That weekend when we got REALLY lucky

J and I spent the last weekend in San Francisco. We had a couple of things to celebrate (things that are between me and him and that I don’t need to mention for the sake of this blog post, but I want you to know that they were things that mattered to us and our relationship a whole lot and that is why this weekend was extra-special) and decided a little getaway would be just the right thing to do.

We have a little routine when we go into San Francisco. We park our car (for free) over the weekend in the East Bay and then catch BART into the city, because a) we don’t necessarily need a car in SF and b) parking prices in the city are insane!

I had booked a hotel right off Market Street through priceline.com (their name-your-own-price® option has proven valuable time and time again and I have never been disappointed by their hotel choice), so we already started off with a 25% discount of the regular hotel room price at the Park 55 Wyndham hotel in Downtown San Francisco. When we arrived for checkin at 5:30 p.m. the friendly concierge, with the same name as my sweet husband, kindly informed us that he was able to upgrade us to the Club Level floors. I smiled, thanked him and we were on our way up to the 30th floor.

Little did I know that we were in for a real treat. Maybe you know what it means to be upgraded to Club Level, but I surely didn’t expect anything more than maybe a slightly more spacious room and a nicer view. Well, I wasn’t completely wrong. It WAS a more spacious room and it WAS a nicer view…. a 545 sq feet suite with floor-to-ceiling windows and an incredible view of the city skyline.I may or may not have squealed a bit and had a little trampolin-jumping-session on the nice king bed.

San Francisco (room with a view)

San Francisco (room with a view)

San Francisco (room with a view)

There was also a really nice bathroom, front room with couch and extra TV, a Nespresso coffee maker and bottled water.

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Shortly after our arrival, the hotel staff brought by some freshly cleaned bathrobes. I mean, who am I to complain!

After marveling at the view for a while, we had to get changed as we had dinner reservations at Morton’s Steakhouse at Union Square, a short walk from the hotel. J’s Mom had gotten us a gift certificate for our anniversary (back in May!) which we were finally able to use and we had a fantastic dinner. I ordered a Filet Mignon with blue cheese butter (divine!) with potatoes au gratin and asparagus with balsamic glaze. For dessert, we shared a freshly baked upside down apple pie a la mode. (Taste buds explosion!) Unfortunately, lighting was really bad for any food photography, so I refrained, but you can trust me when I say, it looked just as delicious as it tasted.

We headed back to the hotel around 11 p.m. and just enjoyed our spacious sleeping quarters, the beautiful night skyline and the kick-ass flat screen TV.

The next day, I was up early and went for a nice morning walk around the neighborhoods (also stopping by some stores here and there) and got coffee before heading back to the hotel to pick up J. Around lunch time, we walked to North Beach, hoping to see if we can (after numerous failed attempts) get in line to have brunch at “Mama’s on Washington Square”. It’s a pretty popular place and there are always long lines and even though it was a 45-minute wait (in the beautiful sun, mind you) we got in this time!

Mama's

Mama's

Washington Square

We were super-lucky with the weather, because even though the forecast had said the temperatures were going to be in the mid-60’s, the sun was out and it was really warm. The fall is actually the best time to visit San Francisco – it’s much nicer weatherwise than in the summer! We soaked up some sun at the park and then headed half by bus and half on foot to Alamo Square. I hadn’t seen the Painted Ladies in a while and while I am aware that Alamo Square itself is a touristy spot, it’s worth stopping by for a little while, if only for the  marvelous view. Otherwise, we tried to to spend some time “off” the beaten path this time around.

Painted Ladies

Also, I would not mind living in one of those two beautiful homes. Just saying.

Alamo Square

We had some yummy, but not worth further mentioning Chinese food for dinner later that evening and then called it an early night (going to the bars was not really on our agenda for this weekend. Not that I am that kind of person anyway. I’d much rather explore during the day!) I mean, this view from our bed pretty much made my night anyway.

San Francisco (room with a view)

Sunday morning we had a late check-out (love it!), we wandered around a bit more downtown and then caught BART back to the East Bay, where we had brunch at our favorite spot, the Rockridge Café. It’s pretty much a must when we visit the Bay Area. Their breakfast/brunch is really good and we even shared some pancakes (and now I, the person who hardly ever eats pancakes for breakfast, has a pancake craving!).

Rockridge Cafe

How was your weekend? Have you ever been upgraded at a hotel? I highly recommend it!

P.S. The icing on our weekend cake: we booked flights to Germany for Christmas for a really good price. Yeah. As I said: that weekend when we got REALLY lucky!

  1. Wow! You really did luck out! I love weekends in San Francisco. Even day trips are awesome.

    Did you hear about Mama’s from Suki? She told me about it and I’ve been meaning to go there since forever.

  2. Sounds like the perfect weekend.
    Love your pictures, SF is so beautiful.
    And: OMG I have the identical picture of the two houses you took in Alamo Square. Ha ha.
    I would love to be closer to a City like SF, on the ocean, and be able to do weekend trips there.
    I would even be happy if the West Coast wouldnt be a 12 to 14 hour flight away – 6 like Boston would be fine with me. ;-)

  3. Jeez, you two were some really lucky ducks. The view from your hotel room looks amazing. And also a weekend full of sunshine, talking walks and having loads of yummy things to eat – not too bad. ;-)

    xo. Nadine

  4. Sounds like a REALLY good weekend. I’m off to Munich. I hope it will be quite as lovely :)!

  5. The room looks amazing! So happy for you guys, you deserved a nice treat like this! :)
    And tickets to come here: yay. Heh. You must be getting excited now that the flights are booked? <3

  6. was für ein tolles wochenende in sf :-)

  7. ah, the breakfast food. the breakfast food! #sojealous
    …and FULL HOUSE! what a great shot of the rainbow houses.
    awesome turnout with priceline hotel, well-done, well-deserved! :)

  8. What gorgeous pics! Nathan and I NEVER luck out like that. Even on our honeymoon, our “upgrade” was a chocolate on the pillows. Whoop-de-doo! Yay for getting tickets for Christmas!!! We’re saving to go home for a long overdue visit next summer :)

  9. oooh how fun to get a hotel upgrade, that view is amazing! glad you two had such a fabulous trip!

  10. Wow, sounds like an awesome and super fun weekend! That hotel room sounds amazing!! I have never been upgraded. Maybe some day! I have never been to SF but I hope to visit some day, possibly this fall. :)

  11. Man that sounds like an AMAZING weekend! Yay for upgrades! And that hotel and whatever that church is, is gorgeous. San Fran definitely is a cool place. Always makes me think of Full House.
    And now I have a hinkering for a good filet mignon. Thanks. XD <3

  12. This actually just sounds like the best weekend ever. So much good food, great time just the two of you, and lots of gorgeous views (and hotel room, my goodness!)

  13. The weather looks fabulous for your trip – so glad it contributed to a beautiful and fun weekend! I don’t know that I’ve ever been upgraded (other than at the hotel we stayed at for our wedding and to whom we brought tons of business) … but, I have paid for upgraded rooms over regular rooms, because they often include breakfast and snacks (in a club level lounge) that more than offsets what we’d spend out of pocket on the street!

  14. Sounds like an absolutely wonderful weekend. I’ve never been upgraded, but I keep hoping I will someday – that room looks amazing!

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