One night stopover at SFO. Things to do and hotel recommendations, please.

[Quilter]

Going through on 9/2. I'm looking at using a FNC. Right now the Westin is looking nice but I'd like to hear from those that know the area.

Thank you.

 

[sponger76]

Going through on 9/2. I'm looking at using a FNC. Right now the Westin is looking nice but I'd like to hear from those that know the area.

Thank you.

I've done a one night stopover before using Abound points at the Ritz property in SF. Don't know whether or not an FNC would work, but it's very walkable to Union Square, Chinatown and some other stuff, and easy to get to and from there and back to the airport using BART.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Do you want to go downtown or stay by the airport?

 

[ljmiii]

Going through on 9/2. I'm looking at using a FNC. Right now the Westin is looking nice but I'd like to hear from those that know the area.

The Westin St Francis is one of our two 'go to' hotels in SF (along with the Palace). That said, we haven't stayed at either for at least five years since at this point our SF travel is planned well in advance and we've been fortunate enough to stay at the Ritz Carlton Club.

And all that said...unless your arrival and departure times are exceedingly generous I would suggest staying at the SFO Grand Hyatt over anywhere else.

 

[vacation dreaming]

I stayed at the airport Westin a few years ago. It had a convenient shuttle, a restaurant onsite, a walking path along the water, and checked all of the boxes for a night where I didn’t have time to go into the city. It was upscale, and I would do it again if I had a fnc. Of course the Grand Hyatt is connected to the airport so that would be even more convienent.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I have stayed at a couple of AC Hotels near the airport using the 35K certificates, but they are remote and very basic. I have not stayed at the Westin at the airport, but the location appears to be good. Most recently, we have been staying at the Waterfront Marriott by the airport, which we like; usually good energy in the bar/restaurant.

 

[jd2601]

I routinely stay at both the Westin and the Marriott SFO waterfront. Both are nice and a good choice. Hyatt is new and connected by the air tram. All are great choices. I tend to do Marriott and first choice is Marriott waterfront. The Marriott has a M club lounge while the Westin does not. I have stayed at the AC also and is a little further from the airport.

Both are close and waterfront one light from the other. Similar location.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Going through on 9/2. I'm looking at using a FNC. Right now the Westin is looking nice but I'd like to hear from those that know the area.

Things to do? W/o knowing arrival, departure, the amount of effort you want to make, etc etc about you, idk how anyone can do anything but guess ... other than what to do IN your hotel. but ...
a) want to feel 20YO again? Bring a frisbee. Go down to Stanford. Throw the frisbee around on the front lawn
b) go up to Rt280 & hike along San Andreas (you know that name) Lake
c) my sister swears by BARTing to Embarcadero and seeing what's up in the ferry bldg. I'm not a shopper so it leaves me cold.
d) I'd say dungeness crab but I think early Sept may be the lowest pt of the DC cycle

 

[Quilter]

The Westin St Francis is one of our two 'go to' hotels in SF (along with the Palace). That said, we haven't stayed at either for at least five years since at this point our SF travel is planned well in advance and we've been fortunate enough to stay at the Ritz Carlton Club.

And all that said...unless your arrival and departure times are exceedingly generous I would suggest staying at the SFO Grand Hyatt over anywhere else.

Our arrival is 2:48 and we depart the next afternoon 1:25.

Our body clock will be 3 hours ahead so we'll be ready to look for dinner after checking in and we might lose energy shortly after that. I hadn't thought about an extended stay in San Francisco since I read it's gotten "dirty" or sketchy recently. Someone else told me of all these wonderful things to explore like Marin or the redwoods at Muir Woods. Or just take a ferry to Tiburon. Now I'm wondering if we should do more than a stopover.

 

[Quilter]

Things to do? W/o knowing arrival, departure, the amount of effort you want to make, etc etc about you, idk how anyone can do anything but guess ... other than what to do IN your hotel. but ...
a) want to feel 20YO again? Bring a frisbee. Go down to Stanford. Throw the frisbee around on the front lawn
b) go up to Rt680 & hike along San Andreas (you know that name) Lake
c) my sister swears by BARTing to Embarcadero and seeing what's up in the ferry bldg. I'm not a shopper so it leaves me cold.
d) I'd say dungeness crab but I think early Sept may be the lowest pt of the DC cycle

Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I wish I had mentioned the arrival at 2:48 p.m. and departure the next day at 1:25. Don't need to go anywhere to shop....have plenty of that around here. We will probably only have time for some dining and short walks.

 

[tatmtr7]

When needing to be near the airport we stay at the Marriott SFO. They have been very helpful a number of times with rooms and getting a meal for us after the lounge had closed. If you want to go into the city taking an uber etc is easy. We have stayed in the city too but it can get busy and if you are tired not the place you want to be. Take the city bus tour to get a flavor of the city. We have not been disappointed with the city Marriott’s either. As our son and family live in the area we enjoy the surrounding area and are there several times a year. Enjoy. Next month off to OP, you know it well!

 

[Quilter]

Do you want to go downtown or stay by the airport?

I'm not sure. I don't know anything about how easy it is to get from one to the other. We fly in 2:48 and out the next day at 1;25 (will need to be at hotel 11:25).

 

[ljmiii]

Our arrival is 2:48 and we depart the next afternoon 1:25….Our body clock will be 3 hours ahead

Given that, my suggestion would be to stay at the SFO Grand Hyatt (or one of the nearby Marriotts), Uber/Lyft to/from SF for dinner and then enjoy a relaxing morning at the hotel.

