The Pickwick Hotel

The hotel is a bit old, but it's clean and the location is super convenient.

The location is fantastic, within walking distance to Union Square and close to the cable car stop. The hotel is a bit old, and personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the wooden smell, but airing out the room helped a little.

The hotel's location is excellent, with a large supermarket and many restaurants nearby. However, the soundproofing in the rooms is poor, and bottled water is not provided, so you'll need to bring your own.

Overall, the stay was good. It's located close to the BART station. When I arrived, I had trouble opening the shower as a part was damaged, which I reported to the front desk. The room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. I hope to receive my security deposit back. I would recommend it again, and for my first time in San Francisco, I would stay here again.

The room was a bit small, but thankfully the location is in a business center, yet it's quiet at night. It has a coffee machine and a particularly large fridge, giving it a feel of a star-rated hotel. My only issue was during check-in; I parked my car in an alley outside the hotel that was a no-parking zone. I was really anxious to drop off my luggage and move the car, but the two Chinese guests in front of me had some kind of issue and took forever, causing a significant delay. Luckily, I didn't get a fine. The front desk service was quite cold. While American service isn't as good as Japanese, this particular woman made me feel oppressed. Other staff were also cool, but didn't give off that same oppressive vibe. I'm not sure if it's the air of nobility that big city women carry, I can't quite pinpoint it. Overall, it was a very good stay. I even left an unprecedented $5 on the table as a tip for the cleaning lady.

Pros: Great central location with easy access to transportation. The hotel has key card access and a gym. Cons: The room facilities are a bit old, and there's no dedicated space for luggage. There are homeless people downstairs, but it's generally safe. Soundproofing is poor; street noise, especially loud cars, can be disruptive. The room lights are motion-sensor activated and turn off automatically. The bathroom ventilation doesn't work well. No complimentary bottled water. Breakfast is served at the restaurant next door, and tipping can sometimes lead to awkward situations.