Escape to Paradise: Touchstone Hotel's San Francisco City Center Oasis
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the swirling, shimmering oasis that is the Touchstone Hotel in San Francisco. They call it "Escape to Paradise," and honestly, after my stay, I'm starting to think they’re onto something… though maybe paradise has a slightly different definition than what I normally envision. Let's get into it, warts and all, and see if this hotel really delivers, or just delivers a mountain of disappointment.
First Impressions (and the Dreaded Elevator Ride):
Okay, so finding the Touchstone in the city center? Easy peasy. But getting into the Touchstone? That's where the little adventure begins. Accessibility is there, they got an elevator, thank god! (This is my first positive note, whew!) But, I swear, this elevator… it was like stepping into a time machine that only goes to the 19th floor. Slow. Creaky. Made me appreciate every single step I've taken in my life. It's a minor thing, sure, but a memorable minor thing.
CHECK-IN CHAOS & A Few Friendly Faces:
The whole check-in thing? (The services and conveniences portion of this thing!) Seamless? Absolutely not. Contactless? Ha! There's usually someone in the check-in/out area! But the doorman, bless his heart, he was a gem. Super friendly, gave me the whole "Welcome to San Francisco, enjoy our city" spiel - and he seemed like he genuinely meant it. That goes a long way, people. And bonus points: they had a little convenience store tucked away, which is a lifesaver when you're desperate for a snack at 3 AM.
The Room: My Little Slice of (Mostly) Bliss
Okay, the rooms. They’re the heart of the matter, right? So I’ll go through all of the Available in all rooms features.
- Air conditioning: Yep, thank god. SF’s weather is a fickle beast.
- Alarm clock: Standard.
- Bathrobes: Soft and fluffy, perfect for lounging.
- Bathroom phone: Seriously? Who actually uses this anymore?
- Bathtub: Big enough to soak in after a long day of walking through hills - loved it!
- Blackout curtains: Essential. I'm sensitive to light. Saved my sanity.
- Carpeting: Clean, which is a big win. (And necessary for a hotel.)
- Closet: Plenty of space for all my stuff.
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential! It’s a must for survival.
- Complimentary tea: Nice touch!
- Daily housekeeping: Spotless. Always.
- Desk: Perfect for working (if you must).
- Extra long bed: Comfort central.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Worked!
- High floor: Got a great view.
- In-room safe box: Always a good thing.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Didn't need, but good to know.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Wi-Fi [free]: Yep, all working perfectly. You can use the internet everywhere.
- Ironing facilities: Didn't need, but it's there.
- Laptop workspace: Comfortable, but I’d rather be wandering the city!
- Linens: Fresh, clean, and comfy.
- Mini bar: Overpriced, but that's hotels for you.
- Mirror: Lots of mirrors!
- Non-smoking: Thank god for that.
- On-demand movies: Never used them.
- Private bathroom: Clean and well-equipped.
- Reading light: Useful when trying not to wake your travel-mate.
- Refrigerator: Handy for keeping drinks cold.
- Safety/security feature: Safe. Yay!
- Satellite/cable channels: Didn’t watch any.
- Scale: (Internal screaming)
- Seating area: Comfy.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Always a plus.
- Shower: Good water pressure.
- Slippers: Nice touch.
- Smoke detector: Hopefully working.
- Socket near the bed: Essential for phone charging.
- Sofa: Good place to chill.
- Soundproofing: Mostly effective.
- Telephone: Didn’t use.
- Toiletries: Decent quality.
- Towels: Fluffy and abundant.
- Umbrella: Essential for San Francisco. They have one.
- Visual alarm, Wake-up service: Okay, I didn’t try these.
- Window that opens: HUGE win.
The room itself was great! Definitely the kind of room that makes you want to stay in rather than force yourself out.
The Dining Experience: A Buffet of…Mixed Feelings
Okay, so, the Dining, drinking, and snacking part of the review. Let's be honest, the highlight of any hotel is usually the food. Or, in this case, the attempt at food. I’m going to start with the breakfast. The breakfast [buffet] was… well, it was a buffet. They had Asian breakfast, Western breakfast food. The coffee/tea in restaurant was fine, and the desserts in restaurant were pretty yummy (though I only had one).
