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TRIP REPORT: Polishing Silver – The Intercontinental San Francisco (Howard Street)

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The Intercontinental San Francisco (Howard Street) and trying out the new BART trains
Polishing Silver

It’s time to head to downtown San Francisco and experience a new Intercontinental Hotel for me – the Intercontinental San Francisco (as opposed to the one on the Nob Hill). How does it stack up?

And yes, I included a transit adventure segment in this. Enjoy the BART!

San Francisco Trip Report "Polishing Silver" Trip Report

In this Tier Point-laden adventure

You join me as I navigate the AirTrain to the BART… as I had fun with the shuttle bus earlier.

a building with a metal structure and a sign
And if you think I was heading out to this to meet an UberX the night before, you’ve got another thought coming.

The AirTrain dropped me off at the Garage G/BART stop, and I paused to fill up my Clipper Card.

In the past, I had a plastic Clipper Card. However, I converted it to a pass in Apple Wallet some time ago. That was useful, as I was able to refill the card from within Apple Wallet.

a map on a wall
Find yourself. Go. It’s a mental challenge.

However, don’t try to download the Clipper App if your Apple accounts are based outside the USA – the app is geo-locked.

Let me slow-hand clap that one. That’s a complete clever out of ten. You design a transit app, then lock it so visitors can’t access it.

Please show me the logic behind that working, because I still am trying to work out the thought process.

a escalator going up to a building
Going down

With my Apple wallet clipper card touched in, I headed downstairs, and a train was pulling out. Perfect timing.

a train in a station
Or was it a Millbrae train arriving?

a subway station with a train

At least the views were good.

a view of a city from a train station

I sighed and found a place to perch, noticing that trains on this section of the BART were the new ones.

a train at a station

Eventually, a train to Richmond appeared – that would take me downtown.

a train with blue seats

Instead of the Retrofuturism of the Rohr A and B type trains, there were ones by Bombardier/Alston instead (creatively called the D and E type). I miss the A-type ones in particular- but these new trains have been designed by someone … who designed trains for a living, with them optimised for standing space, rather than seated space. There are plenty of space bikes too (although don’t put them in the first car, as there was a constant reminder from the operator).

a blue seats on a train a train with blue seats and people sitting on the floor a person sitting on a subway car

a screen on a wall
And adaptive wayfinding

Passing out of the airport grounds, there was a little ramp action – always good to see.

airplanes in a tarmac an airplane parked in a terminal an airport with planes on the ground

The timings haven’t sped up much, with it taking around 40 minutes or so to get from the airport to Powell Street. At least parts of the route are overground.

a group of multicolored buildings a city with many houses and trees a street with cars and buildings on it
Even if it’s grey and wet. 

Exiting Powell Street station, I made a beeline to drop off my rucksack, along with other things I didn’t need at the Intercontinental San Francisco.

a person walking up stairs

Intercontinental San Francisco

a group of plants in front of a building

 

a building with a parking garage and cars parked on the side of the road

a building with glass windows a building with glass windows

This is a “new” property to me, in the sense this is the first time I’ve stayed at this one (with my normal Intercontinental hotel being the Mark Hopkins on Nobb Hill).

a tall building with many windows
A little different from the usual.

I visited here in 2008 when I was a lot younger, a lot more foolish, and a lot more budget-limited.

Its location is useful – as it’s next to the Muscone Convention Centre West. Those who know will know this as home to many Apple events in the past (things like WWDC). It’s two blocks away from Powell Station – although Google Maps insisted I took the “back route” in the building, as opposed to walking on the main roads.

I was able to drop my bag off to explore a few bits of San Francisco in the rain, popping by Castro and Japantown

a sidewalk with a sign and people walking on it
The Castro Theatre and Hot Cookie. 

a display of shoes on shelves
Sigh. Good luck with me tottering around in those heel heights these days.

a group of toy airplanes in boxes
Model and toy aircraft!!! 

a crosswalk with a rainbow colored crosswalk
Crossing in Castro. 

a sign on a building
A truth. 

cars parked cars on a sidewalk
Nearing Japantown

a stuffed animals on a display case
My Neighbor Totoro and a Catbus.

a circular tower with a statue on top
Japantown Pagoda 

It also helps there’s a Daiso there too.

a store with shelves of food items a stack of plates on a shelf a group of wooden boxes

When I returned to the Intercontinental, I was able to collect my bag and check-in.

a lobby with a wall and a railing

I had booked a City View room, which was upgraded to a higher level. It was confirmed that my IHG Amanbassdor 2-4-1 voucher has been applied to the stay – with only one night to be charged.

I was offered a late checkout (which I couldn’t take advantage of) and a hotel credit of $20 for the stay as part of my Ambassador privileges

However, a $200 holding charge was added to the room too. It’s amazing how those things climb.

