Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
82
775 Bush St. (btw. Powell and Mason sts.), San Francisco, CA 94108.
&
800/835-1118
or 415/392-3702.
Fax 415/392-6202. w ww.goldengatehotel.com. 25 units , some w/shar ed bathrooms. Rooms w/shar ed
bath $105 double; rooms w/private bath $165 double/queen. Rates include continental breakfast. Futon
$30; cribs free. AE, DC, MC, V. Self-parking $22.
In room:
TV, free wireless Internet access, hair dryer, iron
(on request).
Halcyon Hotel
Penny pinchers will appreciate this clean, low-key option only a fe w
blocks fr om U nion S quare. H ere y ou'll find r ock-bottom rates; kitchenettes in ev ery
room equipped with a toaster, microwave, coffeemaker with complimentar y coffee, and
a small fridge; coin-operated laundr y facilities with fr ee detergent and bleach; and a
friendly general manager b y the name of D ennis Hale who tr uly wants to ensur e your
stay in S an Francisco is a good one. The carpets in the tiny guest r ooms were recently
replaced with pleasant laminated flooring in a pale pine style and the hallway floors were
also due to be replaced by early 2007. The guest room walls were also slated for painting
when this topic went to press, something they sorely needed. The mattresses, bedspreads,
and furniture could also use replacing, but for these low rates near Union Square, perhaps
that's too much to ask. R oom configurations v ary; one family option is a twin bed
bunked over a double bed. The hotel says that, technically, it permits no more than three
guests in a room, but does offer a complimentary floor futon “for emergencies.” If anyone
in your group has physical limitations, you may want to think twice before booking here,
as the hotel is located uphill from Union Square, and once inside, you'll have to take the
stairs. If you have cats or dogs, they ar e welcome to stay for an additional $5 per day .
649 Jones St. (btw. Geary and Post sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102.
&
800/627-2396
or 415/929-8033. Fax
415/441-8033. www.halcyonsf.com. 25 units. $79-$129 double; $510-$590 w eekly. Minimum length of
stay Oct-Apr is 7 da ys. Kids under 18 sta y free in parent's room. Rollaways and cribs $10. AE, DC, DISC,
MC, V. Self-parking $14-$16.
Amenities:
Access to nearby health club; c oncierge; tour desk ; laundr y
facilities; free fax in lobb y.
In room:
TV (DVD player available for $10), k itchen, fridge, coffeemaker, hair
dryer, iron, safe.
4
Hostelling In ternational S an F rancisco-Downtown
For less than $30 per
person, your family can experience dorm life in an old San Francisco-style building right
in the hear t of Union Square. Occupying five sparsely decorated floors, r ooms here are
simple and clean. Each has two or three bunk beds with linens, a sink, a closet, and lock-
ers (bring your own locks or buy some at the fr ont desk). Although most priv ate rooms
share hallway bathrooms, a few have private facilities. Prices are per person in the dorm
rooms and per double bed in the private room. Since kids under 12 are an additional $14
per night, the hostel option becomes less of a deal when y ou add more than one child.
Among sev eral common r ooms is a large kitchen-style r
oom with r efrigerator space,
toasters, and a microwave, but no stoves or ranges.
312 Mason St. (btw. Geary and O'Farrell sts.), San Francisco, CA 94102.
&
888/GOHIUSA
(464-4872) or
415/788-5604. Fax 415/788-3023. www.sfhostels.com. 105 units (39 privat e, 241 dorm beds). Host elling
members $24-$29 per person in dorm; nonmembers $27-$32 per person in dorm; $60-$89 in privat e
room w/shared bath; $77-$95 in privat e room w/private bath. No child rat e. Rates include continental
breakfast. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
TV lounge; full k itchen; Internet access at kiosk for small fee;
free wireless Internet access; laundry facilities.
In room:
Lockers, no phone.
Hotel Beresford Arms
This old-fashioned lodging is a true value proposition for
families of four and up . A family-o wned hotel with heavy burgundy lobb y decor and
slightly scuffed guest room furniture, the Beresford Arms is not going to win any awards
for style. But spacious room configurations, most with kitchens or kitchenettes; friendly
staff; and lo w rates do keep some customers coming back. All r ooms hav e queen-
size beds, so here a double-double room actually has two queen-size beds, meaning four
