I really enjoyed my stay here Juliet who is at the front desk everyday early in the AM is so pleasant and helpful. The rooms are perfect convenient clean WiFi works as I worked remote - located a few blocks from Union Square or walk to Moma or Yerba Buena art center. There deli connected to the hotel is quite good also class at 3p there is also a famous 24hr restaurant on the corner which I loved read more

Hello, and this is in addition to my previous review of this Touchstone Hotel. I stayed there, and I got a ticket there, because of the Inadequate instructions and negligence of the Owner of the property, in giving proper directions for parking in front of this hotel, while signing into my room, and transferring my luggage, before going to the PAID BY ME Parking, (32 dollars), - a Block away, - (in a sketchy neighborhood), at night. I just today, - received an email from SFMTA , that I must PAY this 96 dollar ticket, because they determined that I was in the wrong. No. The owner of the property is in the wrong, - for his poor communication, and lack of care, of/to his paying customers. So, I write this a a public service, and a warning to any potential customers of the Touchstone Hotel who may be relying on their automobile to get to this property. Please be careful, and consider staying somewhere else. read more

The Touchstone Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Let me just, I kept my expectations low knowing this is a budget hotel. I've stayed at many budget hotels and had great experiences, after all. This was not one of them. The first thing I noticed was the overwhelming smell all throughout the hotel, including in the room. I kept hoping I would just get used to it, but I didn't. It smelled old and musty, but also... putrid, like something rotting, or someone who hasn't showered in over a year. And yes, like excrement. The second thing was the general sense that the place was not well maintained. The sheets, carpet, tiling, shower, all of it seemed grimy. I came in the summer and without AC, yes, it was hot, which I know I signed up for. But the smell and the heat made what little time I spent there very uncomfortable. I was willing to overlook most of this and stay the 3 nights I had booked, but when I woke with itching and small bites all over my body, I knew I had to leave. I stayed only 1 of my 3 nights and quickly booked another hotel, which was a costly mistake. I truly wish I had been sensible and just spent a little more from the beginning for something habitable. read more

This was such an amazing experience. The staff have all been so accommodating and helpful! The front desk staff were always in a great mood and greeted us with a smile anytime we passed the front desk. They helped us within a few minutes any time we had any questions. The hotel has a classic charm and, while it's older, it's very well maintained and clean. The bedding was also comfortable. It is walking distance to so many places. The rooms also have their own private bathrooms. Definitely recommend! read more

HORRIBLE ! Omg. Rude front desk and annoying how the transaction on my account don't reverse right away. They tell you one thing and do another. The vents and bathrooms were messy. They didn't clean the room on time. Left it for 2 days filling up trash and no body wash in the bathroom restocked. Some of my luggage was moved around. read more

I really loved the location of this hotel. The service was always on point and attentive to me coming and going. Always saying hello and making sure I could get in ok. I could tell they were very genuine about every interaction. It was also very affordable. Since I really don't spend that much time in my hotel it was a perfect place to get some rest. The restaurant next door is definitely worth having breakfast at. read more

I originally booked a different hotel, but I found out it was a shared bathroom. I was stressed but luckily found this hotel through expedia. I thought it was cheap, but there were some additional fees that made it more expensive than the price advertised. However, still a great deal for 3 nights. The hotel is small and charming, with a small elevator and check-in desk. We were not expecting much, but at least hoped for a mini fridge or microwave. Sadly, we were disappointed but we did think ahead to bring a cooler. The room we booked had a nice comfortable bed, mirrors, a desk, closet, and bathroom. Bathroom was a little cramped but that's alright. Cleaning services were extremely thorough and nice. We were close to Union Square, a bunch of other restaurants and CVS. It was a great location. One thing I hated was the parking here. We decided to park in a lot to get cheaper prices. We initially parked in this garage that had a curfew, so we couldn't drive late out at night. Luckily though, after walking around we found this lot that didn't have a curfew and let you have a free in-and-out once a day. $40 per day, but I'd take it over having leave by 10 am and in by 8 pm. All in all, this hotel is great value if you're on a budget. I would recommend this to any of my friends (college students lol) if they wanted to stay in San Francisco! read more