With that, I headed upstairs to the 29th floor, passing through the reception area.

a tiled floor in a restaurant a bar with chairs and a counter a group of people in a room a table with chairs in a room a black piano with silver balls on the floor

With a tap of my keycard, it was time to go up.

an elevator doors in a building

a close up of a elevator panel

From the lifts, it was a short walk to the room.

a hallway with elevator doors and a blue rug
a long hallway with a carpeted floor
Taken on a very different day. 

a city with many buildings
For starters, it wasn’t throwing it down. 

Heading into the room, it’s a wonderfully bright room. Whilst the colour palette is muted, the natural light coming into the room was welcome – even on a wet day.

a bed with white sheets and a lamp in a hotel room a bedroom with a bed and a chair and a window

Of course, this made for excellent views at night… and as the sun rose.

a city at night with rain drops

a city at night with lights a city at night with lights a city at night with a body of water in the distance a city skyline at night a sun shining over a city a city with many buildings and a hill in the background a cityscape at night with a sunset

a city with many buildings and a body of water

a window with a book on a table

Dominating the room was a king bed – and yes, it was high enough, I felt like I needed a vaulting horse to climb onto it, It was firm enough to comfortable, yet not feel like you were sleeping on a rock, with a duvet/comforter like top.

a bedroom with a bed and a chair a bed with white sheets and a lamp on the side of it

I’m a sucker for a duvet/comforter so that’s an instant win.

There are also USB-A and mains outlets by the bed on both sides- another good thing to see, as we all love charging our devices by our bed and not away from the tables.

a phone on a nightstand next to a bed a close up of a plug  a black alarm clock on a glass table

Next to the bed was a bucket seat and ottoman – good for spending time writing and sometimes looking out at the window on the world.

a chair and ottoman in a room

Speaking of the desk Along the wall to the left of the entrance was an end-to-end desk. Perfect to dump stuff on, as well as finding what was underneath

a phone on a desk

There were also charging points on the desk too – a welcome touch.

a framed picture of people on a wall

a power strip with multiple outlets

The TV was also mounted to the wall, which didn’t dominate the room – that’s something I’m starting to appreciate a lot more these days – negative space can be a design blessing.

a tv on a wall

Hidden away under here is the minibar fridge (which was empty when I checked in), as well as a Keurig coffee machine, with six pods of various things (coffee, this thing called “Decaf” and tea).

a silver tray with glasses and a bucket of wine glasses on a table

a small refrigerator with shelves and shelves
The minibar fridge. 

Moving to the bathroom, it’s very much a modern affair, with a toilet, sink and shower. I’ve got to be honest, I love a good soak – but as I’m travelling only the current few days, a shower does the job.

a bathroom with a shower and sinkA

a toilet in a bathroom

 

a sink with a mirror and a counter top

a mirror of a bathroom sink and toilet

The amenities were all bulk-supply as opposed to miniature bottles. I’m still slowly accepting this – it’s a big shift to use the bulk supplies (especially at the higher-end hotels), versus the individual amenities you had in the past. I understand that bulk supplies are better for the planet, as these consume a lot less plastic, cost less to transport and so on.

But let’s be honest – who doesn’t miss taking some premium amenities home with them as a souvenir of a hotel trip?

Although the towels are good for mopping up wet heads, full of San Francisco rain.

On each night I stayed at the Intercontinental, a turndown service was provided, with a bottle of water and two TCHO mini-chocolates.

a bed with a laptop and a packet of candy on it a small red packets on a book

Damn. I miss seeing their factory on the pier (and finding TCHO chocolates in the shops was tough.. I did more than my fair share of walking around to find some).

I didn’t take advantage of the dining – mainly as I ate out most nights and self-catered for the morning. And yes, instant noodles are a valid breakfast. No queries will be entered in this matter.

Checking out at the end of the stay was a simple affair, with my details taken, the final rate confirmed and a print-out of my folio.

a room with a large pillar and tables

a sign on a box
When I checked out, America was celebrating this. 
a close up of a device
Sign away everything.

With the paperwork done, I was on my way.

Overall

Intercontinental properties have to be a cut above other IHG properties – the price level dictates that you are expecting a level of quality and service. If we compare it to the Crowne Plaza I experienced earlier, it blows it out of the water.

Standing alone, it’s a very good property, with the care and attention that an intercontinental hotel has, with the little touches that make it a place to relax, entertain or just crash after a long day walking around San Francisco, be it in the sun or the rain.

However, if I were to compare it to the Matt Hopkins, I’m going to say whilst the Howard Street one is modern, the Matt Hopkins has a lovely bit of history – even if it means you have to climb the Nobb Hill to get to it every time you need to get to the hotel. That sells that hotel for me, given the choice of the two Intercontineals in the city.

It gives more excuses for cable car fun, but some might prefer not climbing or descending the Nobb Hill to get anywhere. Combined with its location, the Intercontinental San Francisco remains a solid property.

Next:

We’re going to focus away from hard products onto fun things, experiences, thoughts and other things. But even I march on my stomach. So, it’s time for lots of Asian Eats around San Francisco

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