The lobby and hallways of the hotel live up to the Palace name. We had an interior room on the 5th floor which was spacious enough for 2 girls on a weekend getaway. The room was clean and well-maintained, as was the bathroom.
We LOVED that BART was steps from the hotel entrance and the location of the hotel to Union Square (and all it has to offer) was ideal. The staff was courteous enough however I was disappointed that the concierge couldn't recommend a sports apparel/running apparel store nearby (and then we happened to stumble upon a huge "Sports Basement" at 5th and Market, just a few streets over from the hotel).
And now for the not-so-great aspects of the hotel:
The walls in the room were PAPER THIN! We could hear every word of every conversation of the guests next door, and boy did they have some long conversations. You could hear makeup containers opening and closing in the bathroom, while sitting in the bedroom, even with the bathroom door closed. Some soundproofing in the hotel would be great - it was really difficult to get a good night's sleep.
Lastly, the fact that they charge for internet access in the guest rooms is just so inconvenient and outdated, especially since you can get free internet down the street at Starbucks or even ON THE STREET from places like Chase bank. Even Sears Fine Food (a fantastic restaurant off Union Square which has been "untouched for 70 years" offers free wifi!) Not only does the Palace charge for internet access, but they have a tiered plan - 24 hours/48 hours/72 hours and then you have to specify if you want regular or "dedicated" access (which I'm assuming is supposed to be faster since it's more expensive). Even lower and mid-tier hotels offer complementary wifi from guest rooms.
Overall, the stay was pleasant but given the paper thin walls and the lack of free internet access, I would consider other hotels in the area before returning to the Palace.
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