‘My Favourite Hotel’ review – Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco

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• The Original David says:

  6 May6 May 05:15

  I’ve never seen the appeal of the Four Seasons. Limited global footprint, no loyalty benefits, the other guests are disproportionately irritating, and it seems there’s an expectation to always dress for business even when you’re on holiday. And that’s before we get onto the silly room rates and ancillary costs.

  I’ll take a Sofitel or decent CP any day…

  • Erico1875 says:

    6 May6 May 05:56

    I think I would prefer this series if it were all independent unique hotels rather than chain hotels

    • PAL says:

      6 May6 May 06:04

      I’m leaning this way too. Perhaps also unique locations. Still, I like this series.

      • Mike says:

        6 May6 May 07:17

        I love this series of articles

      • Rob says:

        6 May6 May 09:37

        You need a mix though. The Darjeeling, Perus and Outback ones were very interesting but not necessarily practical. Hilton Budapest, on the other hand, is something you can easily arrange and possibly even for free on points. citizenM was a good intro to a brand most of us have heard of but never tried.

    • Rhys says:

      6 May6 May 08:39

      Most of them are independent hotels! Only the last few have been chains.

      • Rob says:

        6 May6 May 09:25

        I want some chains in, though, because these are places where people can use their points. We are trying to keep a balance as best we can. The next two (which is as far ahead as we are) are a Fairmont and an independent, one in North America and one in Europe.

      • ankomonkey says:

        6 May6 May 13:34

        @Rob @Rhys Will there be a different theme once the hotel reviews end? For example, experiences (bought on points or otherwise)? Probably not of enough interest to write an article on, but I bungee-jumped for the first time in South Korea and have been hit with a stick during Zazen meditation in Japan. Let’s see who’s had the most bizarre experiences! But no showing off – it’s not who’s had the most expensive experience…

        • Rhys says:

          6 May6 May 13:45

          Not at the moment – we had interest from hundreds of people!

    • Darren says:

      6 May6 May 09:17

      I know what you mean, I prefer independent but my favourite hotels are mixed from a Peninsula to a small boutique place in the Italian Lakes. How you pick your number one is difficult and I don’t think I could, so many different aspects. Four Seasons can be very business focussed and stiff, but their resorts less so.

  • Rob says:

    6 May6 May 09:41

    I think you’d like it 🙂 Once you hit your mid 60’s the idea of a classy little flat in West London from where you can spend your days enjoying the best of cultural London will appeal greatly.

    Even better, I have the world’s most luxurious retirement home opening literally 2 minutes from my front door, if caviar for dinner every night in your 70s is your thing – https://www.auriens.com/

    • Michael C says:

      6 May6 May 10:39

      Love the idea of downsizing to a central London apartment later on. Midweek matinees and half-price tasting menus every week? Yes, please!

    • Novice says:

      6 May6 May 10:47

      Nothing wrong with luxury. I think the people complaining about it are the sort who care about other people’s opinions. I have stayed in a lot of 5* or 5*+ hotels and I dress how I want, nobody says anything. I love FS brand; they know how to deliver luxury without it being forced.

      Good review.

      • Lockdown Larry says:

        6 May6 May 12:39

        ” I have stayed in a lot of 5* or 5*+ hotels and I dress how I want, nobody says anything.”

        Good point.

        I turn up to breakfast in tracky Bs and slippers wherever I stay. Anyone who has a problem with that can suck my balls.

        Not sure why anyone would be bothered about getting a funny look off someone.

    • Rob says:

      6 May6 May 20:14

      Avon Gorge is now a Hotel du Vin! I stayed there a couple of times many moons ago, back when KPMG was in Clifton.

  • Nick M says:

    6 May6 May 10:14

    I personally like the mix so far…. would agree with the premise that it’s important to have point/non-point options, at different price points, and spread across the world! – It’s unlikely that I’ll be able to use this as a way to choose my next holidays, but it is giving inspiration and planting seeds…

  • TGLoyalty says:

    6 May6 May 10:15

    I’ve only been to a few FS including 10 Trinty which I really like. I have to say it’s not how I felt at all.

    I personally don’t dress anything other than casual/smart casual, dont do suit and tie unless it’s an occasion, and didn’t feel out of place at all.

