Hotel Focus SFO

On the outside, the three-story Hotel Focus SFO is modern if not particularly attractive, with a rather ominous covered entrance of metal rods and corrugated material. Inside, the lobby’s light tile floor and patterned furniture feel dated and out-of-place with a  "Miami in the 1980s" vibe. A few rust-colored, mid-century modern chairs and a low, round, white marble coffee table top things off. There’s a desk with a computer for guest use by the lobby counter, and a screen displays arrival and departure information for SFO -- a useful touch. Outside the lobby, a few tables along the walls make up the small breakfast area. The C-shaped building surrounds a surprisingly pleasant interior courtyard with native-plant landscaping. A pebbled seating area includes an attractive cement fire pit with bright red Adirondack chairs, a great perch for breakfast on pleasant mornings.

Hotel Focus SFO is located in the city of South San Francisco, just off the 101 (Bayshore) Freeway, between San Francisco International Airport and San Francisco. The surrounding commercial area includes hotels, gas stations, and restaurants, including one just a six-minute walk from the hotel. The South San Francisco Conference Center is a five-minute walk away. From the airport (the hotel has a free shuttle), train service aboard the BART system takes approximately 30 minutes to downtown, or it’s a 20- to 40-minute drive, depending on traffic. It’s 39 minutes by public transit and 20 to 35 minutes by car to the Moscone Center and other downtown attractions. SFO is a seven-minute drive south.

No one stays at the Hotel Focus SFO for the rooms. Updated in 2016, they’re perfectly adequate and not unpleasant, but the generic, lower-quality furnishings show some wear, and the lack of personality makes them instantly forgettable. Rooms all have one queen or two double beds, and some queen rooms accommodate an extra bed. Most furnishings have a cherry finish; inexplicably, some headboards are tufted white vinyl. Some larger rooms have an alcove with a coffee table, but instead of a desk, each has just a chair with an attached tray, which can make for awkward working or in-room dining. Each room has a 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable, and some have an additional 50-inch flat-screen TV. Not all rooms have mini-fridges but all have Keurig single-serving coffeemakers, as well as ironing boards and irons. Hairdryers perch above sinks, some of which are outside the bathrooms. Bathrooms continue the bland style of the rooms, but are sufficient in size and have showers over tubs. All rooms have free Wi-Fi.

Features are where the Hotel Focus SFO shines, offering some perks rarely found at budget properties around the airport. Contrasting with the drabness of the interior, the appealing outdoor courtyard has been upgraded with attractive native plantings. The pebbled area has a modern cement fire pit and bench surrounded by bright red Adirondack chairs, a pleasant spot to take breakfast or warm up on typical foggy evenings. Free shuttle service to the airport means guests can do without a car, as SFO has its own BART station for local transit. Guests who do have a car can park in the hotel’s lot for a fee, and long-term parking is also available. The free breakfast offered here is quite basic, just cold cereal, instant oatmeal, bagels, donuts, maybe some fruit, and coffee, tea, and juice, so guests who want a hearty breakfast will have to dine elsewhere. A fitness room, available 24 hours, has a treadmill, an exercise bicycle, and a cross-trainer, as well as a yoga ball, a kettle bell, and a TV to watch while you work out. Guests have access to two front-loading washers and dryers for a fee. In the lobby, a computer is available for guest use -- not quite a business center -- and a board streams up-to-date arrival and departure information for SFO. In a bid to be more eco-friendly, the hotel has a charging station for electric vehicles. The Hotel Focus SFO is also pet-friendly, with a one-time fee charged per pet, and free Wi-Fi is available property-wide.