Hotel Spero, Vignette Collection by IHG

I’ve stayed at this vintage hotel before, and this time I had a medium-sized room. They’ve updated the rooms fairly well, without making them fancy. There isn’t much closet or drawer space, and the table is tiny, but I love the sturdy designer chair. The windows tilt open, which is great for getting fresh Pacific night air. The bed is great too. Bring a USB charger if you have several devices.

The lobby is stunning, the staff are delightful, and it’s a beautiful old building. The remodeled rooms are rough around the edges, though. They’re small, with bathrooms squeezed in so tightly that there’s barely room to stand at the tiny sink. The tiled walk-in shower does suit the room’s decor. I found the location abysmal. Walking straight down Stockton to Union Square is OK, but in other directions you run into the Tenderloin and its colorful inhabitants. At one point I felt unsafe walking down Taylor toward Market. Conditions can change from moment to moment in any city, but generally I’d avoid the area. At the time I booked, I should have stayed up the hill at the Mark Hopkins, another IHG property, for the same price. If you want Old World Charm, that hotel is worth a look. In my opinion, Holiday Inn Express at Union Square would be a safer option. It isn’t a classic building, but it’s literally on Union Square and you can get a suite with a real bedroom for about the same price.

This was my second stay at this IHG Hotel, and the service keeps getting better. Anna and Kathryn deserve a special mention for their kindness and for doing their jobs so well. Jay was also very nice and accommodating when I checked in. It’s a grand old building, and the lobby ceiling is spectacular if you stop to look. The rooms are cozy and a bit small, but the beds are super comfortable, and the modern bathrooms worked great. The location felt a little sketchy, so keep an eye on your surroundings, though that’s pretty normal nowadays wherever you go in San Francisco. I’d stay again and give the property five stars.

There’s plenty of food and shopping nearby, and the hotel is right by Union Square. The room was nice and the staff were friendly. I took off a star because of the unexpected $35 nightly resort fee, which seemed to cover access to the on-site gym. I couldn’t see any other amenities that a Best Western wouldn’t offer without that fee.