It was just a coincidence that I booked this hotel. There was something going on in the Bay Area and all hotel prices skyrocketed. Hotel rates went up to be about double to triple what they are usually. I looked for a decent hotel with still a moderate rate and not overpriced like all the other ones. The only one I could find was the Four Points in San Rafael. I haven’t been too much in this area. I drove Highway 1 a couple of times up north.
The hotel is located right on Highway 101 and next to a mall. So everything is really within walking distance. On the weekend the drive to the Golden Gate Bridge or to San Francisco is very short. The closest beach on the Pacific Ocean is probably about 30 minutes away.
I arrived late afternoon on a Saturday, after “fighting” my way from the airport (SFO) up north through the traffic in San Francisco.
My room was facing Highway 101. It wasn’t too loud at nights, at least for me. Every now and then you could hear some louder traffic noises, but mainly traffic was barely noticeable. My air conditioner was a different story. This one was loud as hell. I barely used it anyway, since the temperature in this area was just perfect that I didn’t need any heating or cooling in my room. My room door was not closing all the way when I let it close by itself. Make sure that your door closes all the way, otherwise it’s easy for someone else to take your stuff.
Inside the shower, you will find dispensers for shampoo and conditioner. I love this if a hotel has it. Usually, I decline housekeeping service for most of the days and so I don’t need to go and ask housekeeping for more shampoo. This property is also participating in the “Make a green choice” promotion of Starwood. This means every night you get a $5 Dollar voucher or 250 Starpoints.
I wished, I had a room facing the pool, which is surrounded by the hotel itself. This is probably one of the best features of the hotel. Nice big pool and jacuzzi and a big outdoor seating area including a fire pit.
Because of the location, the elevator in the very back of the hotel has two more levels than the other one near the lobby. At the far end of the hotel is also the fitness center.
The lobby area impressed me already when I walked in. Big and nice open space with the check-in counter to the right and next to it a little “store” to buy some essentials you might need. On the left side are some seating possibilities and a table with two PCs and a printer.
The restaurant, next to it a bar/lounge area, is also used as the breakfast area. Breakfast is either a continental buffet or a choice of the menu. I would recommend the buffet. It is the best value if you don’t have any breakfast vouchers. The dinner menu is limited but gives you enough options for a good dinner. They usually have specials every day, just ask for it. I was even surprised when I got bread during my time waiting for my entrée.
You probably will have some issues with the very aggressive adjusted firewall for the internet. I was searching for some webcams around the San Francisco area and a lot of sites were blocked by the firewall with the reason of being a “porn” site. Newsflash! Not every website with the word “cam” in its address or title is an actual porn site.
Have you been here before and what is your experience?
Peter has a passion for Traveling, Photography, and Geocaching. These are the best ingredients for amazing adventures all over the globe. “Traveling is fun, no matter if you stay in a luxury hotel or travel like a backpacker.” Peter shares his experiences on his Blog www.gatetoadventures.com
Some of Peter’s photos are published on corporate websites, in-flight magazines, travel guides, and much more.
