guggenheim museum FINANCIAL DISTRICT VERY EXPENSIVE The Mandarin Oriental Finds The common areas here are limited, but

Ask about special rates or other discounts. Always ask whether a room less expensive than the first one quoted is available, or whether any special rates apply to you. You may qualify for corporate, student, military, senior, or other discounts. Mention membership in AAA, AARP, frequent-flier programs, or trade unions, which may entitle you to special deals as well. Find out the hotel policy on children do kids stay free in the room or is there a special rate? Dial direct. When booking a room in a chain hotel, you ll often get a better deal by calling the individual hotel s reservation desk than at the chain s main number. Book online. Many hotels offer Internet-only discounts, or supply rooms to Priceline, Hotwire, guggenheim museum or Expedia at rates much lower than the ones you can get through the hotel itself. Remember the law of supply and demand. Resort hotels are most crowded and most expensive on weekends, so discounts are usually available guggenheim museum for midweek stays. Business hotels are busiest during the week, so you can expect discounts on the weekends. Many hotels have high- and low-season prices, and booking the day after high season ends can mean big discounts. Look into group or long-stay discounts. If you come as part of a large group, you should be able to negotiate a bargain guggenheim museum rate, since the hotel can then guarantee occupancy in a number of rooms. Likewise, if you re planning a long stay (at least 5 days), you might qualify for a discount. As a general rule, expect 1 night free after a 7-night stay.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT VERY EXPENSIVE The Mandarin Oriental Finds The common areas here are limited, but the rooms are superfluously appointed and the views divine, making this a top choice for luxury travelers. The larger rooms are between the 38th and 48th floors of a high-rise, which affords them extraordinary views. guggenheim museum Not all units have tub-side views (get one that does and you ll never forget it!), but all have well- stocked marble bathrooms that include such luxuries as terry- and cotton-cloth robes, makeup mirrors, and silk slippers. guggenheim museum The less opulent rooms are done in a kind of reserved contemporary decor with Asian accents. Don t miss out on the Asian teatime, complete with a bento box of uncommonly delicious goodies.

The Fitzgerald Value The Fitzgerald s guest accommodations may be outfitted with newish furniture and sweet striped wallpaper, and accented with bright bedspreads and patterned guggenheim museum carpet, but some of the rooms are really small. (One I saw had a dresser less than a foot from the bed.) Of course, at $80 a night there s no room for complaining. But do ask for a larger room. If you can live without a sizable closet, you ll find that the price, breakfast (home-baked breads, muffins, juice, tea, and coffee), and cleanliness make it a good value. Note: The view of the Golden Gate on their brochure is not actually visible guggenheim museum from the hotel.

Further south in Laguna Beach is a spectacular guggenheim museum new 30-acre resort called Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 S. Coast Hwy. (& 888/715-6700). This neo-Craftsman-style hotel and spa is on the beach, and everything about it is spacious, immaculate, tasteful, and expensive but worth the splurge.