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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Hey there! (repost)
DH and I are trying to decide where we are going to stay for our 1 year anni in October.
We're almost 100% sure it will be in San Fransisco
with day trips to Napa wineries, etc.
Our TA suggested the Sheraton in Fishermans Wharf.
I know a Hyatt also exists there -
1) TA says Fishermans Wharf is a better place to stay (more exciting, things to do at night) than Nob Hill/Union Square. For those of you gals who have been there; do u think that this is true?
2)If your vote is for FW - how is the Sheraton?
3) Is it better to take day trips from SF to the wineries - or is it better to drive there, rent a car, and stay at a B&B?
I have never been there so I'm not sure how it all flows.
My TA also recommended flying down to Santa Monica (to save the 5 hour drive) and stay at either cosa del mar, shutters or the lows. Has anyone ever heard of these places on the beach? She said it would be awesome to
check out Rodeo Dr., etc.
Any in put would be helpful towards planning our trip.
Thank you!
Kara
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Posted 8/24/06 1:40 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
I've been to SF many times, but never stayed in the city. my sister lives in the Bay Area so I stayed with her and took day trips there. I LOVE SF! what a gorgeous city! regarding Fisherman's Warf, it is awesome and I would definitely recommend staying near there. there are tons of great seafood places and you HAVE to have clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl!! It's just the BEST! 
if you're really into wine, I would stay in Napa vs. just taking a day trip there.
I have no opinion on Santa Monica since I was only there once for lunch during a business trip to Orange Co.... it was on the way back to LAX. it seemed nice, but IMO, Northern Cal is absolutely amazing and much nicer than S Cal.
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| Posted 8/24/06 1:49 PM |
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salumunz
Chloe
Member since 1/06 1554 total posts
Name:
Patty
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
I stayed at the Loews in Santa Monica a month ago. It's gorgeous and a short ride from LA if you wanted to hit that up as well.
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:27 PM |
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MsMBV
:P
Member since 5/05 28602 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
I like the Marriott at Fisherman's Wharf.
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:27 PM |
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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Fun thing to do- go to the Tiki bar in the basement of the fairmont hotel- it's totally fun!
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:32 PM |
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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Thank you for your responses so far..but I just spoke to my father and now i'm Really confused.
He said you do not want to stay in Fisherman's Wharf. He said it is better to stay in Union Square, in terms of nightlife, things to do etc. Basically, a trolley can get you into FW easily and it's better to stay there.
Is that right?
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:36 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by DKF1016
Thank you for your responses so far..but I just spoke to my father and now i'm Really confused.
He said you do not want to stay in Fisherman's Wharf. He said it is better to stay in Union Square, in terms of nightlife, things to do etc. Basically, a trolley can get you into FW easily and it's better to stay there.
Is that right?
the trolley’s are plentiful and very easy to navigate. if your dad stayed there, he would know best.
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:40 PM |
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RobeyMuse
my little man
Member since 5/05 1350 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
It depends on what you want to do. We stayed in Union Square at the Cliff Hotel. It was awesome. There is an Asia de Cuba there. We found there was a ton to do around there, shopping, Chinatown, nightlife that we walked to.
I also loved FW but we only did a day trip there. We took a day trip to Sausalito (across the Golden Gate Bridge). When we went to Napa we drove there and stayed in a B&B for a few days.
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| Posted 8/24/06 2:54 PM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
I lived in the city for 9 years, and I will try to bump up a long post I wrote on the travel board for you about things to do.
I would definitely stay in Nob Hill or Union Square over Fisherman's Wharf. At the risk of offending people, I find the Wharf to be a cheezy tourist spot. While I am sure any Sheraton is nice, the area around Nob Hill is beautiful and Union Square is also very nice. If you are looking to do shopping, most of the nice stores are in the Union Square area. You can always take a cable car (a San Franciscan NEVER calls them trolleys  ) to the wharf for the day if you want to explore that area. Regardless of which location you choose, there is a good amount of public transportation available at either spot.
As far as wine country, it is definitely do-able as a day trip. With LA traffic, I think Santa Monica is more like a 7 hour drive and honestly, there is so much to see and do in the Bay Area that I would do Santa Monica as a seperate trip another time.
Message edited 8/24/2006 3:06:33 PM.
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| Posted 8/24/06 3:02 PM |
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Smileyd17
kids
Member since 5/05 20997 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
i was just there..I stayed at Hyatt in Fishermans Warpf(sp?)
It was about 2 blocks from there..nice walking around and shopping.
VERY nice rooms
ETA: I said Nice rooms but I wouldnt go back to Fishermans Warf..I didnt care for it. BORING!!!
Message edited 8/24/2006 3:37:17 PM.
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| Posted 8/24/06 3:04 PM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by dpli
At the risk of offending people, I find the Wharf to be a cheezy tourist spot. While I am sure any Sheraton is nice, the area around Nob Hill is beautiful and Union Square is also very nice.