We needed a little place to stay for a national journalism convention that was affordable for a school trip. The rooms were not large but they got the job done. The photos show completed different rooms than the multiple rooms we rented but hopefully that means they have updated the linens since we were there. We really have no complaints. They took good care of our group and helped us after one of our students was as injured running to catch a bus and we spent hours and hours in the emergency room. They helped us get checked out and to our early morning flight. They also helped us get the kid on crutches to the car to make our flight. We were thankful for their help. read more

An amazing and affordable hotel. It's located close to Union Square and accessible to public transportation. They also have parking available in the area and overall is a great priced hotel for the location. It's walkable to almost everything you need and the room is small and cozy. The check-in and check-out front desk is 24/7, but if you are checking in late (like after 11 PM/midnight), make sure you message them so that they can be at the desk and expect your arrival. There is also a cafe attached, so you are able to order food right next door. It's a small room, with a simple, but comfortable bed. There is also a tiny closet and a bathroom attached. The heat or cooling system is centrally controlled so it is not adjustable, but I didn't think it was too cold or too hot. It was clean for the most part except for some small stains on the sheets, but nothing too crazy. The cleaner always did the bed nicely and took out the garbage in the bathroom. There was only one trash can, which was in the bathroom. The shower gel and shampoo were nicely stocked. Unfortunately, there was no conditioner available, but not a big deal. The only thing that I would've liked would've appreciated would be a mini-fridge, just something small enough to store a small box of leftovers. I stayed for a couple of days, but couldn't keep any leftovers for the next day; so I had to throw out a lot of food and drinks. After fee and everything, this place was about the same price as another hotel two blocks away that had a mini-fridge, but I didn't realize as I thought the fees were the same for every booking (they're not). tl;dr - great location; what you would expect for an affordable budget hotel; friendly staff; no mini-fridge; message them if you will be checking in late at night! (so that they are expecting you at a certain time and you don't need to wait outside for someone to come to the front desk to let you in) read more

Wanted to book here because of the location close to the tourist areas along with good pricing, but there's always a catch.. valet stops at 6pm. We arrived there at 2am after a long drive from LA & had to park in a parking structure away from the hotel before checking in.. which is super sus considering how much homeless people are around. The front desk guy was super friendly and greeted upon walking in, but we were taken aback when we attempted to use our TIFFANY&CO credit card and it wasn't working, and he made the comment "maybe it's not working because it's a card from your country?"... we were so taken aback by this. That credit was opened here.. in America.. where we were born.. Another weird thing, the owner was unfriendly af. He lives in on the 7th floor and he literally stopped us before we can even step foot in the elevator and told us to take the stairs. Why? Maybe because he didn't want us knowing he lived on the 7th floor or because he was being flat out racist like the front desk guy?? They're probably related.. regardless, we still decided to take the elevator because our room was on the 5th floor. What kind of suggestion is it to take the stairs??? What kind of hospitality??? We also called in an hour after checking out to ask if we can go back to our room as we had forgotten a charger. The front desk lady said the cleaning lady has not come yet so it should be there. Upon checking, the charger was not there, but the room was obviously re-arranged/tidied-up a little bit. Our charger was obviously stolen by the cleaning lady.. Besides the weird/horrible experience: you get nauseous being in the room because the floors are uneven & the hallways give a really old vibe/have old-people smell. The tv is really small and old and you're very limited to what you can watch. The walls are thin and old so you can hear every single move or sound coming from a neighbors room. The stay here left us with a bunch of question marks running around our head. We don't recommend this place to anyone. read more

Quirky little tucked away value gem. You almost feel like it's some AB&B prank. The sweet Asian woman the counter was super kind when we checked in and things were great from there on out. Someone really understands the concept of hospitality! If you walk fast you might miss this hole-in-the-wall hide away. Let's be real though - it's an old building in the heart of SF. The water pressure was great - or not - from the shower to the sink. The shower is a stand-up coffin for a large man, and the water that gets past the threshold and curtain pools in back of the toilet. The particular two-twin room my wife and I stayed in looked like a cross between somewhere the agents would have stayed in Mindhunter and Bert and Ernie's place. The elevator is slow and the stairs are a labyrinth. High ceilings though, so it doesn't feel as cramped as it actually might be. Not trying to talk about any views. No AC. What do you want?!?!? It's SF and a value and a half considering the alternatives. The Jack in the box down the street padlocks it's doors late night and there might be a guy wandering around with his pants falling down at that hour so ... that's what you get for being out past the bewitching hour. It's surprisingly clean these days for SF really. And during the day you're close to all kinds of sweet delis and eateries. Discount safe parking is just around the block. I'd stay here again in a heartbeat. read more

