Traveled to San Francisco as a solo traveler to celebrate a special occasion. It was a great trip. I explored the city (tourist and neighborhoods) with great shopping and meals in a long weekend. I'd go again without hesitation.
The Omni was a nice hotel and in retrospect, I was glad it was away from the crowded touristy attractions (think lots of people and a push to get into the hotel lobby-ugh). The hotel is located in the financial district and is 4 blocks from the metro. I took it at 7pm in the evening and had no problems. Only do this if you're traveling light- there are stairs going up at your arrival location.
Rooms are styled in typical Omni style (think conservative colonial) but are well appointed with luxury details. Service is outstanding- the front desk is to be commended for true 5 star service. You can trust the staff for excellent food recommendations. Front of the building has better 'views' (street scene). For me, it was quiet but a very light sleeper might be bothered by the street car that runs in front of the hotel. Join the loyalty program before you go and you will receive free wifi. The lobby bar is a good (but expensive) hangout if you're coming in from a redeye flight.
You are around the corner from Chinatown (good eats), 2 blocks from the Pier/Waterfront. I felt safe walking during the day and early evening. It is not a neighborhood hopping with nightlife- you'll have to taxi out but it is very nice to return and recharge from the crowds. In this location, you can explore a street fair, take a short zip line (over the open area in front of the pier- it looked fun), walk along the Pier and browse a smaller open air stalls (think upscale gift shops) in the pier building a few blocks from the hotel.
Although the street car runs in front of the hotel, it is not your best option. It is expensive, ($8.00) and there is no on and off. Each time you come on, you pay. One on and off stop could cost a family of four enough for dinner. No wonder they only had a few unsuspecting tourists during my stay.
With that said, San Francisco is not a walkable city. One look at the steep streets will quickly force you to go to plan B. As I did not want the bother of renting a car, my plan B was to purchase a 2 day pass ($50- all access) on one of the sightseeing buses that run on loop in the various SF neighborhoods (Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Chinatown). Depending upon your package, you have the opportunity to go to other destinations outside of the city. I used this package to tour the bridge, shop the neighborhoods throughout the day and tour a small waterfront town just outside of the city throughout the weekend. No charge for getting on and off.
I took one loop to get a feel for the city and spent the rest of the time getting on and off to explore and shop in the different neighborhoods. Haight-Ashbury was a blast (think retro 60's) with nice shopping and cheap eat restaurants for lunch. Union Square was shopping and Fisherman's Wharf was tons of crowds but a great area for young children (small parks to run around, stroller friendly streets, people watching bars for the parents to chill out at).
Other things to do... take a ferry to Saucilito, a small waterfront town to browse the art galleries. Rent a bike and take a guided tour across the Bridge (bike over, ferry back). Take a Segway tour of the neighborhoods. Best shopping (think funky shops, not national malls) is in Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods. There is a nice Macy's and Bloomingdales in Union Square for the mall deprived.
The hotel front staff is excellent and extremely well versed about the city, but if you're looking for neighborhood nightlife, (jazz, clubs, brunch), I'd use your 'free' wifi to browse Yelp and find recommendations to plan your non-touristy excursions. This worked well for me and allowed me to find an amazing small, neighborhood jazz brunch for Sunday morning and fun evening out. As an experienced (and hopefully smart) traveler, I used the internet for choices and then vetted transportation/neighborhoods/reputation with the front desk after to make sure I was informed with the best choice as a solo traveler.
In summary: Upscale luxury hotel, excellent staff and service. Good location- away from the crowds but close enough to Chinatown to explore. Be sure to use your AAA card (best rate) and sign up for the loyalty program (free wifi) for the best experience.
The TripAdvisor community has been great. Thanks for your reviews- hope this was helpful in return.
