This is a great budget hotel if you are wanting to save money and are willing to sacrifice some of the "luxury" items that come with the well known hotel chains. Would highly recommend if you are that sort of person! I stayed here for 3 nights with my sister and we shared a Queen bed. It was exactly what we needed as we spent most of our time exploring the city and traveling. We are pretty "low maintenance" and despite not having everything provided in the hotel room, it was perfect for our weekend trip in SF. Pros: Easy check in process, super affordable rates, generally quiet space, hot shower with a good water pressure, comfortable bed, extra towels. Fairly clean and well maintained (see con). It's also located in a really convenient area. There is a major public transport station 5 min walking distance and there are a lot of restaurants/shopping in the immediate vicinity as well. Cons: The room is definitely on the smaller side. The sink is separate from the bathroom which might be inconvenient for some. There are no extra amenities to use, such as a fridge, microwave, or ironing board. When we first arrived, there was an extra hair in the shower so cleaning may not have been super excessive. The folks working front desk were definitely on the younger, more nonchalant side LOL. But that didn't bother us too much. read more

This is a beautifully renovated boutique hotel in the heart of everything. Loved the self-service check in (if you don't want to wait in line for front desk). Room was clean and bright. Parked easily at the nearby Union Square underground lot. Only $46 - which is a bargain in the City. We walked everywhere. Great coffee in the new adjacent shop - Nave. Will definitely return! read more

We went on March what's today's date?25 very very slow for San Francisco. Check it in was very fast and quick and we checked in at 11 o'clock because the hotel had a lot of room available because they were slow in March a lot a lot of businesses have closed in San Francisco like Walgreens Old Navy. very clean room everything works my very very little little room you could see in the pictures I post. but I gave this Hotel five stars because I paid $98. summertime it should be 300 bucks a night. please come get your hotel you'll like it. tell him Paul sent you. read more

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This was my first visit to San Francisco and I have read reviews extensively for various hotels. The Stratford had incredible reviews from everyone and I can see why. The staff is phenomenal and incredibly friendly. From the moment I checked in I felt great. The room was immaculately clean and serves the purpose for a visit to this city. I will be back! read more

SERVICE & TRANSITIONS -- Fantastic hospitality; the kindest service persons I've seen operate a hotel. For an electronic-assisted checkin, the process is really slow (they could really learn a thing or two from the Little House brand). Transitions aren't strong: Small lobby; really tight + slow elevators; narrow stairs; keycard required at every transition. Waiting for a lift can take MANY minutes & traveling to an upper floor is just as slow. Stairs are an option if you're comfortable with many flights of narrow steps. Latest checkout offered 12pm @ $50, crazy steep for a no-frills hotel ROOM (601, 714) -- Cozy, Cute, Budget, Aromatic, modern, & well-maintained. 3rd-party booking site pictures do a poor job representing this one, so call ahead to confirm your room type. I found it confusing to navigate or identify which rooms have what features, even in-person. Room for improvement in transparency & quality of their booking system. A minimal work desk is installed. It's tiny and lacking ergonomics; a bummer for doing any real sitting work. Windows are also sealed shut in some configurations. The improvised wardrobe/storage was very clever! BED -- A clean & tidy queen mattress. For those that enjoy old-school spring beds, you're in luck. Sleep quality was not good for me though. I never made it through a full night w/o waking up. Duvet & linens were pristine & airy. Pillows were decent. BATH -- Either a split-bath design or full-bath, depending on the room. Both types include a box walk-in shower, streamlined design with bath products included. Temperatures & water pressure were satisfactory. It's a difficult experience for those with larger builds. No tub options, unless you win the lotto & procure the Stratford king room type. Towels provided by request only. TV/ENTERTAINMENT -- Expectations were low given the profile of this hotel, but some of these patterns were odd. ~40" Samsung smart TV mounted rather high. No physical wiggle room due to the choice of mount. Thankfully a Netflix integration is built in & they sprung for DirecTV! TV resets every day at 3am even while using which can be inconvenient. WI-FI & CELL RECEPTION -- Maximum reception (Verizon). Internet bandwidth was free & tolerable. --Performance-- Video streaming - average Online gaming - average Video chatting - average --Nerd Stats-- 16-56 Mbps download 4-18 Mbps upload 0% packet loss 7 ms latency 14 ms jitter FOOD & DRINK -- Not DoorDash friendly. There are drinks served in the lobby, but thats all the convenience you get with this one when it comes to nourishment. In-room/on-floor: microwave mini-fridge in-room coffee vending machines ice tea NOISE -- Minimal/quiet. You're still at the mercy of being inside the city (sirens, unhomed, horns, etc) so YMMV. LOCATION -- Right in the thick of it (Union Square)! Literal steps away from designer stores, tours, & public transit. Good security practices made me feel safe. VERDICT It's a competitive location & hospitality was unforgettable. Although "no frills", they will do what they can to make your stay comfortable. The Chancellor is still my goto in this same category, but I could see myself staying here again & would recommend it for those that need a barebones property. 4.5/5 read more