The Touchstone Hotel - View - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

The good - *OK place to sleep and shower if you plan to spend no other time there other than for those two things *Friendly front desk persons The bad - *Room looked semi-updated. Modern lighting and bed, trying hard with the decor but the rest of the room felt outdated and just didnt feel like a place to relax *No ventilation or AC. There's an overhead fan and windows, but other than that it'll get stuffy and humid especially in the bathroom. The windows open up to a fire escape, and while I'm sure no one would climb up, it made me uncomfortable to leave the window open for too long or while asleep. *It's also pretty noisy if you're on the Geary St. side w/ windows open *Shower tiles were moldy *Leaky tub faucet *The smell of the bathroom and/or toilet extends to the room *There are unfilled soap and shampoo dispensers in the shower for some reason , but they do have mini tubes of those things *Room seemed dusty, perhaps it hadn't been occupied in a while but there was settled dust on the velvet hangers, top of tv, even on the toilet paper holder Not sure if this room was worth the price point. Spent the next few days at a different hotel nearby that was way more chic, had better amenities and was much more comfortable for an extra $50 per night. read more

I stayed at The Touchstone Hotel for almost fifteen days . The location is fantastic, in just few blocks you can be at the Union Square , Civic Center , Embarcadero, malls , supermarkets and the major attractions of the city. The best of everything was their staff . They really made me feel that I was at home . Everybody was so kind and they always were able to answer any question that I had . I really recommend the Hotel . They were beyond my expectations . Yunllin O'Connor read more

This is a budget hotel in the heart of Union Square, San Francisco. You can walk to Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Sacks Fifth Ave. It is, by far, not the Westin St. Francis (which is just east of this hotel), but it's not a Motel 6 either. My boyfriend and I needed a hotel to spend a few days visiting the city (09/12/21 - 09/15/21) and we found this on Booking.com. This hotel (some say was built in 1911 or 1924 - depending on what you're reading) is small, the rooms are small, and the bathroom is very small, BUT it was clean, and they had HOT water...and lots of it coming out of the faucets in the sink and shower...in our room on the 5th floor. The room was very simple - no complaints about that. The bed was low to the floor, but it was comfortable. The only drawback is that the walls are paper thin. When we were "gettin' our thang on" early one morning, I'm sure everyone on our floor heard every last noise. But alas, I digress... There are no frills...no coffee in the room. They do provide shampoo, body wash, and a facial bar soap that wasn't bad at all. Towels were a little thin, but that's okay. We did have maid service and the bed was made and the towels were changed every day. I can't really talk about any noise, because right now, thanks to Covid, San Francisco is nearly a ghost town. I never heard a car horn on Geary Street at all...and I've been coming to this city for decades. There even seemed to be less homeless in the area. The trash trucks out in back were a little loud, but only for a few minutes. Parking - Since I booked on Booking.com, they advertised that Parking was $19.00 per night (offsite). It was located in a parking garage called Prestige Parking at 520 Mason Street. You pay for your parking up front when you check in, take your car to the garage, and they put it into an elevator and whisk it away to another floor. You have in and out privileges and can take your car out as you wish...which I did a couple of times. I didn't have any issues at all. If you need a quick bite to eat in the morning, eat at David's Delicatessen. It's a little pricy, but so worth the experience...it really feels like you're eating in an old Jewish Deli. Great service and wonderful coffee. I ordered real pork bacon and we went around and around with our Asian waiter about whether or not it was Kosher or not. Too much fun. We were made to feel like family and very comfortable. All in all, we were pretty satisfied with our stay. Good service, nice, knowledgeable front desk staff, clean room and for the price, I think we would stay here again. read more

Just nice to feel welcomed & a clean bed! I tried another hotel & came right back here! Thanks Touchstone for being clean during this time where cleanliness is reassurance. read more

The Touchstone Hotel - What's in my photo? My review! Because I love my check-ins and rarely take the time to do a review unless it's worthy! - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