I was going to say the same thing. The cable cars are very efficient and will take you anywhere. The Warf was nice for an afternoon...no reason to stay there, imo.
For day trips - definitely Napa and/or Sonoma (which I actually liked more than Napa)...and most definitely, without a doubt, take a trip up US1 to Muir Woods. Absolutely breathtaking in every sense of the word.
Have fun!
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| Posted 8/24/06 3:19 PM |
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LauderLady
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/05 380 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
DH and I went to SF for our Honeymoon. We stayed at the Handlery Union Square. It was a great location! There was a cable car stop on our corner. We were a block away from some great stores. You can really get anywhere you need to go with no problem!
We did a day trip to Sonoma and I also recommend the Muir wood! The Wharf is nice way to spend a day.
You are going to have a great time..there is so much to do!
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:06 PM |
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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
THANK YOU everyone - you're so helpful and kind! 
It looks like there is A LOT to do in San Francisco and it's all accessible with the help of those "cable cars"  LOL...
So you think it's best to do Santa Monica as a separate trip. It does seem that way.
And it does seem that we'd like staying in Union Square better; my father said Nob Hill was more of a residential area. He recommended St. Francis Drake or the Westin St. Francis.
we wanted to go from Saturday to Saturday.
do you think that might be too much time?
I'm not sure how to plan it now because if we were going to go to the wineries and stay at a B&B then we might rent a car - which would be on the weekend - I read this was a bad time to go (midweek is better). Maybe we should just do a day trip.
So far this is what we've decided on doing:
Alcatraz/Peer walking around
Winery
Salsalito/Muir Woods
more walking around day 4
then if we were going to go to
Santa MONICA
we'd spend 3 nights there
walking around etc. We'd be staying on the beach. TA said it will be more slow paced..
Message edited 8/24/2006 4:37:30 PM.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:13 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by DKF1016
So far this is what we've decided on doing:
Alcatraz/Peer walking around
Winery
Salsalito/Muir Woods
more walking around day 4
then if we were going to go to
Santa Barbara
we'd spend 3 nights there
walking around etc. We'd be staying on the beach. TA said it will be more slow paced..
I heard Santa Barbara is really nice and they have great spas there (that celebs go to). they're very $$ though!
Honestly, a whole week in SF might be overkill. there is so much that CA has to offer. and def check out Sausalito. what a great little town!
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:17 PM |
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LauderLady
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/05 380 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by DKF1016
So far this is what we've decided on doing:
Alcatraz/Peer walking around
Winery
Salsalito/Muir Woods
more walking around day 4
then if we were going to go to
Santa Barbara
we'd spend 3 nights there
walking around etc. We'd be staying on the beach. TA said it will be more slow paced..
I heard Santa Barbara is really nice and they have great spas there (that celebs go to). they're very $$ though!
Honestly, a whole week in SF might be overkill. there is so much that CA has to offer. and def check out Sausalito. what a great little town!
My DH and I spent 8 dyas and it was a bit much. I was glad to have some down time after our wedding, so I didn't mind. After a couple of days I was like "Ok, we have a China town and all this shopping in NY". I think 4 or 5 days would be good.
I haven't been to Santa Barbara, but we did do Santa Monica a few years back for a couple of days and had fun.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:23 PM |
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LauderLady
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/05 380 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by DKF1016
And it does seem that we'd like staying in Union Square better; my father said Nob Hill was more of a residential area. He recommended St. Francis Drake or the Westin St. Francis.
We wanted to stay at the West St. Francis...it looked really nice, but there was a HUGE hotel strike 2 years ago and that hotel was affected, so we decided on the Handlery.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:26 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
we went to San Fran for the first 2 nights of our honeymoon on our way to Hawaii. We stayed in the hyatt at fishermans warf. Loved ths city.
My DH wanted to see Alcatraz and we got there on a Monday it was booked till the NEXT Tuesday like a WEEK and a day LATER! We got very lucky and bought stand by tickets. We got on that day. If we didn't the tickets were refundable. SO if you can order them in advance before you go definetly a good idea!
Here is my pics from my honeymoon trip!
http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic.aspx?ID=202459
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:33 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by DKF1016
Hey there! (repost)
DH and I are trying to decide where we are going to stay for our 1 year anni in October.
We're almost 100% sure it will be in San Fransisco
with day trips to Napa wineries, etc.
Our TA suggested the Sheraton in Fishermans Wharf.
I know a Hyatt also exists there -
1) TA says Fishermans Wharf is a better place to stay (more exciting, things to do at night) than Nob Hill/Union Square. For those of you gals who have been there; do u think that this is true?
2)If your vote is for FW - how is the Sheraton?
3) Is it better to take day trips from SF to the wineries - or is it better to drive there, rent a car, and stay at a B&B?
I have never been there so I'm not sure how it all flows.
