Finding myself with a mid morning flight departure of 10am from San FranciscoAirport meant I had to find accommodation close to the airport for our final night. Like most people, I don't particularly relish spending a night in an Airport hotel, as it seems to be far more a functional expenditure than it adding anything to the holiday. However as there was no avoiding it, we booked the Embassy Suites, San Francisco Airport, South San Francisco and decided we would arrive reasonably late in the evening so we could enjoy the final day touring through the wine country.
I booked online via the company's own website. Both my husband and I are familiar with the Embassy Suites brand, having both used them for business trips (separately) to the USA in the past. For those who do not know, however, Embassy Suites is part of the Hilton chain. I was particularly attracted to them as a Suite to me means space, and as I have been spending about 70%-80% of ALL nights in hotel bedrooms, then the comfier they are the better! If you book a room with Embassy you will ALWAYS get a suite.
The
rate we obtained was $149 a night including breakfast for two. This was probably a little more than I wanted to spend, and indeed I could have got a Travelodge room for considerably less, but after the cost of this holiday I figured saving £30-£40 was pointless at this stage, when given the additional guest services which Embassy can offer. Indeed we only booked the night prior to arrival and so probably paid more because of that flexibility. If you book via their website, you are guaranteed the best price available on line, which I prefer as it saves all that web surfing, and I would rather book direct in any event.
Finding the hotel was a little bit more difficult than it could have been. As I had booked on line the night before, I didn't have any paperwork (I had received an email confirmation, but I couldn't print it!). I had noted down the address which is San Francisco Airport, South San Francisco. I had in fact assumed it was South of the Airport, which it was not! There is another Embassy Suites South of the Airport and thankfully, once we called in there, they were quickly able to advise us that our booking had been confirmed for the other hotel.
Parking was complimentary, not always the case with airport hotels. We checked in very quickly and took the elevator to our room. All guest bedrooms are situated in a square all over looking the vast atrium which contained the bar area, restaurant, and other guest services. Like many Embassy Suites Koi Carp appear to be a feature!
The hotel also has a free shuttle service, again a benefit and so the extra cost starts to pay for itself when compared to cheaper hotels which do not offer such services. The minibus runs to the airport regularly and also anywhere within a 3mile distance of the hotel. We had elected to take our rental car back that night, to avoid having to do this in the morning and when my husband asked for directions back to the car rental building, the minibus driver not offered to go ahead and lead the way, through the normal maze of roads at international airports, he waited for him and fetched him back again, which we felt was excellent service.
The room was superb. There were two queen beds, with wonderful bedding, and a spacious area for clothes in the room itself and black out curtains ensuring a restful sleep. The bathroom was fine with a large selection of neutrogena products. The shower was a little tricky to use however (aren't they all, if they are not your own!). The bathroom sink had wonderful mirrors on three walls, which were perfect for hair drying. The living area itself was fantastic, with TV and internet access, dining table, sink/kitchen area including microwave and fridge and ample seating.
The accommodation was absolutely huge and felt like a small flat. The surroundings are attractive, and while I would not want to be based there for more than one night (unless I was there on business). the central atrium and koi carp pool with plenty of bar seating area is attractive.
I did use the TV internet access, which was a reasonable $10 for a 24 hour period, although navigating using a TV rather than a computer has its limitations. There were also PC internet access points in the lobby, which I did not sample, primarily because of the queue of teenagers which were on a school trip and staying at the hotel.
The menu was similar whether you dined in your room or ate downstairs. We ate a reasonable meal, and were not stuck for choice with the emphasis on meats and seafood. Drinks were a little more expensive, with a standard glass of wine being $5.50 and when my husband asked for a large glass, he was told the price would double! We ate dinner and had some drinks in the bar. The drinks seemed a little expensive, but not overly so (USA seems so expensive for alcohol). Dinner can be expensive if you want it to be, but i stuck with a pasta dish which was under $20. I think the menu is fairly consistent across Embassy suites, and for that reason I wouldn't want to stop in one every night of the week..
The complimentary cooked to order breakfast was certainly of a higher standard than many breakfasts in hotels of this class. You could order what you wished from the hot counter, especially important for decent eggs, and there was a vast array of fruit, yoghurt and bakery products available, as well as coffee tea and soft drinks. While nothing beats a proper a la carte breakfast, this was certainly reasonable, especially for a one night stop.
For convenience the bill is delivered to the room overnight, and your card is charged so there is no rush for an early morning checkout. We were taken to the airport terminal by a different, but also equally amiable driver, and despite the size of this hotel, we had no problems with being able to use this service.
While I did not get the opportunity to use it, the hotel also has a decent size pool.
Overall I feel this hotel offered good service and is an ideal for both business guests and for holidaymakers arriving or departing SF Airport. With a strong brand like this one, the products and services should be similar in other Embassy Suite Hotels across America. Recommended.
Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco-Airport, South San Francisco. 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, California, United States 94080 Tel: +1-650-589-3400 Fax: +1-650-876-0305
www.embassysuites.com
Dial 1800 EMBASSY for reservations within USA.
Pictures of Embassy Suites Hotel, San Francisco Airport
Embassy Two Queen Bed Suite
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