San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Bridge by Stephen W. Oachs (Flickr.com & StephenOachs.com)

To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!

The morning fog may chill the air...

(J Hancock, Memphis, TN (Tripadvisor.com)

…but who cares?

It takes but one hour in San Francisco to know why songs were written about it. And if it calls to you, there is no dearth of hotels from which to enjoy its views or explore its treasures: the city has big and small, old and new, expensive and cheap.


Just kidding about the cheap part! Actually, there are some low-cost options, but pay close attention to the reviews. As one reviewer said of his budget hotel, “There was poop in a bucket in the shared shower room.” So, a word to the wise.


If dollar amount is not the deciding factor for your dreams, my San Francisco hotel pick is the Mandarin Oriental. It boasts fabulous views from its 151 rooms and 7 suites, and it’s within walking distance of the Bay, Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown.

I think it was the hallways that sold me.

(Photo from Calhotels.com)

But the views from the rooms are no less impressive.

Bayview King (Photo from Travel.aol.com)

Double Double (Photo from Travel.aol.com)

Taipan Suite (Photo from Travel.aol.com)

Oriental Suite Terrace (Photo from Assets2.goldenhotelguide.com)

There's Brooklyn Bridge, London Bridge,

And the Bridge of San Louis Rey

But the only bridge, that's a real gone bridge,

Is the bridge across the bay.

("San Francisco," recorded by Judy Garland)

(Photo by Rolling Hills Studio on Flickr.com)