I have been staying at this property for a couple years now, this past trip I was put into unit 804, the unit directly across mine was 803 which belongs to squatters. The hallway and my unit smelled like smoke and had gnats throughout with trash throughout the hallways left there for days. This property is unsafe and unsecured with squatters. read more

One of the cheapest hotels in SF without much compromises. Staff is helpful and nice, rooms are typically very small and got no AC. Room gets quite hot but has a fan on the ceiling. Parking is available at Union Square and cable car stations are right in front of it. read more

Hotel Stratford - Union Square - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Hotel is nice and clean, with that being said, the amenities are non-existent. Called front desk to ask for something for my room, never got an answer. House keeping arrives at 8 "they" make the coffee, don't expect anything before then. I stayed for 3 nights. Firsts morning went down to get coffee around 6;45, coffee was luke warm, I was not gonna complain about warm coffee but thought it was odd that coffee was warm so early in the morning (now I realize it was From the night before) and no creamer, asked front desk if I could get some creamer, front said wouldn't be ready until after 8. Okaaayy? Second morning went down 8:10-no coffee said it be about 10 mins. Okay sat down waited for another 15 house keeping girl rushing in with a grocery bag, full of oranges (only fruit they offer) and a big carton of creamer. Left, came back with a cart of coffee, and began refilling stir sticks, and coffee station necessities. Okay we're good Third and final morning came down 8:10, no coffee, front desk said be ready at 8:45?? Irritated I went across the street to Starbucks, came back 10 mins later 8:20 Coffee was there, so frustrating! I'm sorry I wake up around 6, who drinks Coffee at 8:45? Sounding like a Karen and realize my post is all about Coffee lol but this is the ONE thing they "offer" like the "one job" you gotta do but NO! even cheap hotels know to have a coffee station available. Coffee drinkers know how I'm feeling rn. How hard is it for front desk to make coffee? If housekeeping arrives at 8 and then still has to make coffee, refill station, clean station etc? Front desk does absolutely nothing, there's 3 iPad stations for you to do your own check in, all they do is give you the room key. Also, no parking, had to pay $45 a day to park in Union Square Parking adding up to almost $150 Just to park. Stayed 3 nights. Would never stay here again. read more

Hotel Stratford - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm gonna start this by saying the only Pluses is convenience of location and the fact that some of their rooms offer in-wall AC. I was here with co-workers for the Figma Convention at Moscone South (about a 10 minute walk from Stratford). I will also preface this with the fact that they are clearly renovating/updating right now, but some of this stuff is still inexcusable IMO. Cons: 1. My company does our reservations through SAP Concur, where we get special rates - however, upon arriving they claimed I had made my reservation directly through their website even after I showed them the reservation from Concur. They were supposed to have charged the full stay already, but they had only charged a reservation fee and told me I owed them the full amount upon check-in. It was just a massive pain as our manager had to come to the front desk with our company card and essentially redo all the payments. Seeing reviews where other people have claimed they were double charged, this was a little concerning. 2. Nothing in the rooms makes sense. I was put in a handicap room for some reason - even though I never requested it - and the shower stall had no curtain, glass, or water block on the floor, so showering would soak the bathroom floor. I ended up having to use one of my 2 towels as a water barrier. The extra roll of toilet paper and towels are up on a shelf in the bedroom, not even in the bathroom. I would also like to mention that there is NO housekeeping unless you want to pay an extra $50 - they claim they include housekeeping for reservations made through their website, however even though they claimed my reservation was made through their site, I got no housekeeping anyways. 3. To further explore the housekeeping thing.... The amount of hair I found in my room throughout my stay was gross. Like long, dark hair in my bed and in the shower. And for the record, my head is basically buzzed. Housekeeping is really lacking here and they obviously don't clean thoroughly between tenants. Pictures are attached. 4. Handicap Room, and yet you get a toilet that has a handicap bar directly built behind it that prevents the toilet seat from staying up. I cannot make this up - you have to HOLD the seat up as you sit down or else it just closes on you. And then when you're sitting there, it closes on your back. I've never seen such a stupid design in a hotel, much less a room that's supposed to make these things easier for people ? All in all... a wild ass experience. I was only here for 3 nights and yet I can say with my whole chest I will never be back here if I travel to San Fran again read more