I too, was expecting the worst. I really thought it was going to be the worst place I've ever booked. Um, nope. One star off because it would be nice to have a -microwave (in the hall maybe?) - hot water - fridge - actual heat (see below) - telephone somewhere to call down to the front desk? - no washcloths, just handtowels. Please bring your own. Okay, that being said, I was fortunate to book this through Hotwire and got a good price. The room we got was actually just like the one in the photos on their site, two beds with a nightstand in the center. I stay in hotels often and can say that this one had a lot of outlets near the bed. I've never been able to charge 3 things simultaneously until now. If I have, nothing is charged when I wake up. The last time this happened it was at a super fancy hotel in D.C. and I was not happy about it. Anyway, the beds are comfy and really nice. There were two separate small closets in the room, enough for our many, many bags. The bathroom is small, but nice, and like someone else said, they provide (vegan) body care things like soap and shampoo. Not bad!!! The toilet has no pressure, but the shower was really great. My only major compliant is that the room was chilly, but honestly the downstairs person (Italian man, super nice) tried to find a heater, but couldn't. Someone else did find one and it was the best thing ever. Just ask for a heater. Noise: as for noise, we are staying on the fourth floor facing the street and it is loud, but bearable. I was able to drown it out, but maybe because I lived in a much louder city (NY) and was used to it? If you aren't, just buy ear plugs. Honestly it's a way of life and if you airbnb'd a place near by, it would be the same issue. Oh, hey, it's the city. It's loud. There was no phone in our room, so if you don't have a cell phone, you will have to go downstairs to ask questions (I'm just saying, don't assume!) There is a a vintage diner right next door where one can get a discount for eating there, but I never ate there, but I did see folks next door eat there. There are a lot of really amazing restaurants right on the block and Union Square is walking distance. A really cute place to stay for the budget traveler. read more

Clean and very comfortable room. The service was fantastic. I will definitely stay here again.

We stayed at Touchstone Hotel for a weekend in San Francisco and we were pleased with the stay. Staff was extremely helpful and friendly. They also provided excellent recommendations. Room was a little small, but nice, clean and had a full bathroom with tub. Good price for a good location near Union Square. You can also get on famous cable cars at Union Square. read more

Wasn't too bad for the price point. It was nice to have parking so close, but it was pretty expensive to do so overnight. That being said, it was totally fine for a one night stay and it was close to many stores and restaurants to visit. read more

There's so much to pen about this place, but I'm assuming you're perusing this here review because you saw the budget rates and you're wondering: + Is it legit? + Is it safe? + Will I manage to get a decent night's rest? To address: 1) It's legit. As they say, location, location, location. Walkable to everything in the Financial district, anticipate great dining options, plenty of civic festivities and museums, yep, great spot to stay and it ain't a hostel. 2) Sure, it's safe, but keep in mind that in the San Francisco vortex of wealth and inequality, you're also near the Tenderloin, so the streets are a mixed bag of tourists, execs and desperation. 3) There's a reason each room includes complimentary ear plugs. No, the walls aren't paper thin, but you'll hear the neighbors, if they're up all night. Windows facing the street aren't sound-proof whatsoever, so Pro Tip: bring a portable speaker (I did, smart move), turn on a playlist of white noise, you'll block 50% of the ambient big city... blah. Plug your ears. A couple other notes. Rooms are teensy, as anticipated, but beds are comfy, bathrooms relatively clean. The delicatessen next door is precisely the delicatessen you'd anticipate, your room gets you 20% off precisely the kind of food you'd anticipate eating. And the elevator. With a maximum capacity of precisely three people, we took one ride, joked about the hamsters that were running the wheels, and began taking the stairs. Good exercise, just one flight per floor, and thrifty, just like you! read more

Costumer service great! Stayed 2 nights. But my neighbors were sooo loud 4am , i woke up. The walls are really thin, you can here every move the neighbor does. And the rooms and bathroom are really small. But over all, it's ok read more

The staff was super friendly and went out of their way to accommodate my mother and I. It was very affordable and a clean room with comfortable beds and nice decor. It was also amazing to see a well-stocked section of vegan shampoo, lotion and other self-care items. I couldn't have asked for a better stay. Thank you! read more

The Touchstone Hotel - Hotels Near Me - San Francisco, California

Not worth the money especially when they charge you a 100.00 dollar deposit and don't want to give it back. So now I have dispute the charges with my bank to get my money back. They sent me a letter to give to the bank, but the bank laughed at me. DON'T STAY HERE. read more

