Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf Hotel

In the range of hotels around touristy Fisherman's Wharf, the 531-room Sheraton falls somewhere in the middle. Rooms are large and comfortable, and the hotel is well located -- just a few blocks from the area's major attractions (Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square, the sea lions sunning themselves on the docks). There isn't much that's striking about the hotel, except that the design is somehow both bold and boring: The beige facade looks like a '60s apartment complex, while the interiors have an almost overwhelming IKEA flavor -- all geometric shapes and bold colors. All told, this is a sufficient choice as a home base for tourists with busy sightseeing itineraries. If price isn't as important as luxurious accommodations at the wharf, go for the Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square or the Argonaut, both high-end hotels slightly cut off from the tourist crowds in the area.

Just over a block from Fisherman's Wharf, the Sheraton is conveniently located near the docks where ferries leave for Alcatraz, Sausalito, and Tiburon. A 25-minute stroll on the boardwalk -- or a short ride on the F-line streetcar, which also stops a block away from the hotel -- will get you to the fancy waterside restaurants at the Embarcadero. The terminus of the Powell-Mason cable car line, which connects to Union Square, is a block away, as well.

• Three-minute walk to Madame Tussauds San Francisco
• Five-minute walk to North Beach (San Francisco's Little Italy)
• Six-minute walk to Pier 39
• 11-minute walk to Ghirardelli Square
• 11-minute walk to San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
• 20-minute walk to Coit Tower, Chinatown, and the Exploratorium
• 20- to 25-minute drive to Golden Gate Park
• 40- to 50-minute drive to San Francisco International Airport

The rooms are a bit larger than average (320 square feet for a standard room), and come with Sheraton's signature Sweet Sleeper Beds, which have Sealy Posturepedic mattresses, down duvets, and hypoallergenic pillows. There are coffeemakers, Sony Dream Machine clock radios, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable and pay-per-view movies. In-room Wi-Fi costs a daily fee (free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby). Room service is limited to just breakfast and dinner.

The Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf offers a few unexpected features for a mid-range hotel. An on-site cafe serves a breakfast buffet every morning (for a fee); guests can enjoy their meal in the cheery breakfast room or outside, in the landscaped courtyard, which features comfortable garden furniture and picnic tables, as well as simple wooden tables and chairs. In addition to the breakfast room, there is a Link@Sheraton counter that sells coffee, bottled juices, granola bars, single-serving cereals, and baked goods. Next to the Link@Sheraton is a small business center with two PCs and two printers. The hotel offers two meeting rooms and three ballrooms; the largest is nearly 2,500 square feet. Catering, audiovisual equipment, and a technician are available.
Other features include a Dollar car rental desk, a small heated outdoor pool and a 24-hour gym with seven cardio machines and a multipurpose strength-training machine, as well as as well as free weights, stability balls, and jump ropes. There is no charge for pets, but only those weighing 45 pounds or less are allowed.