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Plainly bad, and certainly not worth being part of ALL Accor program. One positive was a quite decent rate for one night stay, and even that had $25 per night cleaning fee. Don't they know it is not Airbnb?! Or they expect me to clean the room myself? Cleaning fee, WTH? Location could be potentially good, just off Union Square, on Powell, but it ys very noisy: beware, if you are light sleeper like me. Check in was slow and rather horrible. I arrived late, there was nobody but me, checking in at this cramped front desk, I checked in online, and it still took over 10 mins! My Platinum Status with Accor wasn't even acknowledged, and no free drink was provided, if you don't count some beer in completely different place. The worst were the rooms. Small, cramped, poorly designed, with bad isolation and paper thin walls, antiquated A/C system, and bed that was less than comfortable. No complimentary water in the room, ting bathrooms. More like hostel, alas. Won't stay there again. read more

I came to the Bay area and intended to stay at a hostel that was utterly the most disgusting place I ever stayed at. Stratford came along and was within my budget and I will say this is a go to. They made accommodations for early check in and did not charge. Bed is stupid comfortable and the room is cute! Def recommend anyone looking to stay at a cute hotel on a budget cost read more

We go to San Francisco every Thanksgiving and we try a new hotel each year, this time it was Hotel Stratford. The hotel is in the heart of Union Square and has access to public transportation, etc. The hotel is modern and is basically a self check in with the IPads in the lobby. The room itself was small but clean and modern. The bed was comfortable. This hotel also has no daily cleaning service but fresh towels and toilet paper are available upon request for no extra charge. Now to the less pleasant things, a lot of reviews complain about the elevator which is also our complaint. The elevator worked 1 day out of the 4 days we stayed there. So walking from the 6th floor every day was quite annoying. When we requested toilet paper and it took almost 6 hours to receive it. I also had to text multiple reminders. The restrooms have a sliding door instead of a regular closing door, so if you hate listening to bathroom activities, you better turn on the TV because you can hear everything. The staff was pretty standard. read more

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Just a pretty basic hotel. Lots of stuff around it on a lovely street, but the hotel itself is nothing special. The bed sink in the middle

DO NOT spend your money or time here Worse customer "service " Unprofessional,NOT FRIENDLY, RUDE , every single one! front desk,cleaning....etc Room way toooo small and DURTY. Can't ask anything ,you will have a VERY UNPROFESSIONAL ANSWER! A block away they are many ,MANY Hotels ,the extra 50/100 $ WORTH IT ! read more

I do not recommend staying here. The pictures that are advertised online are not an accurate reflection of the rooms! The room was so small, had no AC, the only form of coolant was a ceiling fan that was essentially just blowing hot air. Our room had a window that we tried opening however the screen on the window was so dusty and dirty. The window was also facing a brick wall so no fresh air would even come into our room due to the brick wall blocking the building. This hotel does not offer parking, you have to find a parking structure and pay around $40 a day to just park there. We ended up spending $150 dollars throughout our trip just to park our car elsewhere.... The hotel doesn't even validate parking. No complementary anything! The rooms don't have any teas, waters, coffee. Nor does the room have a fridge. This place is just a big inconvenience. Don't recommend read more

