San Francisco on Points only - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

miadukes

Join Date: Nov 2015

Location: FL, USA

Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold

Posts: 1,669

I have looked around and decided on the Holiday Inn Express Fisherman's Wharf. We are going first week of May and it and all other surrounding hotels are very expensive. This one is selling for $482.xx a night but can be booked on 35k points. There is a regular Holiday Inn right next door but the Express nto only has free breakfast but slightly better reviews.

Anyone familiar with this area? We have no car will be there from Thursday to Sunday and is this the bset booking to do? I figured we'd get $1500 of hotel for 105k points (which i bought the 100%bonues last night so it came out to like 203 a night or something) even that was cheaper than the cheapest hotel there (the comfort inn was 229 pretax).

Is there anything better? I am new to the whole points booking and trying to maximize this, I also have the credit card so hoping to get the 10% bonus back. Does anyone know is this property grants upgrades?

Troopers

Join Date: Sep 2015

Location: SFO

Posts: 3,902

What does your party consist of? And purpose of the trip?

If you're limited to a points only stay, I think you did well. Note, I wouldn't be surprised if the paid rate comes down. Thus, your point redemption value will be closer to $0.01/pt.

Also, I suspect the new HIX Union Square (opens end of this year) will also be 35k pts per night. Reward nights are not loaded yet so check back often (and/or send a message to IHG rewards). I think this will be nicer property than the properties at the wharf.

Btw, welcome to SF!

satori

Join Date: Nov 1999

Location: Monterey, California

Programs: Affiliated with all, participate in some

Posts: 2,188

Fisherman's Wharf is a good location for a tourist visit. You can catch harbor cruises, visit Pier 39, go to Alcatraz, rent a bike and travel around the Marina to Golden Gate Bridge, visit the Exploratorium on the Embarcadero and take cable cars to Nob Hill and F Line to Market Street and Castro.

Holiday Inn Express is a good location.

Here is a post I wrote two years ago about the Fisherman's Wharf area.

Here is another post about walking from Fisherman's Wharf through North Beach to the Embarcadero shops.

miadukes

Join Date: Nov 2015

Location: FL, USA

Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold

Posts: 1,669

Its my mom's and I annual trip so its just a touristy trip as neither one of us has been to san fran before so I wanted to stay in that area so its all walkable, plus we are arriving via Amtrak and they will drop us off there. I did the points only because everything was so expensive these seemed like a better value but yes i will continue to check and look for deals even if not IHG.

Looking at map though union square is quite a hike from the wharf, if that property is still 35k I think i'd rather stick to the HIX. I'm really crossing fingers for some sort of pointsbreak, that would be awesome.

Thank you I will check out your posts. We are only there for 1.5 days, well really 2.5 but one days we are planning on doing one of the napa valley tours with the go card, so that leaves 1.5 days and the morning we leave. So basically i'm hitting all the touristy stuff (if I had more time I would branch out further but no car either this trip).

But I'm pretty sure we will be doing most of what you mentioned, particularly Alcatraz.

Phorbas

Join Date: Aug 2015

Programs: BA Gold, IHG Spire Amb, HH Diamond

Posts: 89

Like many Holiday Inn properties in the States, the HI at Fisherman's Wharf is a nice property but rather dated. The rooms have quite traditional decor and bathrooms. There is a pool there but I didn't try it during my stay.

If you like the tourist attractions, Fisherman's Wharf is an alright place to stay. However, it is quite far from the Market/Union Square area. The cable car turnaround is close by the HI and HIX, along with the trams that run down the Embarcadero.

aljacket

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Parts Unknown

Programs: DL PM/MM, IHG SA, National EE, Hertz PC, Marriott Silver

Posts: 530

I just book the same hotel for the same reasons. In a few weeks I will let you know what I think

I originally had booked the Staybridge by the airport, but opted for something in-town. It did have some of the best reviews in the area. Even on a point stay they upgraded me to the two room suite before I canceled.

miadukes

Join Date: Nov 2015

Location: FL, USA

Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold

Posts: 1,669

Yes that would be great, would love to get your thoughts as unless anything better comes up this is where we will be.

justaagirl

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: san francisco

Programs: IHG Spire elite, Marriott Gold

Posts: 85

This is a good area to stay for a tourist visit, as you can easily walk to north beach, Chinatown, downtown etc as well.

I can't comment on the room condition, but make sure you read reviews on tripadvisor and see if you are happy with it. Even if it's slightly dated, SF is expensive, go with this if it's clean and otherwise your best bet.

Try to get the union square new location(newer hotels are almost always nicer) if you can. You can take the F and underground to reach fisherman's wharf easily enough. Public transit is pretty easy in downtown. Union square is also city center and near where locals shop.

Point break not likely, in my opinion.

aljacket

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Parts Unknown

Programs: DL PM/MM, IHG SA, National EE, Hertz PC, Marriott Silver

Posts: 530

aljacket

Join Date: Mar 2004

Location: Parts Unknown

Programs: DL PM/MM, IHG SA, National EE, Hertz PC, Marriott Silver

Posts: 530

The hotel was not dated at all...

see my review here --> http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/25881793-post16.html

miadukes

Join Date: Nov 2015

Location: FL, USA

Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold

Posts: 1,669

Thanks for the info!

Bluebirdnick

Join Date: Jul 2013

Location: London

Posts: 344

Hi all. Apologies if I'm hijacking this thread, but I've got a similar query. I've got a week in San Francisco and thanks to Accelerate, Ambassador freebies and points, I can spend the week at either of the city's Intercontinental hotels and pay cash for just one of those nights. The purpose of my trip is pure tourism.

Am I right in thinking that from a pure location point of view, the new hotel is preferable to the Mark Hopkins hotel? Thanks!

Troopers

Join Date: Sep 2015

Location: SFO

Posts: 3,902

The two ICs are within a mile of each other, with union square in the midpoint (prob a block or two closer to IC Mark Hopkins). Both are well located. I would select based on new modern IC vs historic classic IC.

Bluebirdnick

Join Date: Jul 2013

Location: London

Posts: 344

OK, great. Thanks! I think I'll go for the new one.

archstenton

Join Date: Nov 2012

Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Programs: IHG Plat(Ambssdr on occasion), Hyatt Explr(2023), AS Mileage Plan, Rapid Rewards, Bonvoy Plat

Posts: 126

I'm sure it's common knowledge for SF even for those who have never been but take caution when Planning with a map and walking. Unless the map was topographical.

That mile between ICs may be one of the hardest you walk outside of Half Dome.

The shortest route won't always be the easiest