The Palace - San Francisco, USA 

My wife and I stayed at the Palace for three nights, having driven up in our rental car from Santa Cruz. I booked the room on Hotwire and got a great deal--a huge room with king bed for 150 dollars a night plus tax. The lobby and first floor of the hotel are remarkably beautiful, and our room was very nicely appointed in terms of linens, towels, furniture, etc. Beautiful vintage solid brass hardware on the door of the room, monogrammed, etc. Very nice. We did not demand much of the staff but our experience was with them was just fine, nor did we use the beautiful pool, much to our regret. Others have commented on the very thin walls and it is true--and weird for a hotel of this caliber. Bring your earplugs or sleep with a pillow over your head if the guy in the next room has a cough. A couple of things you should know: they charge for internet in the room (still!) but there is free wi-fi in the lobby. A small biz computer in the lobby is for printing out boarding passes and not for e-mail. Otherwise checking your e-mail in the business center will cost you 5. 25 min. charge (please). The hotel is in the middle of the biz district so night time there is dead, but three blocks aways is Union Square, and a few more in the opposite direction is the Embarcadero. Better location imho than Nob Hill etc. Re. coffee in the a.m. they supply it in the lobby and it is fine. We did not check out the bar or restaurant because there are so many within walking distance. Less than a block to to the right as you exit the hotel is a Starbucks if you need latte (which we do). Parking by the hotel is 50 bucks per night (highway robbery) but they will tell you that right around the corner on the same block are two garages where you can park for 20 dollars a night--fine for a big city and plenty convenient. Very easy walking distance (2 blocks) to SFMoMa (and other museums such as the Jewish Contemporary) and the Yerba Buena Arts Center. Be sure to grab dinner at The Slanted Door at the Ferry Bldg. on the Embarcadero. You can walk there (and make your rez online, early). Would I stay there again? Sure, but keep in mind the thin wall problem. Everything else was 4.5 in my book.

This hotel has total old school charm with modern amenities, like flat panel TV & updated washroom. It is walking distance to so many great things, ie. fisherman's wharf, chinatown, little italy, saturday ferry market. No complaints, especially for the price we paid, $120/night.