We have stayed here the last 3 years, the week prior to Christmas. $95 a night is a steal. This time we requested one of the remodeled rooms. Out of the elevator you can see they are in the middle of painting. When you enter our hall the painting is complete. We are greeted with wood floors, new fixtures, a clean and fresh smell, new shower and toilet, shelving and desk. All at the same low price. Breakfast is still included. There is still no fridge, knowing ahead, we brought our cooler. We booked 3 hotels and canceled them to stay here and we are thrilled to be here. read more

Hotel Stratford - Remodeled - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Overall, Hotel Stratford was good in many ways: very centrally located, comfortable bed, helpful staff. Before you book, there are a few things to be aware of that might make your stay challenging. * We stayed in late March, when temperatures are very cold. Counter-intuitively, it was VERY difficult to cool the room down. There is no AC (at least not in our room), only a ceiling fan, which we had on all night. Even with that, it was still VERY warm. Opening the window helped, but the window opened up on a narrow alley that reflected both street noise and other room noise (if their windows were open), so not really an option. * The door to the bathroom in our room was just a sliding panel, really, which meant that it seemed like any bathroom activity was happening in the same room - noise, toilet, etc. If you are staying with someone with whom you're not used to using a bathroom with - this could be very awkward. * The bathroom is very small, particularly the sink. I could not wash my face or shave without water going on the floor and my head bumping into the mirror. Overall, it's just very small. I imagine if you're used to a hotel experience like this, it's just fine. If not, it can take some getting used to. read more

Stayed at Stratford over the weekend. Great staff, very friendly and helpful. The room itself was rather small with moth no view but it fit my needs so that wasn't an issue. What was an issue was the (black?) mold growing throughout the bathroom and above the headboards. Unfortunately didn't notice it til the morning. Don't know if I'll be staying back at this hotel based off that. Could've been an isolated event but who knows. read more

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Best hotel in San Francisco. Amazing attention to detail. The most comfortable bed in the world (want one for home). Located in the heart of SF and the cable car is just a few steps away. read more

Hotel Stratford - King room - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited 2 weeks ago and the hotel was in a prime location! It was close to everything that you want to see so you can walk, take the trolly, or jump on in a Uber/Lyft. The hotel itself was also nice and I liked the staff - normal chill people that wanted to help. My room was spacious, updated (not old..), and it had a TV so I can finally rest after walking all day. Highly recommend this place! read more

Recently traveled to SF for vacation and loved our stay here! Our room was comfortable, the staff was great, and the location is perfect; we were able to get everywhere we wanted in the city within minutes. Definitely recommend. read more

Hotel Stratford - Front of the hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm actively recommending friends and family to not stay here. I have stayed in some horrible hotels in my time and while the room here was okay, it was easily the worst experience of service I've ever encountered. We arrived early on a Friday morning (2am) from Ireland and we were told we couldn't check into our room until 3pm. We asked if we could buy a room for that night and we're told they had a room available but we weren't going to get it. When asked if we could get advice on where the closest hotels were we were told they couldn't help and kicked us out onto the street. When it came to finally checking out, we were told nothing could be done about our bags being held for the day so we had to pay $32 to store our bags in a random store to mind them for us. I would recommend paying the extra and staying in a reputable hotel like the Hilton which is a few minutes down the road (and who gave us a room for the night we were told you're on your own). read more

Why 5 stars? It was an incredible deal and location. --- --- --- I had never been to San Francisco before this visit last summer, but it very quickly became my favorite place that I've ever visited. Hotel Stratford definitely contributed to that. I was only in the city for about 3 days, but I certainly felt like I was in the "heart" of it all on Powell Street. The room for my friend and I was very small with two twin beds, but who needs a huge room when you're on vacation? We were only inside the room long enough to re-charge our batteries and take a shower. And for $79/night in the middle of city, we were very satisfied. All of the employees were friendly and the hotel was very quaint and in great shape. I would highly recommend anyone check out Hotel Stratford when planning a trip to San Francisco on a budget. read more