- A la carte in restaurant: Didn't try.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Did not see.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Offered.
- Bar, Poolside bar: Looked lively.
- Bottle of water: Got one.
- Breakfast service: Available.
- Buffet in restaurant: The main showcase!
- Coffee shop: Yep.
- Happy hour: Didn't catch!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Appeared on the menu.
- Restaurants: Several.
- Room service [24-hour]: Never used.
- Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant: Didn’t order.
- Snack bar: Also available.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Appeared available.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: The main stuff.
The food itself was… okay. The buffet was fine, but nothing to write home about. Think lukewarm scrambled eggs and slightly sad-looking pastries. I did appreciate the alternative meal arrangement option, as I have to have special food. The restaurants tried their best, but nothing blew me away. But hey, at least they tried.
Relaxation Station: Spa, Sauna, and Sanity (Mostly)
Okay, here’s where the "Escape to Paradise" starts to make sense! The Spa/sauna were great. Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]… they had it all. I’ll focus on the Swimming pool [outdoor] because that experience got me. I swear, it was the most amazing pool I've ever seen. It was on the roof, and had such an amazing view of the city - it was breathtaking. I spent almost the entire afternoon there, just floating, staring at the skyline. Forget the city, forget the hotel! Just that pool experience was worth the price of admission. Pure bliss!
And the Gym/fitness was well-equipped. Fitness center. Gym/fitness were here. And the Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage, Sauna, Spa, Steamroom were really enjoyable.
The Nitty-Gritty: Cleanliness, Safety, and the Important Stuff
- Cleanliness and safety: The hotel takes this seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. All the boxes were checked. I felt pretty safe.
- Accessibility: Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, were implemented.
- Internet access: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Wi-Fi for special events. The Wi-Fi was also fast! Awesome.
- *Cashless payment service, Daily housekeeping, Elevator, First aid kit, Front desk [24-hour], Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms, Smoking area All the essentials.
- For the kids: Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal. The hotel seemed appropriately kid
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! Because this itinerary for the Touchstone Hotel City Center in San Francisco? Yeah, it's gonna be less "polished travel brochure" and more "a rambling, slightly caffeinated diary of a human being trying to navigate a city." Think of it as your personal travel disaster-slash-delight.
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Cable Car Debacle (Plus Maybe a Little Panic)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at SFO. Okay, so far, so good. Except, I swear, the TSA agent gave me a LOOK. Like, "You, with the oversized tote bag and the questionable travel socks – are you REALLY sure you know what you're doing?" Existential airport crisis averted (mostly).
- 2:30 PM: Uber to the Touchstone. The hotel looks…cute online. In real life, it's…well, it IS cute. Lobby's got a quirky, vintage vibe, like your eccentric aunt's living room. And the bellhop? Adorable. He's got this whole "I’ve-seen-things-but-I-still-believe-in-humanity" thing going on. Points!
- 3:30 PM: Check-in…and the room is…perfectly fine. Bed looks comfy. View? Uh… it is of the building next door. Okay, no biggie. I’m not here for the architecture. Or am I? Wait, I am here for architecture. Dammit.
- 4:00 PM: Now, the Big Plan: Cable Car! Gotta do it. MUST. DO. IT. Walked a respectable number of blocks, feeling all "San Francisco-y." Until I hit the first hill. My lungs? They're questioning my life choices. My calves? They’re screaming. Finally make it to the cable car line…and it’s wrapped around the block. Seriously? This is a thing. Queue time: 1 hour and 47 minutes, estimated. I’m pretty sure I saw a mime. Did he judge me? Probably. Abort. Abort.
- 5:30 PM: Find a random dive bar. Need a beer and a place to regroup. "The Blue Whale," it's called. It’s dark, slightly sticky, and wonderfully loud. The bartender has a handlebar mustache and knows everyone’s name. He makes a damn good Old Fashioned. Feeling better now.
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at a nearby Italian eatery. "Tony's Pizza Napoletana." Holy mother of all things cheesy and delicious. The pizzas are a religious experience. I’m pretty sure I saw a tear of joy fall into my margherita. Zero regrets.
- 8:00 PM: Wandering. The city is alive at night, the lights are pretty, but I’m starting to feel it in my bones. Back to the hotel.