My TA also recommended flying down to Santa Monica (to save the 5 hour drive) and stay at either cosa del mar, shutters or the lows. Has anyone ever heard of these places on the beach? She said it would be awesome to
check out Rodeo Dr., etc.
Any in put would be helpful towards planning our trip.
Thank you!
Kara
DH and I went last summer. We stayed at the Hyatt Embarcardo which is in the business district. We took the trolleys everywhere we needed to go. It's a quieter area then the Fisherman's Wharf one and more adult-filled.
We rented a car for the last 2 days and visited Napa. We were able to visit 3 winerys in a day trip as well as go to Copia, the food and wine museum.
I highly recommend visiting Copia, it was great! My favorite vineyard was the Robert Mondavi one. The tour there is great, they only take 15 people and it's very detailed and you get a nice wine tasting at the end with your tour guide. Sign up in advance to guarantee a spot.
We stayed a full 7 days in San Francisco and had plenty to do until the last day. We spent a day in Napa and a day visiting Muir Woods, Sausalito, and driving up the coast (it was so beautiful.)
I love SF, I want to move there, it was just so beautiful and I loved the weather. Have fun!
Message edited 8/24/2006 4:40:15 PM.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:36 PM |
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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by DKF1016
So far this is what we've decided on doing:
Alcatraz/Peer walking around
Winery
Salsalito/Muir Woods
more walking around day 4
then if we were going to go to
Santa Barbara
we'd spend 3 nights there
walking around etc. We'd be staying on the beach. TA said it will be more slow paced..
I heard Santa Barbara is really nice and they have great spas there (that celebs go to). they're very $$ though!
Honestly, a whole week in SF might be overkill. there is so much that CA has to offer. and def check out Sausalito. what a great little town!
aaah I made a mistake - I meant Santa Monica (LA area)
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:37 PM |
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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by LauderLady
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
Posted by DKF1016
So far this is what we've decided on doing:
Alcatraz/Peer walking around
Winery
Salsalito/Muir Woods
more walking around day 4
then if we were going to go to
Santa Barbara
we'd spend 3 nights there
walking around etc. We'd be staying on the beach. TA said it will be more slow paced..
I heard Santa Barbara is really nice and they have great spas there (that celebs go to). they're very $$ though!
Honestly, a whole week in SF might be overkill. there is so much that CA has to offer. and def check out Sausalito. what a great little town!
My DH and I spent 8 dyas and it was a bit much. I was glad to have some down time after our wedding, so I didn't mind. After a couple of days I was like "Ok, we have a China town and all this shopping in NY". I think 4 or 5 days would be good.
I haven't been to Santa Barbara, but we did do Santa Monica a few years back for a couple of days and had fun.
Hey I meant to say Santa Monica - where did you stay and what did you do in Santa Monica? The 3 nights there - TA suggested either 1) Casa del mar 2) The shutters 3) the loews.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:42 PM |
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DKF1016
"I got the Sugar" ..:)
Member since 5/05 1252 total posts
Name:
Gonnacatchapeacock
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Also, for those of you who rented a car, at what point in the trip did you rent it? I heard parking is very expensive. When you say drive up the coast - is this by a tour or by rental car? I heard that there are tours for almost anything you want to do or see. When would renting a car be necessary or worthwhile?
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:45 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by DKF1016
Also, for those of you who rented a car, at what point in the trip did you rent it? I heard parking is very expensive. When you say drive up the coast - is this by a tour or by rental car? I heard that there are tours for almost anything you want to do or see. When would renting a car be necessary or worthwhile?
I would not rent one until you're leaving SF. there is no need for a car and yes, parking is $$$$$! that much I do know about. but maybe your hotel would offer free parking.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:52 PM |
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june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Overnight parking at our hotels EVEN FOR GUESTS was 26.00
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:54 PM |
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charon54
My two boys!
Member since 5/05 7279 total posts
Name:
Rebecca
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
Posted by june262004
Overnight parking at our hotels EVEN FOR GUESTS was 26.00
Ours also, in fact it might have been more. We only parked overnight for two nights, that's why we didn't rent a car the rest of the time.
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| Posted 8/24/06 4:56 PM |
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Danamz
LIF Adult
Member since 6/06 1978 total posts
Name:
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Re: Need help deciding on where to stay/what to do in San Francisco for 1 year anniversary
I have stayed at both Union Square (Hotel Nikko) and Fisherman's Wharf (Hyatt) and liked Union square better. They are also not very far from eachother - you can go back and forth easily.
May I recommend if you do go to the vinyards, to stay at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and tell them it is your 1 year.
We stopped here on our way back from Hawaii on our honeymoon this June and it was the best experience. Not only are is it a great hotel, but just because we were on our HM they ugraded us to their nicest sweet, and catered to our every need.
Have fun wherever you go!
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| Posted 8/24/06 5:02 PM |
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