The Touchstone Hotel

If you’re taking a trip to San Francisco it’s expensive. You can’t find a truly good hotel for under 125 – 150 a night. My room was very noisy. Lots of homeless people on the street. The hallway on my floor initially smelled like someone farted for an extended period of time. This is a budget hotel. The room is small and not too glamorous. The bathroom is tiny and also barely simple. It’s like a Euro hotel without the charm. If you are lucky enough to get an ally room then you’ll hear everything on the streets. Even the detail on the people speaking on the streets. There’s smoke that comes of manholes on the streets. Oh you’ll hear that too. Honestly I’d go Airbnb all the way and stay in a white neighborhood. But it’s a budget hotel. That’s widely outdated and had ikea in a third world country style beds. Download a white noise app on your iPhone to block out the noise or ask them for their «complementary earplugs… Earplugs a free benefit of any hotel that is too cheap to install sound resistant Windows.

The hotel is great. Great location, great service, and clean. No problem
With checking in early. A friend ended up joining me and Jose upgraded our room at no extra cost with a view of the street. It is loud during the day but no problem at night. I like the sound of a busy city. I’ll definitely stay here again in the future.

— location: very central, so you can reach many touristic places easily. but also very loud neighborhood.
— rooms: no air-​condition or any kind of fans!!! you have to sleep with open window which makes it really difficult to sleep with this noise from the streets. beds were pretty hard too. the bathroom and especially the shower was very nice.
— service: friendly front desk and service. free high speed wifi worked very good too.
the hotel was «ok» for the special discount that we paid. if we would have to pay the full price listed at the room door there wouldnt be any rated stars left.

Needed a room last minute in the city. Had walked by this hotel almost daily when I lived in SF. For the price, couldn’t have asked for more, really pleased. Clean, safe, new furnishings, friendly front desk. Don’t expect large room, it isn’t. But, very comfortable bed, dressing area, etc. Flat screen TV, alarm clock, blow dryer, etc. It’s the city, don’t expect quite nights with crickets chirping and roosters to awake.
The reason for a four and not five stars, the towels. They were clean and such, but very thin and kind of small. In this day, with all the choices for laundry service, no excuse not to have something a little larger and softer. Definitely not a deal breaker, just a simple suggestion/​thought.
So for the price and location, by the way, directly across the street from the Clift Hotel, I highly recommend this quaint gem amongst the jungle.

We arrived at the touchstone hotel with little expectations. I booked the hotel months prior because it was a great price for the amazing location. Upon arrival the front desk had informed me that I accidentally booked a room for a single person when in actuality there were two of us. It being summer and busy, I was nervous they wouldn’t be able to accommodate us. They explained we could have squeezed into their cozy European style bedroom, but that it may be tight. As we stood with no other option we said we would squeeze into the single room. We waited to be assigned a room, but were unaware she was actually searching for a better option for us. We were pleasantly surprised when she informed us that she could place us in their largest single occupancy room which had a queen bed instead of a single! They went above and beyond to accommodate us at no extra charge, even though we had made the mistake while booking. Although for many who are used to unnecessary space, the rooms may seem small. For us, it was the perfect size to enjoy the city rather then the extra space. The staff was always friendly, the rooms were clean, and the front entrance was only unlocked with room keys. The Touchstone hotel is 2 blocks from union square and an easy walk to many popular locations in the city. Next time we visit we will definitely stay at the Touchstone!

Touchstone was 5 mins walk away from the BART station and located right above a Starbucks, which is very convenient. The staff are very friendly and courteous. The price was about $ 130 for a room with 2 twin beds. But don’t expect the room to be big with the price you paid. However, the room is very well cleaned. I’d recommend to students with tight budget

If I could give this hotel zero stars, I wouldnt hesitate to do so. We honestly wanted to check out about a day before we had to… The worst part of it all was the blonde hair blue eyed lady, that I assumed was a head manager… was sooo rude. I would expect wayyyy better customer service for the prices that were paid. I also wish I had taken down the ladies name, so I could report her to corporate :)
can Anyone help with her name? lol.
P. s. take your money elsewhere. You deserve more.

