The last week of 2013 and I realized I still had a free night at Radisson from the 2012 1 + 1 promotion. There are two Radisson hotels in the San Francisco area with one at the airport and one at Fisherman’s Wharf. Of course, the hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf showed no availability. My wife said she did not want to go to San Francisco if we were only staying at the airport.
Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf = Club Carlson category-5 hotel award at 44,000 points per night. Rate range typically $130 to $260 per night.
Radisson San Francisco Airport Bay Front, Brisbane – Club Carlson Category 4 hotel award at 38,000 points per night. Rate Range typically $109 to $200 per night. This hotel is ten miles from downtown.
Then, when I checked again at noon on day of arrival, there was one award room available at Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf. The lowest room rate was $159 or about $185 after tax. I booked a room with two double beds.
Parking is $44.67 per night at the hotel. Over the past five years I have probably stayed 20 nights at hotels in the Fisherman’s Wharf area. I have never paid overnight parking. There is a street about three blocks from Radisson where parking is unmetered and my luck has always been to find a parking space there.
Radisson at the Wharf sign seen from Jefferson Street on the wharf side of the hotel. The four story older hotel building is large with 355 rooms in long hallways. The main entrance to the hotel is on the opposite side from the water. The property does not look like much on the outside, but a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2012 has upgraded the rooms and interior.
Wall size photo of Golden Gate Bridge is very cool. Kelley said the lights of the bridge in the dark room at night was like having a room nightlight.
The room had basic modern conveniences like flat screen TV, a work desk with outlets, coffee maker and closet with iron and board. The one issue for the room as seen in this photo is the TV is slightly obscured by the closet for viewing from the bed near the bathroom.
When we arrived the TV would not turn on. It had become unplugged and likely due to the previous guest moving the TV forward for viewing.
Rooms at this Radisson Hotel are three types:
- Deluxe Room
- Bay View Room
- Courtyard Room with balcony.
We stayed in a Deluxe Bay View room without a balcony.
View of Alcatraz Island from Radisson room.
A Bay View room facing Jefferson Street with a balcony is one of the best locations you can get in a San Francisco hotel room.
Radisson outdoor pool in an enclosed courtyard with a view of courtyard balcony rooms.
The fitness room is in a ground floor room by the pool (no photo).
There is a nicely decorated fire pit area in the courtyard.
I did not give much attention to the dining options for the hotel. Apparently there is no hotel restaurant and the adjacent Johnny Rocket’s is mentioned in the hotel for dining. There was a pizza delivery card in the room from a pizza place on Bay Street two blocks away. There are several fast-food places close by with Subway, 7-11, and McDonald’s within one block. In ‘n Out Burger is two blocks away. Safeway supermarket is past the Sheraton Hotel, opposite the Radisson. Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf offer dozens of dining establishments. My post last week covers the tourist area of Fisherman’s Wharf.
Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf lobby.
I love the location of the hotel with its San Francisco Bay views. There are few hotels in San Francisco that will place you this close to the bay.
From the waterfront beside the hotel on a clear day you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.
Or just picture the bridge from your bed.
*****
Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.
Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests.
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