I hadn't thought about an extended stay in San Francisco since I read it's gotten "dirty" or sketchy recently.

We continue to enjoy our visits to SF and haven’t seen this. We avoid the Tenderloin as we always have but walk around North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, etc.

Someone else told me of all these wonderful things to explore like Marin or the redwoods at Muir Woods. Or just take a ferry to Tiburon. Now I'm wondering if we should do more than a stopover.

All lovely places and activities. I certainly wouldn’t argue against spending 3-ish days in CA to adjust your internal clock…we’re doing exactly that.

 

[Quilter]

When needing to be near the airport we stay at the Marriott SFO. They have been very helpful a number of times with rooms and getting a meal for us after the lounge had closed. If you want to go into the city taking an uber etc is easy. We have stayed in the city too but it can get busy and if you are tired not the place you want to be. Take the city bus tour to get a flavor of the city. We have not been disappointed with the city Marriott’s either. As our son and family live in the area we enjoy the surrounding area and are there several times a year. Enjoy. Next month off to OP, you know it well!

The lounge at the Marriott should be open as we're arriving early. I looked at points, 53K. That would use up my 40K certificate plus 13K and an extra $25 for destination fee. Might get upgrade to view room? What about breakfast. Is it included in restaurant or the lounge?

I could also book the Grand Hyatt with points. No upgrade, no breakfast, no lounge. However, not a bad use of my Hyatt points.

 

[Quilter]

Given that, my suggestion would be to stay at the SFO Grand Hyatt (or one of the nearby Marriotts), Uber/Lyft to/from SF for dinner and then enjoy a relaxing morning at the hotel.



We continue to enjoy our visits to SF and haven’t seen this. We avoid the Tenderloin as we always have but walk around North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, etc.



All lovely places and activities. I certainly wouldn’t argue against spending 3-ish days in CA to adjust your internal clock…we’re doing exactly that.

We're heading to PPT. Where are you going?

 

[Pamplemousse]

The lounge at the Marriott should be open as we're arriving early. I looked at points, 53K. That would use up my 40K certificate plus 13K and an extra $25 for destination fee. Might get upgrade to view room? What about breakfast. Is it included in restaurant or the lounge?

I could also book the Grand Hyatt with points. No upgrade, no breakfast, no lounge. However, not a bad use of my Hyatt points.

What is your bonvoy level?

 

[Quilter]

What is your bonvoy level?

Lifetime Titanium

 

[ljmiii]

We're heading to PPT. Where are you going?

We’re in Hawaii and spent 3 nights in the SF Bay Area visiting my MIL on the way out. And then we’re going back through SF for four nights on the way back to NY.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

wonderful things to explore like Marin or the redwoods at Muir Woods.

If you've never seen Muir Woods nor Big Sur, those are worth a trip of their own. Driving the PCH from the southern tip of Big Sur (Ragged Point) to Bodega Bay is not for the faint-hearted, but there's no place in the USA like it, other than a Hawaiian tropical version.

 

[tahoe]

Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah I wish I had mentioned the arrival at 2:48 p.m. and departure the next day at 1:25. Don't need to go anywhere to shop....have plenty of that around here. We will probably only have time for some dining and short walks.

If you are ok with non-MVC Marriott, I would second the suggestion on the Westin St Francis which has some historical charm vs the more modern Marriotts in Union Square.

Potential activities:
- You can explore Union Square/Chinatown/maybe North Beach by walking or take the cable car over to Fisherman's Wharf (which I believe is active later into the night than Union Square)
- For the next morning, find a way to squeeze in the Golden Gate Bridge, and then head over to SFO.

 

[Ken555]

If you are ok with non-MVC Marriott, I would second the suggestion on the Westin St Francis which has some historical charm vs the more modern Marriotts in Union Square.

It's been years since I stayed at this hotel, but I did many times. There are the old and new rooms, which are quite different. I wouldn't consider the new tower to have any charm.

 

[Quilter]

If you are ok with non-MVC Marriott, I would second the suggestion on the Westin St Francis which has some historical charm vs the more modern Marriotts in Union Square.

Potential activities:
- You can explore Union Square/Chinatown/maybe North Beach by walking or take the cable car over to Fisherman's Wharf (which I believe is active later into the night than Union Square)
- For the next morning, find a way to squeeze in the Golden Gate Bridge, and then head over to SFO.

Even though it's not "Marriott" it's in the Marriott system so my status would come into effect wouldn't it? I can see rooms designated "Tower". Are you suggesting I avoid those?

 

[Luanne]

Even though it's not "Marriott" it's in the Marriott system so my status would come into effect wouldn't it? I can see rooms designated "Tower". Are you suggesting I avoid those?

For the Westin St. Francis we prefer the Tower rooms. They are newer, larger and i think they all have views. They are also farther away from the street so quieter.

 

[Ken555]

For the Westin St. Francis we prefer the Tower rooms. They are newer, larger and i think they all have views. They are also farther away from the street so quieter.

I agree. That's why I preferred these rooms, too. But they don't any any charm that the previous poster mentioned - that's just in the old rooms.

 

[Quilter]

Oh....I saw a complaint in the reviews and the hotel response said to insure newer room to book the Landmark side since it has been renovated. I then called the hotel and asked the rep if it was the Landmark side that was renovated and he confirmed this. I also asked about the lounge and he said it would be open for snacks in the evening and morning of our stay. Said about a $40-$60 cab or Uber from hotel. Is that right?

Only 1 night on the outbound but now I'm thinking of 4 nights to explore the area on the return. Has anyone looked at the Vacation Club property? TheRitz isn't available during our dates.