There is nothing like San Francisco

First impressions of San Francisco:
If you expect an average West Coast city when you come to San Francisco you are in for a surprise. The Skyline of the city is very impressive and beautiful when you approach via the Oakland bridge, it may not be NY or Hong Kong but it is still a great sight. The streets of S.F. are very steep decenting from the East to the Coast. I would say that it is more impressive in real life than in the movies. Pier 39 is a pier consisting of about 120 different shops. I found it a little too touristy however the view at the end of the peir to Alcatraz makes it all worth it. The water is green and Alcatraz looks dramatic being covered in fog.

Quick Tips:

Try to sail out to Alcatraz it is a very interesting experience to see the old prison.

If you are into fine dining use your money in S.F. The trendy restaurants may be expensive but from my experience it is worth it. Try MC2 which is an upscale restaurant with a party atmosphere after 10pm.

Best Way To Get Around:

A combination of walking and using the tram are the best means of transport in SF. However sometimes it may be easier to find a taxi. Parking space is a scarce resource so keep the car in the hotels valet parking.

Hotels in S.F. are generally more expensive than in most other cities. The reason is probably that the housing costs in S.F. are very steep in general. Further one should expect to pay $20-30 for parking.

Location:
Bush Street is in downtown S.F. which is near China Town, Nob Hill and Union Square. However you are a 20 min. walk from the sea and pier 39. Whether you prefer the ocean veiw of the buzz of down town depends what you are after.

Reception:
When I first saw the reception and the male receptionist I actually expected a little bit of arrogance since he seemed very busy preoccupied. However when it was my turn he was kind and professional. The reception was smaller and a little more worn that in most hotels in this price range I had seen in cities in the US. However the place had a great deal of charm living up to the name of Vintage Court and the European influence it has is distinct.

The room:
As I expected the room was a little smaller than other hotels in the same price range in the rest of the US. However the room was clean and charming so there was nothing to complain about.

The rooms are clean and nice and have the most important facilities including a minibar.

The hotel does not have modern facilities like a fitness club or similar however most of the time should be spend on exploring the city anyway.

Wine hour:
The hotel has a wine hour between 5pm-6pm which is popular. When I was there it was self service but that didn't matter and the white wine I tried was very good.

Everything considered I can recommend a stay at The Vintage Court especially if charm is more impotant to you than size and the newest facilities.