    • The Original David says:

      6 May6 May 11:52

      What about the people having loud video calls in the lobby, talking to the staff like they own them, and furiously taking selfies from every angle? If I *didn’t* feel out of place, I’d want to take a good hard look at myself…

      Maybe I was unlucky with that particular FS, but I do think the brand attracts a certain demographic…

      • Rhys says:

        6 May6 May 11:59

        What FS was that?!

        • The Original David says:

          6 May6 May 15:10

          That particular one was Guangzhou

      • TGLoyalty says:

        6 May6 May 12:42

        All of the nicer places attract the odd instagram wanna be but at the end of the day its harmless fun most of the time.

        I’ve seen people talk down to staff at all ends of the spectrum so I don’t think FS is any different to a McDonalds in that regard. All we can do is treat people how we would want to be treated and call other people up on their behaviour if we think they are going to far.

• Wally1976 says:

  6 May6 May 07:34

  I’m enjoying reading these articles but, as a (career change) teacher with a wife who’s a nurse, I have to admit to being a little jealous of the folks who not only can afford these places but are able to visit regularly.

  • Jonty says:

    6 May6 May 07:54

    If you’ve been reading for a while you’ll know you can afford this kind of thing, albeit not regularly, and not this exact thing, even on a modest income

    • Rob says:

      6 May6 May 09:31

      We are mixing them as best we can, although realistically very cheap places do not inspire the sort of enthusiasm required to put pen to paper, even if clean and friendly.

      • Wally1976 says:

        6 May6 May 10:30

        Yes, fair point Rob.

    • Wally1976 says:

      6 May6 May 10:30

      Agreed, Jonty, through following this site we have been able to afford (using points gained through credit cards etc) far more than we otherwise would’ve been and I am very grateful for this :-).

      • Jonty says:

        6 May6 May 11:46

        I stumbled across this site when I realised we could go to Holiday Inns with swimming pools and nice breakfasts for not much more than we were spending on a Travelodge when visiting Thomasland in Tamworth with three pre-schoolers. While we don’t spend mega bucks, we fill up empty weekend space, feel a bit special – maybe not Four Seasons special – and usually eat and drink in the hotel, providing some marginal revenue. It’s a win all round.

  • The Savage Squirrel says:

    6 May6 May 13:26

    If anyone can afford this regularly then well done to them – I can afford it … but only occasionally and that’s fine too as it makes the experience more special.

    Wally, always worth remembering that the comments give a distorted view of people’s “average” hotel stay. People will quite happily write mentioning the time they stayed in the Waldorf Maldives, but tend not to mention the dozens of grinding nights at the Hilton Bracknell on some contractor job that got them there….

• AJA says:

  6 May6 May 08:25

  I was asked to change from seat 1F to 1A on a flight to Palma. When I got on board I realised it was because Michael Portillo wanted the privacy of an empty seat 1D while he sat in 1F next to the window.

  I kind of wish I hadn’t been so accommodating as he didn’t even have the courtesy to say thank you!. He just sat there in his red trousers and yellow linen jacket reading his railway guide. He didn’t even have the food or drink and was the first person off the plane.

  • Rhys says:

    6 May6 May 08:35

    If you were asked to move before boarding how would he have known it was you?!

    • AJA says:

      6 May6 May 09:01

      Rhys, he must have originally been allocated seat 1A. If someone else had been allocated that seat I would not have been re-allocated it by the check in staff as that would have entailed swapping with at least one other passenger in order for me to be put there. The Club cabin was otherwise fully occupied, seat 1D the only empty one. Also Seat 1A is normally the holy grail. I also doubt he would have chosen seat 1C as that is the most exposed seat on the plane. Also Seat 1A and 1C are blocked for Gold Card holders and I am a mere Silver so I would normally be reassigned to row 2.

    • Darren says:

      6 May6 May 09:06

      Because they were sat in 1A.

  • luckyjim says:

    6 May6 May 09:03

    The fact that you watched him closely enough to know what he did or didn’t eat suggests he was right to request a little more personal space.

    • AJA says:

      6 May6 May 09:26

      I didn’t observe him the entire flight but I also looked across to see who was in the seat I originally chose. That’s not being nosey, merely curious as to who was sitting there. As for not being served that too was obvious since the crew didn’t even approach him to ask him anything. Those two incidents took about 5 minutes out of the entire flight.