Hotel Stratford - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sometimes we don't want to get down from the car and go inside to get the food so we proceed to the drive thru because of its convenience, well the Stratford is similar. How is it similar? It's a great hotel if your just stopping by and getting some rest and your not looking for any other amenities other than a roof, bed, shower. Stratford is in a prime location walking distance to many restaurants, bars, & shopping. The one tip o do have is that there isn't any parking for the hotel so you must park your vehicle at a parking garage around the block named "Ellis O'Farrell parking" and it's $42 for 24 hour stay. read more

Hotel Stratford - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

The only good aspect of this hotel was the customer service. Many things promised as free by the website ended up costing a ridiculous amount of money, there were no amenities whatsoever, and the cost was absolutely insane for what was on offer. Would not recommend to anyone using this hotel for their trip. read more

Ughhhh F this place. We stayed here on the tail end of our trip and it was a mistake. If you're going for the cheap, hostel type feel, won't spend any time in your room then this is your place. I got a Groupon for this place and thought I'd save a little money on our trip after we spent 3 nights at Hotel Zoe. BIG MISTAKE. Especially in that order, I should've extended the stay in the nice hotel. Going from Zoe to Stratford was no bueno. No parking, pay $35 a day to park. The construction in union square made it next to impossible to even find garage parking. It took like an hour of driving around in chaos. Then we check in and the rooms are TINY. OLD. Our view was the exterior wall of another old building, if I reached out my window I could've touched it. The bathroom sink was IN THE BEDROOM. Carpet was so gross I didn't want to take my shoes off. Like sure they vacuumed it but it looked original to the building and that shiz needs to be ripped up and replaced- gross. I had to put my luggage on the desk. Bed felt like a full not a queen, and not comfortable. I didn't want to use the comforter. My least favorite thing about this place was the shower. A 2.5ft by 2.5ft confined space + NO SHELVES for your toiletries= bending down for the soap, the shampoo, the conditioner, your razor, your face scrub. That's means at-least 5 times per shower I had to feel the ice cold white bathroom tile on my ass. 5 times. It was awful. Like wth, number one get a bigger shower, fix the water pressure, and definitely add a shelf! Ridonckulous. Their complimentary breakfast was nothing to get excited about. Coffee, hot water to make cocoa or tea, some warm milk, some dry cereal, and stale muffins. Meh. The elevator is ancient!! Takes forever! I won't be back read more

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DO NOT STAY HERE THEY STOLE OR $. My husband and I were supposed to stay here in Feb and I had booked a non-smoking room due to a breathing disability he has. Once we arrived at 11pm after being stuck in traffic for hours we were given a smoking room without being advised of the change. Immediately when we reached the room and saw or should I say smelled that we were given a smoked room we went back to the front desk where I was told there was nothing they could do they because they gave away our room and were fully booked. I offered to pay for an upgraded room they said there were none available. I showed them that online they still show available rooms to book and they still insisted that they only thing we could do is keep that room or get a refund and go somewhere else. So in the middle of the night at this point we had to find a new hotel to stay at. Then the didn't refund us and when I tried to get the issues resolved on multiple occasions they lied and stated that we never left and used the room for the whole reservation. When I challenged that I showed I had to make and pay for a second reservation they said oh we see you room keys were never used but still wouldn't process the refund. DO STAY HERE THEY WILL STEEL YOUR $ AND HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO ADHIRE TO ADA ACCOMMODATIONS NEEDED BY THEIR GUEST read more

You can't beat this location! The hotel is expertly decorated and cared for meticulously. The bedding was better than any chain hotel I've stayed with in years. The front desk staff was knowledgeable and always willing to answer questions. I highly recommend staying here and will be returning soon! read more

Booked through booking.com for a room for 3 people. Website very misleading for actual size of rooms. Check in process was frustrating and zero customer service. The gal at the desk gave us attitude when we checked in early then hassled the man right after us. Could hear her arguing loudly about his card not going through. Worst part is we found pubic hair on the walls in the bathroom leading to us checking out before we even stayed. I let the staff know that we had a tough time and they argued with the validity of the experience. Will not be staying again. read more

Great location, super clean, everything looks so modern and chic, staff is amazing. Not sure what other reviewers are talking about. They might have been the one mistreating staff first. I would definitely come back again and recommend this place to everyone read more

