Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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higher-floor, street-side bedrooms ending in 00 through 05, you'll have views of the cable
cars and U nion Square. Bathrooms are moderately siz ed, and each tub comes with its
own rubber ducky.
The in-house restaurant, Luques, serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Older kids will
appreciate the fr ee high-speed I nternet access av ailable in the lobb y. Check the w ebsite
or call the hotel about special package rates, which can be much lo
wer than published
rates.
433 Powell St. (btw. Post and Sutter sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102. & 800/428-4748 or 415/362-2004.
Fax 415/362-1403. w ww.chancellorhotel.com. 137 units , including 2 suit es. $175 double; $230-$300
suite. No rollaways; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $28; oversized vehicles $32; self-parking
$22. Amenities: Restaurant; concierge; room service (7am-10pm); laundry service; dry cleaning. In room:
TV w/movies, dataport, high-speed Internet access, fridge (on request), hair dryer, iron, safe.
Donatello Value An unfor tunate pr oduct of 1970s ar chitecture, the D onatello is
rather unsightly on the outside. N ot to worry: The weathered concrete facade is a small
price to pay for one of the best family deals in the ar ea. Operated by a timeshare com-
pany, the D onatello offers some rar e perks for a U nion Square hotel in its price range.
First off, all the beds are king-size. Second, many rooms have pullout sofas that sleep an
extra two family members—ev en if the sofa beds do take up most of the space in the
room once they're open. Third, the rooms have partial kitchenettes, complete with a mini
refrigerator, microwave, toaster, sink, and tableware. Finally, a complimentary continen-
tal breakfast is served in the club room upstairs.
Add to that a friendly in-house staff, new carpet laid down in 2006, new beds in 2008,
big counters and tubs in the bathr ooms, sizable closets, and complimentar y coffee/tea/
hot chocolate, and you've got yourself a deal. And I shouldn't fail to mention the fitness
center with men's and ladies' saunas and a coed J acuzzi, plus a separately managed r es-
taurant on the second floor.
501 Post St. (at M ason St.), San F rancisco, CA 94102. & 866/729-7182 or 415/441-7100. Fax 415/885-
8842. www.shellhospitality.com. 142 units (all ar e studio suit es with k ing beds and sleep sofas). $209-
$295. Rollaways and cribs free. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $20 plus tax or $6/hr . with in-and-out
privileges. Amenities: Restaurant; health club; Jacuzzi; sauna; laundry service; dry cleaning. In room: A/C,
TV/DVD, dataport, high-speed Internet access, fridge, kitchenette, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron, safe, CD
player.
Handlery Union Square Value A family-owned and -operated hotel for mor e
than 60 y ears, the all nonsmoking H andlery is notable for being the only do wntown
hotel with an outdoor, heated pool. The pool isn't huge, but it 's hugely popular—espe-
cially after 4pm when guests return from a day of sightseeing or shopping. The Handlery
is also so close to U nion Square's central plaza that y ou can see it fr om the fr ont door.
With its pool and location, no wonder the lobb y is always packed. M oreover, bedding,
curtains, and other “ soft goods ” w ere r eplaced in late 2008. The r ed-accented beige
designs are simple and pleasant, and ne w furnishings ar e expected in late 2009. G uest
rooms and bathr ooms in the historic, 1908 G eary Street building ar e small—the king-
size-bedded standar ds hav e just enough r oom for a crib . That said, the family suites,
ranging from $245 to $399, are an excellent option for large families. There, a queen-size
bed, two double-doubles, and a sofa bed accommodate a total of six sleepyheads.
For standard rooms, it's worth the long walk fr om the lobb y to the Club R ooms on
the O'Farrell Street side, where rooms are larger and include a dr essing area, robes, and
extra amenities. (There's a hotel entry on O'Farrell St. as well.) Many of the Club Rooms,
which aren't much more expensive than those in the historic section, o verlook the tiled
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