This place is in an old building right in the heart of the city so it is loud. I can sleep through anything but if you're a light sleeper, ask for a room off the street. The place is clean and the staff is amazing! Ronnie and the guys at the front are so helpful and friendly and the Deli staff is top notch too. I will stay again on my next trip to SF for sure! read more

we stayed overnight in SFO... you cant beat the location!!! very near Union square. we had a good time staying. Rooms are so clean and Comfy.... I give 5 star bcoz the staff are very helpful and accomodating. Affordable price compare to the other hotel . The lobby is very tiny but cant complain of the location and afforable. will recommend staying here!!! read more

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The one star I am giving this hotel is definitely earned only because of location. The building itself is in prime location to everything. I was greeted by very friendly and courteous hotel staff. A warning I received upon checking in was a reminder that I am paying for location, so don't expect too much. Upon entering the unit it looked quite charming but once you peel back the glaze of fatigue and excitement from being in a new city further inspection confirms the off hand warning received at check in. Here are the list of items: -The toilet worked intermittently. I found myself having to whack the toilet bowl to make it so that the toilet would fill up with water and allow for flushing. -My key cards stop working the first day I was there. -The elevator albeit great convenience seems something more of a coffin. -The bedsheets had stains on them which was debatably either foundation make up or dried blood stains. -The bedding seem to be a mix and match not really matching the motif of the hotel. (we ended up buying bed sheets and comforters. This is probably the reason the bedsheets don't match is because other travelers did the same thing) -The mattress was firm but not by choice. It appeared to be an old mattress in need of burial or burning. -The curtains were the most luxurious part of the room. Definitely blocked out the light. -The towel warmer did not work and was severely rusted. This seem to be due to the lack of ventilation in the bathroom. -There were rust stains on the floor and wall. The toilet seat was damaged. -There were soap dispensers on the wall which were empty. -Parts of the floor were loose and sunk in when stepped on. -The ceiling was peeling and to sprinkle a little bit of health code violations we found black mold hidden behind the curtains on the window sill. -In the bathroom there was plywood screwed to the ceiling covering up a hole which in my mind is hiding a lot more mold. We made the best of our trip but vowed never to return to this hotel. Beware of any hotel that does not allow you to cancel your reservation and charges you to book the room weeks in advance. read more

Hotel manager refuses to give a refund for a room that was un-livable during this Covid-19 age. Room was not clean, sheets were dirty and the bathroom was filthy. There were homeless defecating within 10feet of the lobby entrance door. No heater in the room. Absolutely disgusting inside and outside of the hotel and would not even recommend the stay to a cockroach for fear they would get sick. read more

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with my experience after reading all the negative reviews. I liked it there. For what you can get in San Fran, here were a few things that were great: 1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! it was VERY central. 2. Very decent sized bedroom.Clean.Even had shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer, decent bathroom. My sink was not in my bedroom at all. Such a normal room. Had side tables, enough outlets, windows, a nice desk, even an armchair. Oh! and a closet to hang and store my clothes. Ironing board, steam iron.. 3. Great friendly service. I checked out late, no problem. Served cookies sometimes. 4. The breakfast coupon definitely helps since breakfast in San Fran is about $15 just for 2 eggs and a side+coffee. 5. SAFE. I like the 24 hour front desk. 6. had WIFI! I walked a block to a really cool sushi place nearby that had good sushi & good music. Then wanted to hv late night coffee catch up w another friend and that was the next block across. Good ambiance and nice quiet cafe. When i yelped my area there were a lot of 4+ star quality food..so to me, that's good value. 5-10 min walk to Union Square..shopping... I have to say I was out most of the day, plus i'm used to city noise so perhaps I didn't notice the loudness too much. My only complain if i have to was that it was a lil chilly in the room. This was first week of december. So thank you, low rating yelpers, i was expecting the worst lol, and was pleasantly surprised. read more

I want to be clear that I am not saying this is a 4-star hotel. This is a budget hotel which is pretty darn good for the price and location. I had a conference nearby at the Hilton, but did not want to pay Hilton prices, so I booked this place. I was prepared for the worst, but was pleasantly surprised. Obviously, this is a great location. It is a short walk from the Powell St. BART line and two blocks from Union Square. The building is secure and there is always someone at the desk. I was expecting the room to be rough, but it was actually really nice. The bed was very comfortable and all the furnishings and bedding was like new. My room was cleaned and toiletries restocked every day, which was really nice. The wifi is fast and free and there were little touches like free apples and lollipops at the front desk. If I have to complain about anything, it would just be that the shower could be a bit dribbly. They need to take some vinegar to the shower head or replace it. But, the water pressure was strong and there was plenty of hot water. Also, my room was next to an alley where some drunk tweakers congregated. I learned a lot about where to buy drugs in SF and how much the NSA is spying on us. Otherwise, I would highly recommend this hotel for a cheap stay in downtown SF. read more

