• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Marriott Vacation Pulse SF Questions

CalGalTraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
9,736
Reaction score
8,270
Points
498
Location
California
Resorts Owned
HGVC, MVC Vistana
We have an expiring 50k Bonvoy Cert so decided on a staycation with a visiting relative in San Francisco. The Vacation Pulse was available for 49k Bonvoy points. I have a few questions for those who are familiar with the property:

1) Is this the best SF Marriott Hotel for the 50k cert? The location seemed good to play tourist. Ritz was 82k points - too many Bonvoy points for an overnight, since we are conserving our points for a upcoming Steamboat Ski trip but there are other Marriotts in the 50k range - some boutiques.

2) It appears that taxes are included and no resort fee (yeah!). Parking is $60/night (ouch) any suggestions on where to park overnight close by?

3) Urban view or Courtyard view?

Thanks for your advice.
 

ljmiii

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
2,003
Reaction score
1,153
Points
523
Location
NY, NY
1) Is this the best SF Marriott Hotel for the 50k cert?
No idea, but there are many great Bonvoy properties in SF. I'm partial to the Union Sq/SoMa area so am more familiar with the Palace (highly recommend) and St Francis. Knock on wood have been successful in booking the Ritz Carlton Residences with DPs for the past few years.

Lived in SF for 8 years so have a local's dislike for Fisherman's Wharf...so I don't actually know much about the hotels up there.
 

zentraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
1,505
Reaction score
903
Points
473
Location
San Francisco and Hidden Valley Lake, CA
Resorts Owned
Four Seasons Residence Club
There was a recent article in out paper about the fact that Fisherman's Wharf/Ghirardelli Square and making an effort to be less of a tourist destination (think blocks and blocks of T-shirt shops and mediocre food) and more appealing to people who live here with better restaurants and shops. As for parking, it is a very dense parking area and there may be some garages around there that will charge less than $60. You might ask the concierge at the property; I have found that they don't avoid the question so you will park at the hotel.

[I've lived here for 35 years and I can count on one hand the number of times I have been there, all with company. But if they really make it more appealing for locals I would go. It is beautiful location on the water and there are some good seafood restaurants there that have been there forever. It is a small city and easy to get to Union Square or other places on public transit or ride sharing.]
 

frank808

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
4,177
Reaction score
2,333
Points
448
Location
Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club
Resorts Owned
Disney Vacation Club (Aulani,SSR,VGC,VGF) Hilton Grand Vacation Club(Bay Club, Kohala Suites, The District) Marriott Vacation Club (Aruba Surf Club, Grand Residence, Grand Chateau, Grand Vista,Harbour Lake, KoOlina,Willow Ridge & DC points)
I have been at pulse SF a few times. Very convenient to the trolley stop and bus station. Trader Joe's and In N Out burger a block away. For one night I would just park in front of hotel for free overnight. Make sure to check parking sign. On certain day you cannot park on street in front as there is street cleaning. Also do not leave anything visible in vehicle. I saw two cars with broken windows and slashed luggage.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 

CalGalTraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
9,736
Reaction score
8,270
Points
498
Location
California
Resorts Owned
HGVC, MVC Vistana
I have been at pulse SF a few times. Very convenient to the trolley stop and bus station. Trader Joe's and In N Out burger a block away. For one night I would just park in front of hotel for free overnight. Make sure to check parking sign. On certain day you cannot park on street in front as there is street cleaning. Also do not leave anything visible in vehicle. I saw two cars with broken windows and slashed luggage.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

Thanks all for the advice.

@frank808 Since you have stayed at the property several times, do you recommend courtyard view or urban view?
 

BigDawgTUG

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2019
Messages
333
Reaction score
297
Points
124
I strongly recommend courtyard view over urban view. Courtyard just means the room are in the interior facing an interior courtyard. Urban means you are on the street and, trust me, it is noisy. Not only traffic, but trash trucks come early in the a.m. I had urban and it was loud. My parents had courtyard and did not hear a thing.
 

TheTimeTraveler

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2008
Messages
5,952
Reaction score
2,857
Points
648
Location
Florida
Don't forget to Google "San Francisco Poop Map" prior to walking around in the City. Be careful where you step.

It's a sad fact of life........



.
 

frank808

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
4,177
Reaction score
2,333
Points
448
Location
Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club
Resorts Owned
Disney Vacation Club (Aulani,SSR,VGC,VGF) Hilton Grand Vacation Club(Bay Club, Kohala Suites, The District) Marriott Vacation Club (Aruba Surf Club, Grand Residence, Grand Chateau, Grand Vista,Harbour Lake, KoOlina,Willow Ridge & DC points)
Thanks all for the advice.

@frank808 Since you have stayed at the property several times, do you recommend courtyard view or urban view?

Have been in both and as others have mentioned courtyard is quieter.

Urban view I have looked out across the street at Marriott hotel next door. Not a tall hotel as I think it was only 4 floors, so not really any great views for urban.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk
 

CalGalTraveler

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2014
Messages
9,736
Reaction score
8,270
Points
498
Location
California
Resorts Owned
HGVC, MVC Vistana
Thanks all for the courtyard and hotel recommendations. I changed the reservation from Urban View to Courtyard view room per your suggestions. The system indicated that there were zero incremental fees. I did not get a confirmation in the mail but the reservation in the system was correct with 50k cert attached. Same reservation number.

Was checking credit card bills and found a Marriott fee for $500 for points purchase and now see 44,000 points added to the Bonvoy account! I never authorized this. For some reason, when I made the edit to the reservation online to change the room from urban to courtyard the system, billed us for points. What is strange is that we never touched the 50k certificate and it is still attached to the reservation. It also never asked me to authorize this purchase. Had to call, wait on hold and filed a case and will file dispute with the credit card if I don't see resolution...ugh...what a hassle!

Has anyone else experienced this?

PSA: when changing a credit card free night certificate reservation perhaps it is better to call in to change to avoid this hassle. #wasteoftime
 
Last edited:
Top