Hotel Union Square

Nothing special. Stay at this hotel if your only priorties are location and price. The hotel is conveniently located about 1-2 blocks from the Powell BART Station and Union Square. Although the price is very reasonable, you get what you pay for: the hotel is old, the rooms are small and the walls thin. The room we stayed in also had a funky "animal fur" odor (I think the hotel allows pets). Our friend who came by to visit asked "Are you guys keeping a goat here?" SInce the only other option available was a smoking room, we tolerated the zoo funk by opening the window and lighting a scented candle (it worked).

The staff here was nice and friendly: they allowed us to check-in a half-hour before the 2pm check-in time. They have a Maltese Falcon theme throughout the hotel, even a Dashiell Hammett Suite. Overall, the place is decent, but as mentioned before, the selling points are the location and price.…

A central location coupled with fair rates.. The Scene
This hotel is tremendously popular, even though it isn't as sophisticated as its sister hotels, Hotel Diva and Kensington Park. No doubt it attracts the crowds because of its reasonable prices and great setting near Union Square. As well, lead concierge (a bonus at these prices), Tom Steel, has been with the hotel for more than two decades.

The Details
Rooms here are richly decorated, with cherry wood furnishings and backdrops of brick walls. Specially commissioned canvas drawings complement golden yellow fabrics. The penthouse suites open onto a private deck overlooking the city. Avoid rooms facing the street, unless you don't mind the grinding and clanging of the Powell Street cable cars. Coffee and tea service is offered throughout the day in the lobby. Also available is wireless Internet access, for free.…

Very Bad Customer Service. You better hope you don't have to communicate with this hotel. Needed to cancel a reservation about two weeks before my intended stay. Phoned and sent several e-mails trying to make the cancellation and none were answered! Thank goodness for credit card protection laws. Be careful if you choose to stay here…

Pleasure!. I really liked the location of the Hotel Union Square, right on the cable car line and also the shopping was ideal. The staff was very accommodating! It was perfect for our needs! I'd stay there again!…