Alright, the hotel has furniture older than me. The carpets look like something from a mini-golf putting green. The elevator may feel like a gift from God every time you make it out alive. The 10 inch TV may be dwarfed by the oversized window overlooking the alley and other building 10 feet away... But this hotel seriously has an unidentifiable charm about it... Oh wait, did I say charm? I also meant to say cheap and worth it. Where are you gonna find a near 50 dollar a night hotel 3 blocks from Union Square and less than a block from Ruby Skye? Uhhh...You are in a fantasy if you think that's likely. Let me tell you, it can't get much better than rolling out of a club at 4am and realizing your hotel bed is closer than your car...especially when a 24hour Jack'N'the'Box is the halfway point between you and the hotel. Its not fancy, but its some cheap city living in a prime locale. read more

Not too shabby of a hotel for a cheap night in the city. Its mere blocks away from Union Square, and Ruby Skye is just around the corner. The building's probably over 30 years old, and the floors creak and rickets with every step. The huge mirror dwarfs the 10 inch TV from the 80s, and the radiator hisses at you every 5 minutes. But it has a classic old-school charm to it. And that, along with its low price, means you're in for a decent night. read more

First off, I want to point out that this is a three star hotel in a 100 + year old city. If you are looking for a brand new building and furnishings you're looking in the wrong place. If you are looking for an authentic SF experience, you should definitely stay here. The hotel and all the amenities were clean and well taken care of, and I didn't notice anything that was threadbare so I'm not sure what some I the other reviewers are complaining about. My biggest concerns before I came here were cleanliness, noise, and water pressure/hot water. I am pleased to say that this place exceeded my expectations for all three. The room, sheets, towels, etc were all clean and fluffy. There weren't any holes or stains in anything. When we checked in they said they had put us in an inside room so there wasn't as much noise, but that we wouldn't have a view. I laughed at that because we were going to be out and about all day, and it was the quiet we wanted so it was perfect for us. We had come a long day that way and imagine my delight when I was able to take a hot shower in a clean tub with good water pressure to wash away the dirt of the road. On top of that, the staff was friendly and helpful, and they were more than willing to bring an extra pillow to my room when I asked. There are a few things which didn't bother me but might bother you... These are not complaints but they may explain why some people gave negative reviews, and are meant as a heads up to prospective boarders. First, it's an old building so the rooms are not the typical rectangle hotel room shape that most people are used to. Welcome to San Francisco. Because of this, they do have less square footage than the rectangle hotels rooms, but at no time did I feel cramped with my husband and I in the room. Second, there isn't really any lobby that you can sit down in. The entrance is narrow compared to a typical hotel, and has only a front desk, an elevator, and then the stairs up to the rooms. Again, welcome to San Francisco. Third, there is no central heating in the building (because it's an old building) but there was a space heater in the closet of our room if we had wanted to use it, and I'm assuming they were in every room. The blankets were more than warm enough and it didn't get that cold in the building so we never used it. If none of this bothers you, then you will love this hotel. It is a great value for the price. It was just far enough from union square that you don't get the noise, but close enough to walk there in about 60 seconds. It's central to public transport, including the cable cars and muni/Bart. It's secure (you need a hotel key to get in the building at night), and it's got that San Francisco charm that I love and miss. My husband and I are planning on staying here next time we are in the city. read more

This hotel is a great deal for the price. The location is just amazing- it is close to Union Square, BART, and the major buslines. The staff, when present, are friendly and helpful. Oddly, there are often no visible hotel employees. During these periods, the elevator does not seem to go up (???) The rooms are clean, but very small. While the furnishings are definitely dated, the tiny TVs mentioned by other posters have been replaced by decent-sized flatscreens. Parking charges are exhorbitant as the hotel does not have its own garage. Park your own car around the corner less. I can't imagine you'd find a better deal in this area. The drawbacks are so minor compared to the convenience of the location, you really can't go wrong. read more