I booked this hotel when all others near Fisherman’s Wharf were booked. My advice is to go a little more south and book a room closer to SF airport and take Bart to Union Square.
This hotel was a bad decision for many reasons. The evening staff at the door was very helpful with getting my luggage into the hotel and it’s only blocks from Union Square. That’s all I have to say for the good things. The elevator was really tiny and the other two people in the elevator with me barely fit with my two bags in tow. The halls smell like old trash. The room smelled okay but because there isn’t any air conditioning I opened a window that soon filled the room with the smell from the street below which was the smell of old trash and urine. With the window closed and no ventilation, the room became stuffy. The street noise is so overwhelming that the hotel provides ear plugs. They made my ears itch. I didn’t read all the hand outs before meeting my brother for dinner so when I returned, I found that the only access to ice was from the restaurant below that had closed before I returned before 9pm. The bottom sheet on the bed is a flat sheet and didn’t stay in place on the bed like a fitted sheet would. My car was parked in their recommended garage that was closed from 9pm to 7am so at midnight when I couldn’t take the noise any longer and wanted to leave, I couldn’t because my car was locked up until 7am. The bathroom area is very small and the lighting is very poor for putting on make up. There weren’t any wash clothes and the towels were very stiff. There is no way to make hot water for coffee or tea in the room so you have to wait for the restaurant to open to get a hot beverage. I travel with tea bags and usually have a room with a microwave or coffee maker to make hot water so I didn’t even think to ask. In the morning when I left, the woman at the desk just sat there as I struggled to get the glass door open and my two bags outside. There are very nice hotels for much less just a little further south closer to the airport. I had stayed at the Doubletree near the airport the night before for half of what this place cost.

Worst hotel I’ve ever stayed in San Fransisco. The rooms are ridiculously noisy and tiny for the price you pay. Not to mention the lady who runs the places is a total bitch with the worst customer service I’ve seen in SF. Please save your money and go elsewhere its a complete waste and was probably the only damper on my vacation. Stay clear of touchstone hotel

I want to be clear that I am not saying this is a 4-​star hotel. This is a budget hotel which is pretty darn good for the price and location. I had a conference nearby at the Hilton, but did not want to pay Hilton prices, so I booked this place. I was prepared for the worst, but was pleasantly surprised.
Obviously, this is a great location. It is a short walk from the Powell St. BART line and two blocks from Union Square. The building is secure and there is always someone at the desk. I was expecting the room to be rough, but it was actually really nice. The bed was very comfortable and all the furnishings and bedding was like new. My room was cleaned and toiletries restocked every day, which was really nice. The wifi is fast and free and there were little touches like free apples and lollipops at the front desk.
If I have to complain about anything, it would just be that the shower could be a bit dribbly. They need to take some vinegar to the shower head or replace it. But, the water pressure was strong and there was plenty of hot water. Also, my room was next to an alley where some drunk tweakers congregated. I learned a lot about where to buy drugs in SF and how much the NSA is spying on us. Otherwise, I would highly recommend this hotel for a cheap stay in downtown SF.

STAY AWAY! My friends booked the hotel, and I have never ever stayed in a hotel as nasty as this one. The beds are so uncomfortable, the duvet is old and dirty, rooms smell like shi*t, everything is just disgusting. Staff is not welcoming. People say they have seen bed bugs which makes me scared, lost a lot of sleep. NEVER COMING BACK AGAIN.

This hotel is not your typical. If you are looking for modern and upgraded-​keep looking. The bathroom in no bigger than a shoebox. The shower did not drain properly-​by the end of a shower you will be standing in a tub of water. There were no washcloths in our bathroom. The elevator was broken and our room was on the 3^rd floor. It was quite a trek with any luggage you had to carry. It is quite loud. No AC so our window was stuck open to a fire escape which led to a dark alley. (Sketch). Like the other reviews said, «you get what you pay for». Its all about location for this hotel.

Worst experience in a long time. The rooms aren’t sound proof so I heard the trucks all night. The bathroom and hairs all over it. The mattress was so soft it was disgusting. And worst of all, I woke up at 1:30 am with bedbugs… I would definitely stay away from this hotel. You are better off paying a little bit more and having a good night sleep.
I would put ⁰⁄₅ stars if I could.

If you could give this place zero stars, I would. This hotel is terrible. It is old, it is in bad need a repair — from the entry to the elevators to the rooms themselves. Additionally, it is falsely advertised. Read the fine print carefully with regard to a «single room with 1 guest» –this room can LITERALLY accomodate one guest as it is probably 250 – 300 sq ft and has a sink separate from shower and toilet. The place has an ancient TV that barely works and terrible wifi access. The staff is also rude. Take hints from prior reviews The area is also super shady, though near a much nicer area where you can likely stay for a similar price. Don’t stay here, it’s a waste of money.

Good budget hotel, rooms are very small and the sink is in the room instead of the bathroom. The TV had only 2 channels or so, but I was here for sightseeing, so I didn’t care much. The front desk staff are extremely nice and helpful. The hotel door is locked so it feels safe, but you can open it using your room card key.

