphernalia for you.
Guest rooms are classy and plush, with fine fabrics and maple furnishings.Views from
the upper floors ar e unsurpassed. The big news for families is the r ecent opening of the
hotel's Club I nterContinental, located on the lobb y floor. An additional $60 a day per
two adults and $15 per child (for young kids they may waive the additional $15 charge)
grants you access to an enter tainment and food lounge. B ig kids will lo ve the lounge,
where they can choose from more than 50 DVDs at “TV Central,” peruse a collection of
teen magazines, listen to XM satellite radio on wir eless headsets, or play boar d games.
The plethora of food—including baked goods and fr uits for br eakfast, lunch snacks at
noon, high tea with mini sandwiches in the afternoon, and a “ sweet dreams” offering of
milk and cookies in the evening—means you'll take care of at least one daily meal for the
family, making the club's daily access charge well worth considering. You get access to the
club at no additional charge if y ou stay in a suite at the standar d rate.