      • Novice says:

        6 May6 May 10:58

        Well honestly if you weren’t happy to change, why change? And if you agreed to the change, why do you care whoever sat in that seat? What’s the big deal. I don’t understand why people treat famous people as though they aren’t human.

        I had a seat next to Ben Fogle from Johannesburg to LHR and I only spoke to the guy once after we got to LHR and all stood up to get off. I didn’t even notice who was sat next to me. I’m sure he was happy to be sat with a person who minds their own business. He actually said hello himself at the end and then we had a chat about his tv shows which are good.

        • AJA says:

          6 May6 May 11:43

          I wasn’t totally happy to change but I don’t like to make a fuss and honestly the difference between seat 1A and 1F is minimal, apart from 1F to my mind (and plainly to Mr Portillo) being slighly more private. I actually choose 1F over 1A for that reason apart from the fact that I can’t usually choose 1A anyway not having the right colour FF card. In this instance check-in bamboozled me with the excuse they had already assigned my seat to another passenger!!!! I was flustered by that statement since I had already pre-printed my boarding card at home. Not sure what they would have done had I insisted on my original seat selection. I do however appreciate a thank you and an acknowledgement when I’ve done someone a favour. That is good manners, something in short supply from a lot of people.

        • Rhys says:

          6 May6 May 12:02

          I wonder if Portillo even knew, it whether Ba staff simply went ahead with the change given on the assumption he would appreciate the privacy? In which case, he may not even have known it was you!

        • Novice says:

          6 May6 May 12:18

          You’re right. Not all famous people are obnoxious. Every famous person I have ever met on my travels have all been good mannered people.

        • AJA says:

          6 May6 May 12:39

          @ Rhys. I had already printed my boarding pass at home for seat 1F. Normally online check-in will not let you choose you a seat that has been reserved by another passenger. Therefore he would have had to have specifically requested seat 1F at the check in counter. BA would have known that I was likely to turn up since I had already completed online check-in at home 24 hours previously and surely should also have told him that there was someone already in that seat when he presented himself at check-in? It is therefore reasonable to assume that the person sitting in the seat you were previously allocated would have originally been seated where you are now. Personally I would not even attempt to make such a request but that’s just me.

        • Rhys says:

          6 May6 May 13:27

          Yes, I understand. But staff are obviously allowed to re-arrange – I wonder if Portillo actually asked for it, or if the crew just sat him wherever he wanted without telling him it was already occupied?

          Not making excuses but there are a lot of assumptions about the whole process and it’s conceivable he wasn’t even made aware, or if he was that he knew you were the one who moved!

        • AJA says:

          6 May6 May 14:41

          @ Rhys I suppose it is possible that BA automatically reassigned him my seat without him knowing or they may have said “we’ve moved you, don’t worry about the other passenger, leave it to us to explain it to them” nudge, nudge, wink, wink. I seriously doubt he didn’t know though.

          How often do you not pre-choose your seat? BA makes money from people actually paying to reserve seats and the ability to choose your seat for free is a perk of both Silver and Gold status. I would be very surprised if he wasn’t Gold or even a premier status customer. Normally seats 1A and 1C are reserved for Gold status passengers and therefore to specifically not be in those seats is unusual. I normally don’t even try to select them as they are usually blocked as I don’t have the right status to be pre-allocated them.

          As for staff re-arranging seating that is usually for operational reasons. What operational reason is there for moving a passenger from one side of the cabin to the identical seat on the other side (apart from in my case having put someone else in my seat before hand)? As I say I do wonder what they would have done if I had insisted on my original seat.

        • Rhys says:

          6 May6 May 14:52

          It depends, doesn’t it? Don’t forget there is ‘Premier’ status above Gold. Once you get there the airline works with incredible flexibility (as I understand it). Either way, even if he does know that someone is moved, it’s not clear if he would know who exactly!

        • Lady London says:

          7 May7 May 08:12

          BA defo does privilege the famous. They wouldn’t be the only airline to…. I’ll bet most of them do.

          Only lasts so long as you are powerful, famous etc. I still remember the second ‘first lady’ of a very popular 80’s soap having a hissy fit in SFO because she’s been used to having her nice seat comped by BA… But by then the soap had waned.

