San Francisco had been at the top of my list of travel destinations for years so when I finally decided to take the trip, I took my San Francisco travels seriously.
The purpose was a much-needed girls getaway — two friends requiring a long weekend away from reality. We spent a few days researching several San Francisco hotels – large chains and small boutiques – in Union Square. Our needs were simple: A clean place, hip, fun and convenient to the sights we wanted to visit.
When I came across the fabulously-named Hotel Diva and the equally fabulous nightly rate, we booked our 4-day getaway immediately.
Location: Hotel Diva, which is part of the Personality Hotels group, is located just outside Union Square. It’s close to many high-end shops and a wide range of restaurants, from small sushi joints to chic bars. The Powell Street train stop was only a few blocks away, which allowed us to hop on a train or streetcar very easily. A few locals we talked to informed us that our hotel was not far from the Tenderloin, which is known to be a dodgy area. We never found ourselves there, but did notice that just a few blocks up the street, the neighborhood did start to deteriorate. However, we never felt unsafe coming back to the hotel in the evenings or at any other point.
Cleanliness: Full disclosure: I’m a neat freak. When I read that Hotel Diva had been renovated just a few years ago, I felt a bit more confident in our hotel choice. When we arrived, we both got nervous. The exterior of the building isn’t very impressive. It’s an old brick building in the middle of the city, so there isn’t a whole lot to admire. However, the entryway is slick and once inside, you’ll forget about the lackluster exterior of the building. It was no way indicative of what our room would turn out to look like.
The bedding, towels, carpeting and window treatments were all spotless throughout our visit. The shower and sink were both sparkling when we arrived and throughout our stay. Even all the sand we dragged in from our visit to the Pacific Ocean was promptly vacuumed up the next morning.
Staff: When two weary travelers (us) arrived at Hotel Diva around 10 p.m., we were greeted by a friendly desk attendant who provided a great map of the city. When we weren’t sure the best way to get to Oakland for an A’s game, the staff was happy to give us a thorough explanation of the BART train to take. Housekeepers tended to come early, but were more than happy to come back when we asked. My travel companion lost, but later found, her wallet on our last day. The concierge helped her scour the immediate area before we realized it was left at a restaurant the day before.
Room: To save money on hotels, we decided to share a hotel room. However, I wouldn’t recommend sharing a room at this hotel if you’re traveling with someone you don’t know well or will easily disagree with. There’s truly nowhere to hide. Except, maybe the bathtub. It’s easy to see that the hotel designer had a great time creating these rooms. The furniture, bedding and lighting are all streamlined and very hip.
If you care about the view outside your window, it’s best to ask the front desk for a room facing the street. The room we were given faced another building, but fortunately the windows were frosted for privacy. However, the one drawback to frosted windows is the lack of natural light in the room.
In-room service: We didn’t order room service, but we did dine at the restaurant next door, Colibri, which provides room service to Hotel Diva guests. The Mexican cuisine was tasty and light enough for a late dinner on our last night in town. Make sure to order the guacamole – they make it at the table!
Hotel amenities: Remember, Hotel Diva is sleek, but still basic. The hotel provides bath supplies, free Wi-Fi throughout the building, complimentary use of Internet lounges, free use of the fitness area and same-day laundry and dry cleaning.
Overall, the Hotel Diva is perfect for a short stay. The rooms are small and don’t offer a ton of luxuries, but if you’re looking for location and chic San Fran surroundings (without paying a fortune), Hotel Diva is perfect.
*Photo courtesy of Hotel Diva Rien van Rijthoven © 2009 Personality Hotels
© Cheapflights Ltd Jennifer Jope