My husband and I live 45 min away from San Francisco and when we go out party we like to stay in the city rather to drive back. We stayed at this hotel for my bday celebration and it was pretty good. It has the basics, it has a great location, and the staff is really nice. We will stay there again for sure.

I thought this was a great budget hotel. Great location (although, regular readers know I don’t give many stars for location), lovely people and a decent room for the rate.
The rooms have been renovated with modern furniture and flooring. The bathrooms were renovated a while ago, but are still in great condition with new shower curtains etc. There are plenty of hooks and towel rails but if I was staying for any length of time I would have had to ask for more hangers.
I had a side room (over-​looked an alley), so no street noise — although the bin-​men were around at 6:30am, they quickly left and silence resumed. You get the normal ‘other guests’ noise. ‘Thumper’ on the floor above was up and about at 1am and then again at 3am, but you can’t really help that.
With the great service I got from the ladies at check in and the room itself, I would definitely be back — especially when it’s so reasonably priced.

Sehr schönes Hotel.
Jedes Zimmer ist einzigartig. (Wir hatten 403)
Man spürt einfach, mit wieviel Liebe das Hotel geführt wird.
Unser Zimmer ist groß mit 2 großen (Amerika typischen) Betten, Kommode, Schmink-​/​Schreibtisch, TV und mit Einbauschrank und sogar nen Bügelbrett und Bügeleisen. Ein ausreichend großes Bad mit Badewanne/​Dusche gibt es auch.
Es ist sauber und das Personal ist einfach zauberhaft! Sehr nett und freundlich.

First off, I want to point out that this is a three star hotel in a 100 + year old city. If you are looking for a brand new building and furnishings you’re looking in the wrong place. If you are looking for an authentic SF experience, you should definitely stay here. The hotel and all the amenities were clean and well taken care of, and I didn’t notice anything that was threadbare so I’m not sure what some I the other reviewers are complaining about.
My biggest concerns before I came here were cleanliness, noise, and water pressure/​hot water. I am pleased to say that this place exceeded my expectations for all three. The room, sheets, towels, etc were all clean and fluffy. There weren’t any holes or stains in anything.
When we checked in they said they had put us in an inside room so there wasn’t as much noise, but that we wouldn’t have a view. I laughed at that because we were going to be out and about all day, and it was the quiet we wanted so it was perfect for us. We had come a long day that way and imagine my delight when I was able to take a hot shower in a clean tub with good water pressure to wash away the dirt of the road. On top of that, the staff was friendly and helpful, and they were more than willing to bring an extra pillow to my room when I asked.
There are a few things which didn’t bother me but might bother you… These are not complaints but they may explain why some people gave negative reviews, and are meant as a heads up to prospective boarders.
First, it’s an old building so the rooms are not the typical rectangle hotel room shape that most people are used to. Welcome to San Francisco. Because of this, they do have less square footage than the rectangle hotels rooms, but at no time did I feel cramped with my husband and I in the room.
Second, there isn’t really any lobby that you can sit down in. The entrance is narrow compared to a typical hotel, and has only a front desk, an elevator, and then the stairs up to the rooms. Again, welcome to San Francisco.
Third, there is no central heating in the building (because it’s an old building) but there was a space heater in the closet of our room if we had wanted to use it, and I’m assuming they were in every room. The blankets were more than warm enough and it didn’t get that cold in the building so we never used it.
If none of this bothers you, then you will love this hotel. It is a great value for the price. It was just far enough from union square that you don’t get the noise, but close enough to walk there in about 60 seconds. It’s central to public transport, including the cable cars and muni/​Bart. It’s secure (you need a hotel key to get in the building at night), and it’s got that San Francisco charm that I love and miss. My husband and I are planning on staying here next time we are in the city.

I can’t believe anyone would complain about this! Wow, if you are looking for value for money, this is the place to stay. My room was only $ 90 a night.
Really well located 2 blocks from Union Square.
The reception desk staff guy here was just absolutely brilliant. He was so friendly and helpful. I arrived to check in and realized that my wallet had been stolen earlier in the day, he still let me check in without being able to pay and did everything he could to help me.
The interior rooms here are very dark and quiet, which was perfect for me. Apparently some of the outer rooms face a back alley which can get a bit more noise.
Full breakfast was also free at the next door diner, which included a full breakfast and coffee and juice. A real bargain.
Plus free wifi, and it was fast.
Amazing

I visit San Francisco quite a bit. Always looking for a better deal on rooms. The Touchstone on Geary Street really hit the mark!!! The room rate was excellent. The location to Union Square was excellent. The room was simple, but clean. The staff was the friendliest I have EVER encountered in the city. No frills, but the savings was over $ 100.00 per night. I would HIGHLY reccomend the Touchstone!