Hotel service and room was decent accept for one thing . BED BUGS ! On my last night during my stay I woke up in the morning with bumps all over my body . At first I thought I had an allergic reaction to something I had eaten because of the amount of bumps all over my body . As i looked closer I noticed they looked more like bites . And I took a look at the bed and there were bed bugs everywhere . It was so disturbing ! Room was super clean but when you looked closely it wasn't as pleasant as it seemed ! On top of that I've tried to contact the hotel about this issue and they seem not to care considering they haven't answered any of my calls or emails . But hopefully they take care of this issue . read more

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This place was great for us, but my friend who joined us had a different experience. So did I . . . . You get what you pay for. That's the truth for the most part here. My big issue is that I "closed down" a bar at 2am about 1 block away, Lefty O' Doul's. I walked back to the hotel and the doors were locked. No hotel card access... The lobby was dark. I noticed a security guard on the lobby couch. Sleeping... I knocked on the door, no response. I hit the door harder, he kinda turned over. I started smacking the door and yelling that I wanted into my room! He got up, walked away even though I waived my hotel room key at him. Yes, I was drunk, no excuses here. I just wanted to go to my room. I wanted to sleep. I was not out of control, just a hard core buzz.... That is when the cops showed up. Epic, I know. I explained exactly what I wrote above, was escorted to my room and nothing further occurred. My problem here is the security guard. Well, and also the Stratford. Don't fall asleep on your job, douche. Stratford, don't lock your doors at night!!! And if you do, tell your guests. PS. I still have my room key for verification! read more

If I could summarize Hotel Stratford in six words, I'd describe it with the old saying... you get what you pay for! Hotel Stratford is a low-end, budget hotel located in the heart of Union Square. The only thing that this hotel has going for it is its prime central location next to Union Square and convenient public transit connections (Bart & Muni). I stayed here overnight a few days ago for my birthday. I had booked this hotel about a month ago at a relatively good rate ($114 after taxes, for a "queen" room) and had chosen this hotel mainly for its cheap rates and pretty good reviews (i.e. most reviewers stated it was clean). In retrospect, I kind of wish I paid more money for a better hotel because my stay wasn't the most comfortable. Read on... I stayed in room 600, which was super tiny. I think the room had dimensions of about 10'x10', so the first thing I said when I opened the door was, "WOW! This place is small!" The bed and desk are crammed into the room, within about 4-5 feet of the doorway and with the bed taking up almost two-fifths of the room. Of note, the bed wasn't a queen size either -- it was a full size bed! I also was sharing the "queen"-sized bed with my friend, so it wasn't very comfortable having to share such a small bed with someone. The room was also super hot (there's no A/C), as the fan wasn't on and the window wasn't open. This room faces a wall/alley-way, so there isn't much cool air that can circulate into the room. I had left the fan on and window open for a few hours, and even with that... it was still stuffy and hot. For me to fall asleep and sleep comfortably, I need the room to be cool... so as you can imagine, I couldn't fall asleep given how hot it was inside! Lots of tossing and turning trying to find the best way to stay cool. The hotel does offer a few good amenities such as free WiFi (I didn't use) and free continental breakfast (I didn't eat) and its location in central Union Square area is perfect for tourists. Don't get me wrong, I think this hotel can work well for some people, but it just doesn't work for me (i.e. no air conditioning). After staying here at Hotel Stratford, I've concluded that the single most important thing I need whenever I travel is... air conditioning. If you're planning to stay here, just be forewarned, your room may be hot! Although for those who are reptiles, the heat might not be so bad. But for the rest of us mammals, cooler temperatures are usually better! At check-in, you may want to request for a room that is cooler (not facing a wall/alley, and low floor). Good luck. Next time I stay in the Union Square area, I'll probably stay somewhere else. I need that A/C! read more