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime. Crash. Jet lag is a beast.
Day 2: Golden Gate Gratitude (and a Near-Death Chocolate Experience)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Coffee. Big coffee. Need coffee.
- 9:00 AM: Golden Gate Bridge! The Big One. Booked a bike tour because, adventure! (And, you know, the cable car debacle). The ride is…spectacular. The bridge itself is grand. The views are breathtaking. I almost got blown into the water by a particularly aggressive gust of wind. (Note to self: next time, wear a scarf THAT IS NOT SILK). Seriously, though, the views… they were worth the near-death experience regarding wind. The sky was this incredible, electric blue. And the water? Sparkling. I kept yelling "WOOO-HOOOO!" which probably annoyed several other tourists, but frankly, I didn’t care.
- 11:30 AM: Fisherman's Wharf. Tourist trap, yes. But… the sea lions! They are adorable, loud, and utterly unapologetic. Spent a solid 20 minutes watching them argue and sunbathe. Worth it.
- 1:00 PM: Ghirardelli Square: Chocolate time! Free samples, people. Free samples. The chocolate shop is a wonderland, but the lines are long, and it’s hot. I’m starting to get the shakes from all the sugar. Bought a gigantic sundae. Ate the whole thing. I think I may have entered a sugar coma.
- 2:30 PM: Walking tour of Chinatown. Fascinating! The energy, the colours, the smells – it’s a world unto itself. The guide was a little too enthusiastic about the history of tea eggs, but hey, you learn something new every day.
- 4:00 PM: Lost. Again. And hangry. Find a dim sum place. It's authentic, it's buzzing, and the food is incredible. The Har Gow were little pieces of heaven.
- 6:00 PM: Head back to the hotel, needing a shower and a nap.
- 7:00 PM: Attempt to shower. Water pressure is…weak. Sigh.
- 8:00 PM: Dinner - a local bistro. I will never forget this place.
- 9:00 PM: Bed. Too tired to write.
Day 3: Alcatraz & Farewell (With a Side of Existential Dread)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up. Alcatraz tour ticket purchase. Had to book WAY in advance.
- 8:00 AM: Grabbed a quick breakfast at a nearby cafe. So many people, so much coffee.
- 9:00 AM: Alcatraz. Okay, this is heavy. The prison is haunting. The stories are… intense. Walking through the cells, listening to the audio tour… I got chills. It’s a powerful experience. I'm starting to feel really small. The views of the city from the island are stunning, in a slightly terrifying way. Like, you can see how easy it would be to escape… but also how impossible it would be to survive.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at Piers 39 at the Fisherman's Wharf. The experience was… disappointing. Everything was too loud, too crowded, and slightly overpriced. Regret the chocolate overdose.
- 1:30 PM: Walked back to the hotel.
- 2:.00 PM: Packing time. The end.
- 3:00 PM: Waiting for my Uber to take me to the Airport. Feel a weird mix of relief and sadness.
- 4:00PM: Airport-bound.
Final Thoughts:
San Francisco, you’re a beautiful, chaotic, slightly exhausting mess. I love you. And I definitely need a nap.
This is just a starting point, of course. This is what really happened. Enjoy your trip.
Tangerang's Dream Home: Luxurious Sky House in BSD!
So, what *exactly* is this "FAQ" thing supposed to be about, anyway? (Yes, I'm asking *myself* this, partly 'cause I forgot what we were talking about.)
Alrighty, alrighty. Deep breaths. See, the whole point is to answer questions *you might* have. The internet's obsessed with questions, it's practically a disease. And I'm here to pretend I have some of the answers. Mostly, it's a way for whoever wrote this (me!) to pretend to be an expert... which is a laugh, considering I'm pretty sure I spilled coffee on my keyboard *again* this morning. Anyway, let's get to some questions... 'cause I'm losing focus already.
Why is this FAQ so...random? Like, seriously, is there a theme here? Or did you just throw spaghetti at the wall and hope *something* stuck?
Theme? Oh, honey, there's a loose *thread* of a theme, maybe. It's called "Life Stuff." And "Being a Human." And "Trying My Best (Mostly, Except When I'm Not)." Look, I'm not Marie Kondo. This is more like… well, like my brain at 3 AM after way too much caffeine: a glorious, beautiful, messy explosion of ideas and half-formed thoughts. So to answer: Yes, probably more of the spaghetti-on-the-wall approach. Embrace the chaos!
