Literally just checked into this hotel having booked with American Express Platinum Travel through their "Fine Resorts" program. There is nothing "palatial" about this hotel. Small windows, dingy carpet, dirty shades, small bathrooms. Very average hotel that deserves at best a 3-start rating. All facade with no substance. Location in downtown SF is good but otherwise a truly average hotel. Already called AmEx to log a similar complaint.

We stayed in a two bedded double room with our children, aged 14 and 11 for three nights in February. The hotel was palatial in decoration, complete with footmen, grand pianos and chandeliers. Truly majestic. The rooms were very comfortable, the shower superb and we had a great view of the city. Only a couple of niggly points. We would have loved to had tea/coffee making facilities in the room; room service and food in general was incredibly expensive. Although there is complimentary coffee etc from 6 am when your on British time and waking at odd hours it would have been nice to make a drink in the room. Not a lot to ask considering the price. And the walls are quite thin, you can hear everything! But on the whole fab place, pool lovely and would stay again - taking a kettle with me!!

My first time staying at a Palace hotel, here for an investment bank conference along with hundreds of others. While the common areas and restaurants are ornate and what you'd expect from a luxury hotel, that experience ends once you get on an elevator. The corridors and the rooms are incredibly tired looking and in desperate need of renovation. It's downright shocking. Chipped paint, rust, dirt and thin walls. A hair on my pillow, a hair in the shower, clearly no one bothered to look the room over properly (although they did allow me to check in at noon which was very convenient). Even the menu for room service was just stapled papers. There is no hotel review that could possibly consider the rooms as even close to being "luxury". I actually find this to be deceptive branding, referring to the Palace as part of the "luxury collection" at Starwood. The staff has been great, and the overall hotel is certainly a classic looking property, but any discerning traveler will be sorely disappointed by the rooms, if they are similar to the one I was in. I am truly shocked given the price tag here.

We have stayed at many different high end SF chain hotels, but we keep going back to the Palace--most recently for six nights in January 2013. It is centrally located with easy access to shopping, tourist sites, and restaurants. We were attending a conference at the hotel which included conference meals. The food was fabulous. No rubber chicken here. Our hotel room was very comfortable. We took advantage of the exercise facilities, pool, and sauna--all very nice. The staff at the hotel were very well trained, polite, and helpful. We also had their Sunday Brunch with live jazz. It is the best brunch in San Francisco and is well worth the price. Actually it is one of the best in the world, literally, as we travel extensively. Also, if you get the chance, take the free SF Cityguides Tour of the hotel which covers its rich history. The hotel is updated but has maintained the feel of old elegance.