Long haul trips were the back bone of our relationship. I met my husband as a teenager, my first serious boyfriend and fingers crossed my last. We travelled as often as possible visiting India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, The Maldives, Hawaii the list goes on and on. Then came our beautiful children and we started looking for ‘family friendly’ resorts. Don’t we all do this in the UK? We spend thousands of pounds to sit around a pool with a ‘kids club’ and ‘mini disco’ and if your little ones are like mine they really just want to be sat with you and there is only so much of ‘the music man’ I can handle. If your holidays are becoming a bit monotonous maybe its time to think outside the box. Let me take you through our latest adventure and you can decide if its time you experienced San Fransisco.
We had to spend a few days searching for the best prices but check this out. Four flights with United Airlines from Heathrow cost us £1170! We jumped a Virgin train to London Euston and the Express train to Heathrow terminal 2 for around £160 in total. The kids loved it! Our flight time was around 9hrs 50 minutes and I have to mention how family friendly United Airlines are. The cabin crew went above and beyond for both children and to be honest we have not experienced that before on shorter flights. For example one air stewardess struck up a conversation with my son and he told her he didn’t eat any of the in flight meal. She went away and came back with tomato soup and a bread roll complete with a Kit Kat chocolate bar! Something she didn’t have to do but will guarantee our future custom, we were so appreciative of the extra effort made. Nice one United!
San Francisco-based Greystone Hotels hosted my family for 4 nights at the wonderful King George Hotel on Mason Street in the heart of Union Square. The recently completed $5.5 million top to bottom remodel has created a new level of comfort and style to the lobby, guestrooms, corridors and bathrooms. When we arrived we were greeted with the centrepiece of the King George Hotel the newly introduced Mason Social Club, which unites the lobby, bar, hotel living room, technology centre and new games room into one multifunctional space that is reminiscent of an English pub.
Plenty of room for the kids to safely wonder around and check out the pool table, sample the days complimentary fresh fruit water and step inside the giant red British telephone box. This hotel is filled with little treasures from the Union Jack cushions, ornaments, billiards table, dart boards, and table shuffle board games there is plenty on hand to entertain the little one’s and adults too.
On arrival, guests check in at pods immediately inside the front entry or check in on their mobile device using KeyPR technology, which also activates the room key on the guest’s mobile device. The KeyPR technology is facilitated by complimentary WiFi access throughout the entire hotel, including Mason Social Club. If in doubt the staff on reception are happy to help. The rooms are cosy and the beds are amazing! After walking the streets of San Fransisco you need the best beds in town and I think we found them.
There is so much to see and do as a family here. From riding the cable cars to Madame Tussauds, Aquarium of the Bay and The Exploratorium we barely came up for air and the memories we made will last a life time. Check out my list of Things to do with the family in San Fran.
Everything from the tremendous pancake breakfast feasts to China Town will leave you and your family wanting to return again even before you board your flight home.
After a full day of sightseeing and shopping, guests at King George Hotel can quench their thirst at the bar, where a wide range of beer and wines are served along with light snacks. It became a nightly ritual for us to wind down at the bar with a glass of red wine while the kids showed us their favourite photographs of the day. As beautiful and well kept as this hotel is I have to say it’s the staff who made our trip such a success. Always happy to help and always with a smile to greet you, you would have a hard job finding a more pleasant hotel to visit anywhere in the world. Typically a nights stay here will cost as little as £150 per night for a family room.
Subscribe now to Ladies of Liverpool: The Podcast to hear from the ladies of San Fransisco recorded live at King George Hotel. For more information, please visit kinggeorge.com or masonsocialclub.com.
