We were given a 5th floor studio and, when we arrived, very pleasantly surprised to find it spacious, elegantly furnished, and, wait for it …. with it’s own private (and big, about 200 sq ft) terrace. Apparently, all the 5th floor suites on one side of the building open out into a terrace and each terrace is screened with lattice work and greenery. An absolute and unexpected oasis in the heart of the city! Surprisingly, it wasn’t noisy as you might expect, as the street noises were muted. The unit has one king bed and 1 sofa queen, with minimal kitchen facilities – mini-fridge, microwave, sink, coffee maker, plates, glassware and silverware for four. The closet has a safe, and the entire building has free WiFi. The unit is definitely spacious for a couple, and could also work for 2 adults and 2 kids, but would be uncomfortable for 4 adults since there is no privacy and only one bathroom. Nothing spectacular about the bathroom, but overall the suite was well-laid out, comfortable, and a wonderful place to spend a few days.

The room was just as it was pictured on the Shell website. I was welcomed with a small basket of goodies and drinks in my room and even though I arrived early, I was allowed to check in. I was close to the cable car line and was able to go everywhere that I wanted by either walking or hopping the cable car. The Donatello is located close to several theatres. I had purchased tickets beforehand and was able to see a couple of great shows. I cannot wait to go back to the Donatello, where the staff addressed me by name whenever I was leaving or coming back.

Best Things Nearby:
Union Square, Nob Hill, and Cable car and F-line stops. In other words, everything!

Best Things About the Resort:
Location. From the Union Square area, you can walk, ride the cable car, or F-line to almost anywhere in the city. Also, you're within walking distance of many great restaurants.

Resort Experience:
The Donatello is a great, old building in a super location. We were in a studio unit (the largest offered). It was spacious and well-appointed and had a roof-top spa and patio. A continental breakfast was available for a fee on the roof each day, and the view is great. The lobby and common areas are very well done and nice. The staff was excellent and very helpful. An on-site lounge and restaurant were very good. We were lucky to get a handicapped unit, which had extra space in the living area and a huge bathroom.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Fair
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

We stayed here as part of Shell Vacations Club, but rooms are available for let from the hotel portion and from other timeshare programs. The location is ideal for shopping in Union Square or going to nearby theatres. Union Square is two short blocks away and the area is dotted with restaurants.

We were on the ninth floor and had a beautiful view of Post Street down below. Large picture windows filled nearly the entire far wall of the suite. These are not typical timeshares with a separate kitchen, but there is a credenza with a microwave, small refrigerator, and wet bar. This suited our needs perfectly as we just needed a place to keep leftovers. In addition to the King sized bed, there was a large couch with a chaise lounge portion. The bathroom was comfortably sized as well.

These rooms are quite spacious by hotel room standards with much open space and homier looking furniture than normally found in hotels.

The top floor of the hotel houses the club area for timesharers. This includes a reasonably sized Jacuzzi, a library with video rentals, and a small exercise room.

Valet parking at about $30 per day is available. There is full bell service, a restaurant with room service, and a helpful concierge desk.

Additional information can be found at the Shell Vacations Club website.