Luz Hotel

The place is falling apart, smells bad, and has rats. The security guard was extremely disrespectful to me. I suspect it may have been homophobia, but I can't say for sure.

We got delayed by our flight, but the owners and managers still managed to check us in. The staff were friendly and shared helpful tips during our stay. The room was a little smaller than I expected, though the bed was comfortable and I liked having a sink in the room. The shared bathrooms were consistently clean.

Update 12/12/24: I used to love the Luz, but the mice and roach infestation has become terrible, and the place is so run down it's disgusting. One staff member set the shower and toilet area on fire last night. I'm willing to put up with roaches and move if they're being handled, but they aren't. I'm not willing to risk burning to death. I think the city should get involved. Things have changed a lot since the COVID-19 pandemic. At some point, I guess the city housed homeless people here, and much of the furniture, walls, and other furnishings were broken or destroyed. The owner has made quite a few repairs and upgrades, and things are starting to normalize. The staff at the Luz are personable and will bend over backwards for guests. The rooms are clean and inexpensive, with shared bathrooms and showers. It's a safe, affordable option with friendly staff who try hard to make you comfortable. If you're visiting San Francisco, I'd recommend the hotel, though not the neighborhood, even if this same street has high-end hotels and Broadway shows.

The staff were super friendly and helpful, and nothing about my stay seemed wrong. I stayed four nights and had no real problems. The rooms are small, but decent for the price and location. On the first floor, two bathrooms are shared by all the rented rooms. They were clean, and I never had trouble getting one. There is just one shower for everyone, so I had to wait a few times. Let the water run for 4-5 minutes to warm up; after that, it was nice. I was in room three near the front, where street voices carry inside. If you can, ask for a room farther back. The bed sagged in the middle and was a bit uncomfortable. I can't confirm another traveler's bed bug comments, since I brought my own sheet and slept on top of the duvet. For airport trips, the hotel can call a shuttle for $17, which is much cheaper than a taxi.