We recently flew to Ireland from Brisbane, via San francisco and New York. I found the sesteri hotel online as a budget hotel, paid a depost and then read the bad review here and was worried.

I need not have been. We enjoyed our stay. We were two adults and a child. The room was small (with some odd furnitre) but the beds were clean and comfortable. There were two TV's in the room, we never figured out why, wash basin.

The location is fantastic, the hotel is upstairs over a fruit shop in Chinatown. There were a pile of durians outside the door of the hotel, which probably contributed to the 'rotten vegtable' smell. There area is lively with many resturants, so its not particularly quiet.

It was very cheap about $180 for three people for 4 nights, the only disadvantage was that the showers/toilets were shared and looked a bit old and tired, but they were clean if the regular mopping of floors etc, is anything to go by. Towels were in short supply.

The people at reception were very friendly and helpful. We just enjoyed sitting at the window and watching the world go past (front of hotel!..interesting, but probably noisy)

The location is the biggest advantage, in chinatown, near all the italian resturants, a short walk from the famous 'city lights' bookstore. The bus stopping outside the hotel takes you to fishermans wharf (although you could walk)

Its not the ritz, it is basic but it is perfect if you are on a budget.

Please do not stay at this place! It may be cheap but when you get there you'll see why.Firstly we didnt get the room we booked (got two doubles, instead of three singles).The sheets weren't clean, the towel was filthy, there was cigarette ash in the clothes drawers. The hotel itself is located practically in chinatown right next to a market and theres nothing quite like waking up to the smell of rotting fruit!There was no restuarant, internet access or bike rental/storage. The bathroom was rancid, and we found a cockroach in our room on the third day. Please do not put yourself through this, San Francisco is an amazing place, the Sestri hotel will ruin your experience.