Hotel Stratford - Typical view...rooms are small! Once you get into the room the bed's right there - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stayed here for 2 nights during my work trips to SF. Best thing about this hotel is the location right in Union Square. The front desk guys were really nice and accommodating too. Room is fairly clean, even though I found a couple of hairs in my sheets. At least they brought up new sheets right away. Bed was pretty comfortable. I came during one of the warmest times in SF so the rooms and entire hotel was so hot (no central A.C.) and the fans with open windows only helped so much. If you come during the cooler times though, you should be fine. Oddest thing about the room was the sink outside the bathroom... bit didn't bother me much. Shower was adequate and basic amenities were available, except maybe a room safe. They even serve up some light continental breakfast on the 2nd floor "Tea Room" which was nice. One thing I didn't care much for is my windows looked directly into another room... literally only a few feet away. Area can be a bit noisy if it end up opening the windows but it was nice to in the center of all the activity in Union Square. I wouldn't mind staying here again. read more

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**WARNING** this hotel is not supportive of Bay To Breakers participants! I have been in B2B for several years & have NEVER been denied a late checkout. NO, I am not looking for baggage storage, I simply want to shower after the race. This has ALWAYS been allowed at past hotels where I have stayed for B2B... as well as my friends at their SF hotels. They didn't even have anything welcoming B2B participants there, the last 2 yrs elsewhere I was greeted with water bottles & Cliff bars. All that I got here was a gruff cell-phone checking girl at check-in! Who denied my late check-out. B.S. this is a once a year, major SF event, your business should be planning for it, allow late check-outs, and plan maid service accordingly. We are supporting your hotel & local businesses for several days, please support US as well. SF hotels inflate their prices for B2B. I booked many months in advance for this room at a decent price. Room was nice, but very WARM, and it was a cool day. Tried to open window, will only open a few inches! Luckily there was a ceiling fan, that's the only thing that saved me. No a.c. in room! Very few outlets to charge your cell ph, iPad etc! Most being taken up with lamps, tv etc. Ice... there is ONE ice machine, located in the so-called "Tea Room". It produces hail-sized ice pellets, which melt fast in their plastic non-insulated mini buckets. No plastic liners provided either. It is posted that accessibility to "Tea Room" ends at 10pm! If you want ice after that time, tough luck! I found the water pressure for the shower to be fine. But the bathroom sink was a teeny trickle! Shower door would not close completely. Tv channels were pretty dismal. They do have HBO. Be advised, the elevator is SLOW. There are stairs to use. Hopefully ur not on a high floor. There is a free breakfast provided. Was cold cereals, watermelon, bread items, coffee, juices. Thank God, I got there at 7am when it opened. Because a few minutes later, a huge tribe of LOUD Europeans descended on the food like locusts. Inexpensive hotel + great location= mobbed by Europeans. I found the ppl at the front desk to be nothing special, unfriendly, non-smiling. The mole-chinned girl at check-out didn't even say thank you! This hotel has a great location, literally in the center of Union Square, close to everything. I parked at Sutter Stockton garage, not too expensive after 6pm at this time, only $1. per hr., look at posted rates & park accordingly. The hourly rates fluctuate, much higher at peak times. Sundays were cheap all day. read more

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If you are looking for a no frills hotel experience in the Bay Area - and frankly in the city you're always out and about anyways - this hotel is the "go to" option for ease and convenience! The rooms are city style - read "small and comfy" - but clean and well situated. How much more can you ask for than Powell Street off Union Square with the Bart steps away, Muni within blocks, and the historic cable cars just right outside the doors? But if you're a city walker, you can easily trek through Chinatown and into the Wharf within a half hour! Location is a definite plus! The hotel staff are friendly, accommodating, and a gen to deal with- topped off with a daily breakfast offered for feee! The 5 person elevator is the most "inconvenient" part for most people ... but it's a quick hop up the stairs if you're up to the challenge. The lift broke down once while I was there and the staff accommodated departing guests by carrying luggage down the stairs! Staff and service is also a plus! Jamie was such a pleasure to work with when it came to accommodations. The rooms are not air conditioned - ceiling fans and fans only - so summer stays may be a challenge! Also if noise is something you're sensitive to, you may want to bring ear plugs ... but those are two shortcomings on top of an otherwise good experience! read more

