San Francisco - which Intercontinental? - FlyerTalk Forums (2024)

wantogothere

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Liverpool, UK

Programs: Spire Amb, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 69

Hi everyone

We're going to San Francisco in September and have decided to use points for two nights at one of the ICs due to the high room rates on the dates we need, plus two paid nights. For the same price we can get either a standard room at the SF or a club room at the Mark Hopkins - just wondered if anyone had any views or experiences which might help us make our decision?

Thanks!

FLYGVA

Join Date: Oct 2002

Posts: 6,594

Have you Ambassador Status or a regular PC member?

You can check out both threads about the properties as a start:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...ad-merged.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...ad-merged.html

view-with-a-room

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: USA

Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges

Posts: 1,708

IC San Fran 45,000 points or USD $330+
Mark Hopkins 50,000 point or USD $250+

Buy Ambassador Status,
2 points nights at IC San Fran w/ purchased club,
2 paid nights at Mark Hopkins w/ booked junior suite

Specific date would be of assistance. Specific high room rates would be of assistance.

The better view at the IC San Fran is via the club. The better view at the Mark Hopkins is via the Top of the Mark.

Access to IC San Fran is 2 blocks from the subway. Access to the Mark Hopkins is 6 blocks from the subway up a very steep hill. Or in other words, walking around IC San Fran is a pleasure but walking around The Mark Hopkins is not a pleasure.

Flying Lawyer

Join Date: Sep 2005

Location: Capetown

Programs: Marriott Lifetime Plat, IHG and Hilton Diamond, LH SEN, BA Gold

Posts: 10,177

Walking around the mark Hopkins is as pleasure because you're already up hill. Walking around the SF is a pain because you need to get uphill :-::-:

The MH is the nicer more classic property and they are very good with upgrades. I recently booked a 900 Dollar suite with a Bogo and ended up in a 2000 dollar suite as a two category upgrade. I then booked a 120 Dollar standard room and ended up in a 380 Dollar one bedroom suite. Lounge is by far nicer than in the SF. The SF could be everywhere, THE MH is a SF landmark.

wantogothere

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Liverpool, UK

Programs: Spire Amb, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 69

Thanks for the replies!

We're arriving in San Francisco on 25th September and are staying until Sunday 29th. The Oracle conference is on until the 26th so rates are expensive for the first two nights (SF $650, $441 and MH $639, $394) and we would have to book a two night minimum if we were paying for those nights. So we have decided to use points for these as I can still book them on the old rate and I have enough for either properties.

For the following 2 nights, the best rates are on F&F (SF standard king bed $351, $260 or MH Club $278, $278).

I let my Ambassador status lapse last year so the other option is to buy back in and use the bogof on the Friday - best flex rate for the Friday is SF $389 and MH $229 for standard rooms. The best flex club rate for the MH isn't bad but I'm not sure that would be offered on the Ambassador cert rate?

roadman3313

Join Date: May 2012

Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Programs: Amtrak Select Executive, Hertz PC, National EE, IC Diamond Ambassador, ALL Gold, Hyatt Disc

Posts: 531

I'd say having the club included would be a nice addition to your stay. Mark Hopkins is more of a classic feel on top of Nob Hill. IC SF is more modern and near the convention center. With that said, if there are any conventions in town (much less Oracle which eats up rooms in the entire Bay Area!) it can get quite crowded.

I have stayed and know the staff at both and can say that you will (hopefully!) be happy no matter which one you choose. IC SF is near the Westfield shopping center and public transit. IC MH is on the top of the Hill near a Cable Car route (and a bus 1-2 blocks away).

I'd look into Ambassador status to get the room upgrade, or at least a higher floor room at either property. Well worth it for that length of stay.

Rusell

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: Australia

Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat

Posts: 535

roadman3313

Join Date: May 2012

Location: SF Bay Area, CA

Programs: Amtrak Select Executive, Hertz PC, National EE, IC Diamond Ambassador, ALL Gold, Hyatt Disc

Posts: 531

Well that all depends too. You can see the IC SF from the IC MH... haha... but the IC SF has views of the South City or towards the Westfield Shopping Center and Downtown depending on the side you are on. If you are in a suite or corner room you may also have a view of the Bay Bridge or the Financial District. To the west you can see City Hall and Sutro Tower on the top of Twin Peaks as well as a nice view of the fog peaking over. The Terrace Suite and the Presidential Suite have outdoor patio areas as well with glass walls up to a certain height to prevent people from falling or jumping over.

From the IC MH you can see Downtown Below at the bottom of the hill from the upper floors and Union Square. The other side and some of the suites have views towards the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge (between buildings). You can also be in the fog depending on time of year. The windows do open though for a bit of fresh air. Terrace Suites have an enclosed (glass) terrace on what used to be a balcony. Certain other rooms have this as well and some suites have outdoor access onto a Balcony with keys and supervision from the front desk (as there are no high barriers to block anyone from falling/jumping).

I'd honestly say the IC SF has more of a City or Bay view. The IC MH has more of a view looking down on the city or towards the GG Bridge from high floors/selected rooms.

I prefer the IC MH as the windows open and it just has more of a classic feel to it. But with that said, I usually stay at the IC SF as it is closer to transit, a parking garage, and I know many of the staff members well.

nicolas75

Join Date: Aug 2007

Location: PARIS (France)

Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle

Posts: 11,083

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...rancisco.html?

Rusell

Join Date: Mar 2012

Location: Australia

Programs: QF, LM, AA,VA Silver, Qatar, Accor Gold, CC Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott B Plat

Posts: 535

Thanks for all that...I wanted to stay in March

wantogothere

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Liverpool, UK

Programs: Spire Amb, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 69

view-with-a-room

Join Date: Oct 2010

Location: USA

Programs: DL PM - IC RA - HHonors Gold - Hertz Gold - AA - US - CO - Choice Privileges

Posts: 1,708

IC SF is a newer building with floor to ceiling windows. IC MH is an older building with standard windows.

The best view from the MH is a terrace suite or the Top of the Mark. The best view from the SF is a high suite with a bay view or the club.

Land-of-Miles

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: MAN and LON

Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IHG Diamond Amb, Amex Plat

Posts: 13,808

The terrace suites at the MH have great views from the enclosed terraces. I am stayling tonight at the SF and was upgraded from a junior suite to a corner 1 bed on the top floor. However the MH does have a classic hotel feel, my 33rd floor room ones not have floor to ceiling windows, more like 2/3 floor to ceiling. The suite is more practical though than the MH terrace suite. The SF mini bar is better as a RA and TD SF has movies (1 free as AMB) unlike the MH.

I think I would be happy with either property and would choose based upon rate.