I stayed at the Hyatt Embarcadero Wed. June 6 - Fri. June 8th on business for a conference rate of $200 (much less than the lowest $350 AAA rate I could find) booked through a special website. I must say that the hotel is large hotel with nice atrium in the middle with checkin on the second flor of the hotel with conference rooms on first level and below - setup is little strange. Strange meaning bars and main resturant on the same second level as checkin/registration desk and open air with rooms all facing inward. Very easy to get to from OAK airport using AirBART ($3 exact change each way) and BART train ($3.35 each way exact change or credit at tix machine) to the Embarcadero station stop. Now, on with my review.....
Checkin was breeaze with many checkin agents available, however not easy to switch rooms - at least for my conference and I am Platinum Passport level, so I was stuck with a third floor on the Market St. side standard room, and got to listen to the Market St buses idle all day & night, and saxophone musicians play the Godfather theme every single morning on the street at the crack of dawn.
Pros:
Early checkin was available
Can view hotel bill on room tv
Comfy beds with insulated walls- you do not hear your neighbors
Large tv's in room
iron and board in room
Good water pressure/hot water all times
Close to many restaurants for nice luches and dinners out
Cable line begins and ends right in front of hotel
Easy to get a cab
7-11 convenience store right across street for main entrance for snacks, water, gum, etc.
Starbucks directly across the street right next to the 7-11 cstore
Fast elevetors
Plentiful elevators - 6 if I remember correctly
10-15 minute walk to Union Square
Safe area to walk at night
Late checkout provided at checkin
Cons:
Expensive rooms
Maid came in room even when I put privacy card on door - luckily I was clothed and working at the desk
inernet access is $10 a day - 24 hour time begins when you activate
Expensive to drink and eat in hotel - better to walk to other places in area
Rooms are small for a Hyatt and the money
Staff not very friendly but efficient
Billing errors - I was charge for movies I did not order every nigh of my stay, but was corrected easily at front desk.
Lower floor rooms are very noisy through the window side of room
Bar was always closed - never any staff available in bar (many guests were complaining about bar being closed including some visitors meeting guests) NOTE: Bar on top floor of this hotel closed permanently at end of May.
Parking-Not sure about parking since I would not rent a car in SF unless paning to go out to wine country, but saw a logjam in front of hotel with some guests irriated in tie it took to get thier cars fro valet. I think hotel may be valet only also ( $30 - $50 per day and no in/out priviledges)
Lunch and dinner hotel food was not very good. Bfast was great.
Recommendations:
Stay somewhere else in Union Square area like the Westin for equal level of hotel rating or the Le Meridien near this Hyatt Emb.
Get a room on the highest floor possible above street noise
Do not get a room on the Market St side ) I believe room #'s that end in 01 - 12 are on that street. I was in Room # 308 which was not good due to street noise
Check your bill - mine had errors
Avoid breakfast in the hotel, great bfast food but pricey ($40 for buffet for one person) - Go to Max's Diner one block off Union Square for breakfast connected to the Maxwell Hotel (another review for me) on Geary St. instead
which is a 15 minute walk but worth it.
Bring ear plugs
Lunch and dinner food in hotel
I would not stay at this Hyatt again for business or personal travel.
That's all.
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