Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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$30, oversized vehicles $36.
Amenities:
Exercise room; meditation room; business c enter; laundry ser-
vice; dry cleaning.
In room:
TV w/movies and video games (DVD in some rooms), fax, free wireless Internet
access, coffeemaker, hair dryer, iron.
Larkspur Hotel
When the Larkspur hotel group took over once-named Car twright
Hotel in 2007, they added an old-fashioned bar in the lobby, complete with leather seats
and dark wood, naming it “1915” for the y ear the hotel was built. The old-time theme
extends to the redecorated guest rooms, where you'll find chocolate-brown leather head-
boards and stately , if some what staid, ear th-toned furnishings. I n keeping with the
architectural priorities of a near centur y ago, the guest r ooms are rather petite and the
bathrooms truly tiny. While some closets ar e teensy, others ar e mysteriously large. You
won't find any views out your window, but you are just far enough away fr om the cable
car lines not to hear ev ery bell and whirr.
Despite the tiny room size, rollaways are permitted in the larger r ooms, which go for
$189 and up. The suites, with a king-size bed in one room, a pullout sofa sleeper in the
other, and a wee bathroom in between them, start at about $269. The Larkspur uses only
environmentally friendly cleaning products in this non-smoking hotel and proudly serves
complimentary organic, locally r oasted coffee in the mornings. The kids will enjo y the
freshly baked cookies in the ev enings. Pets are welcome free of charge, and dog biscuits
are available anytime in the lobb y. Depending on the time of y ear, be sur e to ask for a
room with an air-conditioning unit. Location-wise, the hotel gets extra points. I t's just
north of Union Square, 3 blocks fr om the Chinato wn Gate, and close to the cable car
lines. If you can snag a good rate, and don 't mind close quar ters, you might appreciate
the Larkspur's historic feel.
524 Sutt er St. (near P owell St.), San F rancisco, CA 94102.
&
800/919-9779
or 415/421-2865. F ax
415/398-6345. www.cartwrighthotel.com. 114 units , including 5 suit es. $109-$259 double; $199-$369
suite. Kids under 18 stay free in parent's room. Rollaways (limited availability) $25; cribs free. AE, DC, DISC,
MC, V. Valet parking $40; self-parking $27. Pets welcome.
Amenities:
Bar; health club; room service (lim-
ited hours).
In room:
A/C (not all r ooms), TV, free wireless Internet access, coffeemakers, hair dryer, iron/
ironing board, CD player.
INEXPENSIVE
Golden G ate Hotel
This charming 1913 E dwardian bed-and-br eakfast sits on a
relatively quiet block, close to the cable car lines and within walking distance of N ob
Hill, Union Square, and Chinatown. The cozy rooms, decorated with white wicker fur-
niture, antique bur eaus, and floral prints, hav e either two twin beds or one queen and
space for little else. At most, you could squeeze a crib into the queen room. Families often
choose from one of the two do wnstairs rooms, which share a common bathr oom. One
room has two double beds, and the other has a double and a twin. F amilies of four stay
for $125 in summer and less in the off-season. Another off-season bargain is a room with
a queen-size bed that connects to a tiny r oom with two twin beds—all for as little as
$180. (In summer, the rate is much higher .) The queen room has a bath, and ther e are
additional shared tubs and toilets in the hall.
Innkeepers John and R enate K enaste, and daughter G abriele, ar e polite hosts who
maintain some nice touches in their family-r un inn such as vintage claw-foot tubs, an
antique bird-cage elevator, and complimentar y afternoon tea with homemade cookies.
The continental breakfast included in the r oom rate features coffee, tea, cr oissants, and
muffins. There's also Humphrey, a friendly golden r etriever.
Note:
During peak months
in summer, rates push the Golden Gate into the moderate price categor y.
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