Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8
your kids don't need y ou to swim with
them, you can work out on the poolside
cardio equipment at the
Hotel Nikko,
at 222 Mason St. (
&
800/248-3308
or
415/394-1111). If you'd prefer to take
it easy, the lounge chairs and J apanese
hot tub , all under an attractiv e glass
ceiling, ar e a r elaxing alternativ e. S ee
p. 69. The elegant infinity pool at the
St. R egis
(125 3r d S t.;
&
415/284-
4000
) is so inviting, par ents will want
to go for a swim ev en when the kids
have had enough. S ee p. 87.
The
San
Francisco Marriott
(55 4th St.;
&
415/
896-1600
) has an indoor pool, which
isn't elegant, but is big, clean, and open
from 6am to 11pm. See p. 87.
•
Best Outdoor Pool:
As you might have
guessed, the competitors for this honor
are fe w. Ar ound U nion S quare, the
award goes to the
Handlery
(351 Geary
St.;
&
800/843-4343
or 415/781-
7800) for a small, heated pool in a
pleasant patio. See p. 78. Among F ish-
erman's Wharf hotels, the
Hyatt at
Fisherman's Wharf
(555 N. P oint St.;
&
800/223-1234
or 415/563-1234)
fields far and away the nicest pool. S ee
p. 90. The
Hotel Del Sol
(3100 Web-
ster St.;
&
877/433-5765
or 415/921-
5520) wins for the best poolside decor ,
with palm tr ees and a hammock, but
the pool itself is miniscule. S ee p. 97.
•
Best I n-House E ntertainment:
The
Top of the Mark at the
Mark Hopkins
InterContinental
(1 Nob Hill;
&
800/
662-6455
or 415/392-3434) is terrific
for drinks, views, or weekend dinner and
dancing. I f the kids ar e old enough to
leave tucked in bed in a room downstairs,
you'll have the pleasure of going out for a
nice evening without v enturing far fr om
your temporary home. S ee p. 95. A t the
Hotel Bijou
(111 M ason St.;
800/771-
1022
or 415/771-1200) a tiny in-house
movie theater shows a nightly double bill-
ing of filmed-in-San Francisco movies, so
you can round out your day of sightseeing
with a lo w-key ev ening activity . S ee
p. 80. If you want to do something silly
with the kids, take them to the Tonga
Room at the
Fairmont H otel
(950
Mason S t.;
&
800/441-1414
or
415/772-5000) for appetizers and a mild
tropical storm. See p. 94.
•
Best Lobb y:
I f the kids ar e into fair y
tales, the
Fairmont Hotel
(950 Mason
St.;
&
800/441-1414
or 415/772-
5000) will leave them waiting for P rin-
cess Aurora to arrive. See p. 94. A close
contender is the
Palace Hotel
(2 N ew
Montgomery St., at Market St.;
&
415/
546-5089
); the ceiling of its historic
Garden Court consists of 80,000 panes
of glass. S ee p. 86. F or the most stun-
ning lobby in to wn, the tr uly opulent,
yet tasteful, Ar t D eco-inspired
Four
Seasons
(757 Market St.;
&
415/633-
3000
) tops the list. See p. 86.
•
Best I f You H ave a C ar:
F or stays
around U nion S quare, the
Galleria
Park H otel
(191 S utter S t.;
&
800/
792-9639
or 415/781-3060) is built
over a par king garage, so it won 't take
long to r etrieve y ours. Like all do wn-
town hotels, parking charges are nuts—
$30 per day is av erage—so it 's not
economical to par k her e, just conv e-
nient. S ee p . 72. O ne car per r oom
gets fr ee indoor par king at the
Cow
Hollow M otor I nn & S uites
(2190
Lombard S t.;
&
415/921-5800
). S ee
p. 97. A spot for y our car also comes
courtesy of the
Hotel D el S ol
(3100
Webster S t.;
&
877/433-5765
or
415/921-5520; p . 97) or the
Marina
Motel
(2576 Lombard St.;
&
800/346-
6118
or 415/921-9406; p. 98).
•
Best I f You B rought the D og:
The
Hotel Monaco
(501 Geary St.;
&
800/
214-4220
or 415/292-0100) has pack-
ages for pooches that riv al anything
other hotels have for kids. I don't know
if ther e's an underlying message ther e.
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