I thought this was a great budget hotel. Great location (although, regular readers know I don't give many stars for location), lovely people and a decent room for the rate. The rooms have been renovated with modern furniture and flooring. The bathrooms were renovated a while ago, but are still in great condition with new shower curtains etc. There are plenty of hooks and towel rails but if I was staying for any length of time I would have had to ask for more hangers. I had a side room (over-looked an alley), so no street noise - although the bin-men were around at 6:30am, they quickly left and silence resumed. You get the normal 'other guests' noise. 'Thumper' on the floor above was up and about at 1am and then again at 3am, but you can't really help that. With the great service I got from the ladies at check in and the room itself, I would definitely be back - especially when it's so reasonably priced. read more

I stayed here in June 2009 for 1 month. It is a 5-star service in exchange for the price you pay. My parents stayed here for a month while they enjoyed my graduation from Stanford. The hotel is run by a cute German couple who are very helpful. They helped park my car, arrange me cheap parking, gave me the best room, made every reservation for me, showed me around. The hotel owner even gave me a tour of the city with her classy Mercedes, such a treat. The rooms have no heating problem which is rare in San Francisco, you can easily find an iron, clean sheets, beautiful view. This hotel is 2 blocks from Union Square, all the shopping centers, and its surrounded by beautiful historical landmarks. For young people, two good clubs Slide and Swig is close by, so as Bourbon and Branch, a classy location. If we needed anything, there is an old, stylish Jewish delly downstairs which serves everything. Many times I left our cameras, laptops, jewelry in the room. Nothing happened all very safe. View and Location would be my most favorite pick for this hotel. Its cheap too compared to what you get. Next door hotels charge you twice. Ideal for tourists who want adventure and stay somewhere great but not fancy. read more

I can't believe anyone would complain about this! Wow, if you are looking for value for money, this is the place to stay. My room was only $90 a night. Really well located 2 blocks from Union Square. The reception desk staff guy here was just absolutely brilliant. He was so friendly and helpful. I arrived to check in and realized that my wallet had been stolen earlier in the day, he still let me check in without being able to pay and did everything he could to help me. The interior rooms here are very dark and quiet, which was perfect for me. Apparently some of the outer rooms face a back alley which can get a bit more noise. Full breakfast was also free at the next door diner, which included a full breakfast and coffee and juice. A real bargain. Plus free wifi, and it was fast. Amazing read more

The room is small. So is the bathroom. And the elevator, which bounces a bit. We stayed at a double room, 2 full beds. Walk in - to the right is a full-size bed, hitting the wall and the other separated by a nightstand with a lamp. To the left, 2 closets and the third door is a bathroom, which is small. You can't really take more than ten steps in there. The blinds didn't work. Past the bathroom door are drawers, a chair, and a flat-screen TV. The room is small, yes. Basic. But everything was clean and the bed was so comfy. I fell in love with, got attached to the front desk staff members, who were beyond 5 stars. Jane, Marie (hope I got that right), Victoria, and of course Shehbaz. They were so friendly, helpful with directions and places to go, eat. We probably took 7 maps in the course of 3 days. They are also really fun to talk to, in the morning when we were up at 6am heading to the Golden Gate Bridge and 11pm after eating lobster bisque at Nick's and getting our portraits drawn by a Chinese man for $10 on Jefferson Street in Fisherman's Wharf. Bonus: chocolate chip cookies in the afternoon, evening-ish. read more

Great customer service, nice location, and the bed was comfortable for me and my guest

Needed a room last minute in the city. Had walked by this hotel almost daily when I lived in SF. For the price, couldn't have asked for more, really pleased. Clean, safe, new furnishings, friendly front desk. Don't expect large room, it isn't. But, very comfortable bed, dressing area, etc. Flat screen TV, alarm clock, blow dryer, etc. It's the city, don't expect quite nights with crickets chirping and roosters to awake. The reason for a four and not five stars, the towels. They were clean and such, but very thin and kind of small. In this day, with all the choices for laundry service, no excuse not to have something a little larger and softer. Definitely not a deal breaker, just a simple suggestion/thought. So for the price and location, by the way, directly across the street from the Clift Hotel, I highly recommend this quaint gem amongst the jungle. read more

Worst experience in a long time. The rooms aren't sound proof so I heard the trucks all night. The bathroom and hairs all over it. The mattress was so soft it was disgusting. And worst of all, I woke up at 1:30 am with bedbugs... I would definitely stay away from this hotel. You are better off paying a little bit more and having a good night sleep. I would put 0/5 stars if I could. read more