          When I worked briefly in a trendy industry involving worldwide known people I was amazed at the corporate fare scales BA and the major US airlines offered us for destinations key to that industry. Previously I’d had access to all manner of corporate deals for many years but what’s offered to anyone who can put someone well-known or especially trendy on an aircraft shocked me. And that’s in addition to famous individuals being comped.

          Not a stretch at all to imagine they put Mr. P. straight into his preferred seat without even telling him. The only thing that would have stopped BA doing that would have been if someone even more famous or powerful was sitting there (currently famous trumps powerful unless top end of powerful I think). Clearly the OP wasn’t that :-). All BAU for an intelligent airline.

  • TGLoyalty says:

    6 May6 May 10:21

    Next time if asked always ask exactly why.

    I’ll swap if I see it’s a family/couple split up or something but never just someone wants my seat instead of theirs.

    • Lady London says:

      6 May6 May 11:23

      I’d swop if I could get the seat reservation fee refunded.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      6 May6 May 12:07

      In my experience they then try to talk t each other between seats or across you.But agree if I had paid for a seat (I never do) I wouldn’t move at all unless that was refunded

      • Novice says:

        6 May6 May 14:57

        Personally I would complain if this happened if I wasn’t wanting to swap. Otherwise I would swap. I can’t count how many times ppl have been nice enough to swap with me because I only sit at the window seat and otherwise my OCD makes me dizzy.

        I always ask nicely and explain why I can’t take any other seat. I try not to pay for seats possibly because I have never had an issue with ppl. I do only ask solo travellers though if I have to but now my TA seems to always find me a window seat.

    • Doug M says:

      6 May6 May 12:15

      The great seat swap debate. I’ve been in some interesting ones. Guarantee a refusal by parking yourself there before you’ve asked.

  • mvcvz says:

    6 May6 May 21:25

    Based upon your post, Portillo is a billion times more interesting than you. So IMHO he deserved the seat.

• AJA says:

  6 May6 May 08:49

  @ The Original David. I’m with you on dressing down on holiday. I am on holiday and usually it’s sunny and hot so there is no appeal in wearing long trousers to dinner, let alone for breakfast.

  The hotels I choose recognise that what you wear does not imply that you are a yob. A pair of Bermuda shorts, floral shirt and flip flops combo are perfectly acceptable attire for breakfast. For dinner, the only difference is an upgrade of the footwear to sandals or deck shoes.

  I will often travel dressed in a similar way (though never in flip flops), I’ve lost count of the number of disapproving looks I’ve had from ground staff at the CE/CW area as I walk towards the check in desks. It’s frankly ridiculous.

  Another criteria I have for hotels is the breakfasts they serve and whether the orange juice is freshly squeezed. I choose to ignore any hotel that can only be bothered to serve pasteurised juice out of a carton.

  I also tend to stay for at least 10 days whenever I am on holiday and it appears I am in the minority as many guests seems to disappear after 3 or 4 days.

  • Harry T says:

    6 May6 May 09:27

    To be honest, a lot of people in fancy hotels dress badly. There’s a popular misconception that rich people dress well…

    • Wally1976 says:

      6 May6 May 10:34

      I initially misread that as “people in fancy dress hotels”!

    • Novice says:

      6 May6 May 11:10

      😂 so true. I once decided to have breakfast at Mandarin Oriental in my Pjs as it was after a flight and a bit of sleep and I think I must have been dressed more stylish than a lot of people who were at breakfast.

      • The Savage Squirrel says:

        6 May6 May 13:35

        On the famous theme, the worst dressed person I have ever seen at a hotel breakdast was Ronnie O’Sullivan – looked dog rough. Fair play to him though; this was in his younger days when he may well have had a “heavy” previous night judging from appearance, and he was friendly and polite to everyone who spoke to him.

        • Novice says:

          6 May6 May 14:50

          😂 at least he was polite.

