Great stay in SF
- April 20, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We booked a week at the Opal, for a conference I had to attend. The location is great - bus stops on either side, lots of great restaurants nearby & a movie theater right next door! Check out Tommy's Joint across the street - great food, even better drinks, HUGE servings. The Peruvian/Mexican restaurant diagonal from Tommy's was a very pleasant surprise - excellent food. There is also a yummy little bakery about two doors further down the street.
The service was wonderful at the hotel, the morning breakfast was okay (plain bagels, 3 kinds of cereal, a nice nut bread) but not fancy. Every request was met, and the information available from the staff on things to do & places to go was superb. We had to change rooms to a smoking room after the first night. Even though those rooms are farther away from the front lobby, the walk was manageable & the room every bit as nice inside as the room in the main building. The only gripe I have is about the amenities - dinky packets of shampoo & lotion, no bottles, no conditioner, and no soap dish, only one bar of soap. Despite that minor peeve, we will definitely stay again!
Cheap, free breakfast, nice customer service
- March 29, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
At first, one of the front desk people said I couldn't check in early (I had arrived at about 8AM) and would have to wait till after 3pm. However, after explaining the situation (I had pre-arranged a college tour in the morning and had to get there ASAP), another counter person checked me into a room that was already cleaned and ready for my disposal. I was able to get to the college tour on time without much delay.
The hotel is about six or seven blocks away from Union Square, and there is a MUNI bus stop right in front. Tons of restaurants nearby, and the Mel's diner downstairs is open late.
Sleep cheap, have more funds for fun!
- November 8, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
Since travel is far behind buying techie toys and music gear in my priorities, I try to stay at less expensive hotels when they appear from my cross - checking of Ratings and Reviews, to be clean, well-maintained (even if not shiny new) and have good service. My sweetie and I relate to the room more as a detail than an important part of our vacation to someplace we want to enjoy. The Opal is ideally located for driving or using SF's excellent public transit to get to the majority of museums, theater, and shopping districts. Parking at Opal is $25 (total) per night, but would be more than that in public and private parking lots. On our last day in SF, as we were checking out around 11:00AM, we asked if we could leave the car parked there(gratis) while we walked to Union Square, about 7 blocks away, to shop and eat. The desk clerk cheerfully OK'd that, then instantly showed us the best walking and bus routes before we could even ask him about them. We felt like he actually enjoyed helping us have a great time.
Our low(est) end room was small and smelled of smoke. This was OK tho', since I'm a smoker and had requested a smoking room. Bed was comfy and Wi-Fi hook-up was smooth. Some staff more cheerful than others, but all totally helpful and at least polite. Next time we visit SF, we'll stay at The Opal, and if we want better acommodations, I imagine the better rooms in the Opal will suffice.
Sleep cheap, have more funds for fun!
- November 8, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
Since travel is far behind buying techie toys and music gear in my priorities, I try to stay at less expensive hotels when they appear from my cross - checking of Ratings and Reviews, to be clean, well-maintained (even if not shiny new) and have good service. My sweetie and I relate to the room more as a detail than an important part of our vacation to someplace we want to enjoy. The Opal is ideally located for driving or using SF's excellent public transit to get to the majority of museums, theater, and shopping districts. Parking at Opal is $$ (total) per night, but would be more than that in public and private parking lots. On our last day in SF, as we were checking out around 11:00AM, we asked if we could leave the car parked there(gratis) while we walked to Union Square, about 7 blocks away, to shop and eat. The desk clerk cheerfully OK'd that, then instantly showed us the best walking and bus routes before we could even ask him about them. We felt like he actually enjoyed helping us have a great time.
Our low(est) end room was small and smelled of smoke. This was OK tho', since I'm a smoker and had requested a smoking room. Bed was comfy and Wi-Fi hook-up was smooth. Some staff more cheerful than others, but all totally helpful and at least polite. Next time we visit SF, we'll stay at The Opal, and if we want better acommodations, I imagine the better rooms in the Opal will suffice.
trip with friends from out of state
- September 20, 2008
- Rated 4 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
The hotel is very nice-has been remodeled. No valet parking, but has parking for 28 bucks in a secure locked lot. area is kinda in the tenderloin district of SF. Would not go out @ night walking around even in a group. its about 7=8 blocks from union square. Hotel staff very helpful & nice. Continel. breakfast good. Mel's diner attached to hotel. movie theater next door. Maybe would stay again-rooms very nice, beds very comfy.