Okay, fine. But *still...* what about [insert *insert randomly chosen thing here*]? Like, I'm genuinely curious about it. Because, well, reasons.
Ooooh, you wanna talk about [insert *insert randomly chosen thing here*]? Alright, lay it on me! I probably *don't* know the answer, but hey, let's pretend! Fine, let's say it's... cats. You want to know, "Are cats secretly judging us?" Okay, my answer? YES. A resounding, emphatic, purrfectly-timed YES. I've seen the look. My cat, Mittens, gives me that "You're a complete buffoon, aren't you?" look *every day*. It's not judgement; it's fact. Also, I once tried to give Mittens a bath... disaster. End of story. Never again.
I'm feeling overwhelmed/sad/happy/confused. Any advice? (I'm asking *you*, the seemingly random, coffee-stained guru.)
Okay, deep breath. Being overwhelmed? Okay, been there, bought the t-shirt, probably spilled coffee on that one too. Confusion? My middle name (not really, but sometimes it feels that way). Sadness? Ugh, we all get it, right? Okay, my highly unprofessional advice? First: Drink some water. Seriously. Dehydration is a sneaky jerk. Second: Find something silly to laugh at. Maybe a cat video? (Cats always help). Third: Acknowledge the feeling. Tell yourself, "Yeah, this is rough. And that's okay." Give yourself permission to feel it, then let it start to pass. And finally, if it's REALLY rough, consider talking to someone. Real talk. Sometimes, we all need a little help. Even me, the caffeine-addicted FAQ writer.
What's your biggest fear? Besides, you know, running out of coffee.
Oh, wow, that's a tough one. Losing my coffee supply is pretty high on the list. But honestly? My biggest fear is probably the same as everyone else’s: being irrelevant. A dull, boring life. Okay, I overthink things. But yeah, the thought of just... fading away fills me with dread. Like, living a life where I've never tried that awful new flavor of ice cream. Or never seen the sunset in the mountains. Or never truly been *seen*. It doesn't have to be grand; it just has to matter… to someone, somehow. (Wow. Okay. That got heavy. I need more coffee.)
What is the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to you? Spill the tea! (Or coffee... whatever.)
Oh, goodness. Pick ONE? Okay, okay. Here's a story that still makes me want to crawl into a hole and never emerge. I, your friendly FAQ writer, once... yes, *once*... tripped and fell flat on my face at a wedding. In front of *everyone*. And not just a graceful stumble; this was a full-on, graceless, "arms-flailing-like-a-dying-fish" face-plant. The kind that makes you question all your life choices. And yes, I was *also* holding a tray of champagne. So, champagne everywhere. Me, mortified. Everyone staring. The worst part? MY dress ripped. I was wearing the dress my grandmother made, the one with the frills, and I ripped a massive one between the legs. I remember hearing this muffled laugh, from somewhere, and looking up to see IT was my ex-boyfriend. Then I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in. And... that's the story. The end. Don’t ask. Please don’t tell anyone. I still shudder.
How do you deal with imposter syndrome? (Because, you know, everyone gets it.)
Oh, imposter syndrome... my old frenemy. The constant whisper in your ear that says, "You're a fraud! You don't deserve to be here!" Honestly? I have no magic cure. I’m constantly battling it. "Embrace the suck," I tell myself. I try to actively *look* for it. I find out where I'm *not* an expert in, make mistakes; *lots* of them. That way, at least, I'm not pretending. But most importantly, I remind myself that every single person on this planet is faking it to some extend. And remember what helps: deep breaths, and lots of coffee. And then, I usually just barrel forward and pretend to know what I'm doing. And guess what… sometimes it works. Sometimes, it's a complete disaster. And you know what? Both are kinda okay.
What are you *really* passionate about? (Besides coffee, duh.)
Okay, okay, putting the coffee down for a second (kinda). Aside from the life-giving elixir, I'm truly passionate about... stories. No, no, no, not just stories! I love the *human* stories. The messy, beautiful, complicated, heartbreaking, hilarious storiesAround The World Hotels