    • ankomonkey says:

      6 May6 May 13:45

      Agree with this. I dress like a tramp and assume people think I’m one of those rich guys who don’t care how they dress. I’m actually a poor guy who doesn’t care how they dress 😉

      • Novice says:

        6 May6 May 14:51

        😂

  • Darren says:

    6 May6 May 09:35

    Your attire seems ok to me, sounds quite nice actually especially in sunnier parts. Is it a linen shirt, shorts made from recycled plastic and Todd’s boat shoes? Then you’d fit in perfectly.

    • AJA says:

      6 May6 May 09:49

      🙂 No linen but not far off…

  • LB says:

    6 May6 May 11:17

    Flip flops should only ever be worn by the pool or on the beach. Dirty socks with sliders are another pet hate.

    • Harry T says:

      6 May6 May 11:38

      Saw someone in Newcastle wearing flip flops, shorts and a t shirt the other day… it was nine degrees and he was outside. Saw another guy smoking topless outside his house. And I live in the nice part of town.

      I haven’t quite assimilated into the North East fully yet, but my understanding is that if the sun is actually out, all the gloves (and tops) are off 😂

      • Sandra B says:

        6 May6 May 13:10

        Across the border it’s called “Taps Aff” and provides a considerable amount of hilarity for those of us who prefer to reserve such dress code for the pool or beach with appropriate temperatures. I should point out that if I did appear like that I would be arrested, and disowned! I also have a t-shirt emblazoned “Snobs R Us” which is very tongue in cheek. We need some amusement in these trying times. Enjoying all this site has to offer and the help it has given.

        • Harry T says:

          6 May6 May 17:35

          @Sandra
          My girlfriend is Scottish and I have been informed regarding the joys of “Taps aff”! 😂

• Mark says:

  6 May6 May 09:04

  We stayed in the Four Seasons SF on our last trip there, and I’m afraid we were disappointed. It felt very functional, not luxurious, and the public spaces were more like an office building than a five star hotel. The entrance arrangements are terrible, with a long walk through a corridor from Market Street (no doorman usually), then an elevator to the lobby, then change to another for the rooms. Meanwhile as you can see from the pics the drive entrance feels like a sketchy underground car park! I will say that the room was a good size, as was the bathroom, and the location is fine but there are way more characterful options in the city.

• BSI1978 says:

  6 May6 May 09:36

  Review reads ok, currently booked to head to San Fran for the first time next April all being well, think it is going to be colder than I originally surmised but ho hum.

  Without wishing to deflect from this review, can anyone recommend a hotel reasonably well located but perhaps offering a slightly less formal atmosphere than the Four Seasons seems to imply? Not necessarily ‘cheaper’, just somewhere equidistant to Union Street & the sites with some outdoor space (if possible!).

  Cheers

  • Richard says:

    6 May6 May 10:14

    Stayed at both the new Virgin Hotel and the SF Palace (Marriott Luxury Collection) last year. Would return to the latter in a heart beat – fantastic building and interiors, recently modernised, staff great. Quality hotel but not stuffy.

  • Reeferman says:

    6 May6 May 10:46

    I’ve had a couple of great stays at The Vitale – at the Embarcadero.
    Some rooms have terrific views – and I remember some very enjoyable breakfasts there too.

• Steve says:

  6 May6 May 09:52

  I would much prefer the Intercontinental a block or so away on Howard St. A bright modern hotel with great staff and an easy walk to most of downtown, including The BART, MUNI and cable cars.

  • Rob says:

    6 May6 May 10:09

    Before it got cancelled, we had booked the Argonaut for Easter. Because of our young kids we wanted something nearer the harbour than downtown and multiple people recommended this place. It is next to the chocolate factory and many rooms have bridge and harbour views.

    • Michael says:

      6 May6 May 11:07

      That is a great location Rob. We stayed just along the road in the Sheraton. Not so children friendly but if you do reschedule your trip you need to The Buena Vista for an Irish coffee.

• Peter K says:

  6 May6 May 11:53

  While not a hotel I personally would choose, this is a good addition to the Favourite Hotels series. Well written, explains what makes it special to the person and, for a similar minded person, a good reference point.

  I have a friend who always dresses well when going out, even to the supermarket, so something like this would suit (no pun intended) him and his wife perfectly, as it brings them pleasure to see others dressed smartly as well.

  I personally like to be casual during the day, but smarter in the evening to make it feel more special to me.

  We are all different, which is why this series is great. Thank you Rob and the contributers.

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