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Great Budget Hotel Close To Union Square Hotel Stratford is not fancy, but is a clean hotel in a great location with reasonable prices. The hotel is in a historic building with updated rooms. While our room was small, it is just enough space if you spend most of your time exploring the city. The front desk staff, especially Jack, made us feel as if we were staying in a high-end resort. His personal attention to our needs, from assistance with storing luggage to directions and restaurant recommendations, Jack's customer service left a great impression with my wife and me. The light continental breakfast is exactly that, light. The options consist of cereal, muffins, toast, apples, oranges, coffee and juice. Do not expect a great meal. However, if you have the correct expectations, the food becomes a free option for some calories in the morning. The price for a double room started at $200 a night (with the AAA discount). Free wifi is a plus. The hotel offers convenient access to Union Square, about a block away. Powell Street Station, two and half blocks to the south, provides easy access to both MUNI and BART public transportation systems. Overall, Hotel Stratford is a simple, clean hotel at a reasonable price in the heart of a big city. read more

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Great location 1/2 block from Union Square. Plenty of room, and spotlessly clean. During my first stay, I stayed on the street side, floor 4. My room had two beds, and was spacious by downtown standards. Street noise was barely noticeable with a closed window. Fun to see the trolleys going by. Step outside and there's tons of things to take pictures of (are you listening IGers?), including plenty of nearby eateries for all budgets. The ceiling fan kept me pleasantly cool. Ironing board, hair dryer, nice two-level desk, and flat screen TV. The following week, my second experience was in a smaller, one-bed room, but very comfortable. I was on floor 8, with my windows (one in the room and the other in the bathroom) facing other rooms. The desk had drawers for modest storage of clothing, and due to its size the room was equipped with a nice step-in shower only (no bathtub). The bathroom sink was in the room itself - not the least unusual (even in many high-end hotels here). I disagree with some reviewers here and elsewhere that this hotel is tired: it's clean, tidy and reasonably crisp. The beds are comfortable, and the bed linens fit perfectly, and are very clean. Towels are medium weight and feel great on your skin. The front desk staff always greets you, and is clearly anxious to help. I'm a heavy business traveler, and this place totally works. TIP: try the King of Thai Noodle house, just steps away around the corner. UPDATE: After 25 nights over numerous stays, I'm clearly a fan. I like Hotel Stratford. read more

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LOOK AT MY PICTURE! others have done the same. I stayed here back in 2004. My friends from Seattle were in SF to visit and I could not accommodate all eight of them in my small living space. So they reserved the rooms and I just crashed with them. I told them they were in the most perfect place when visiting SF. In the heart of Union Square and in the middle of SF. Everythings walking distance.. bart is 2-3 blocks away. I had no high expectations at first. But once I walked it I loved everything about the hotel. It's not the hotels you would stay at in Las Vegas. Its not any booshy hotel. ITS CUTE, the decor is simple, the beds are comfy, and my favorite part is "my picture". we snuck out of the window and on the fire escape that's on the main street Powell. Loved it! LOVE THIS HOTEL. i'd stay here if you were planning to visit SF. read more

The reviews definitely made me a little skeptical about staying here, but I am very glad that I went ahead and reserved a room during Pride weekend. Location, location, location!!! ....jk but seriously. The Hotel Stratford is located just steps away from Union Square on Powell St.and is just a short walk to Market St. I was relieved to find our room (single queen), perfectly clean and comfortable. It is a small room, no doubt. Nothing fancy here, but a completely pleasant place to stay if you're going to be out on the town. We stayed on the top floor, in the room at the end of the hall. Our window faced Powell St. which was neat to look out. The window was adjustable, curtains provided an adequate shield from the lights, and there was no issue with noise. The closet had a hanging shelf for clothes and an extra blanket if needed. Bathroom was large enough for two person use, shower water quality was decent, plenty of towels and toiletries provided. It is definitely pricey, but you're paying for the wonderful location. Staff was very friendly and accommodating (super flexible with check out time). Breakfast, while complimentary, is very limited. They had coffee, juice, milk, cereal, toast, and plain mini muffins. The juice was wonderful, but otherwise I passed. I wasn't able to access the wi-fi, though to be honest I didn't spend much time on it, or in the room at all. Just a note, the building is quite old, thus there is a general musty smell to the halls (didn't notice this in the rooms), and the elevator, though modern, is tiny. Highly recommend Hotel Stratford if you need a basic, comfortable room that's located in the Union Square/downtown area. read more