We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP in the series is Ben Lerer, the co-founder of Thrillist.com, a daily e-newsletter for guys detailing the best in food, drinks, events, gear, services and travel. Thrillist just recently launched a San Francisco-centric edition and here's where Ben stayed on his last trip to the City by the Bay. Enjoy.
On my last business trip to San Francisco, I was put up in the Hotel Tomo in Japantown. I can't say I was giddy about the lodgings -- Tomo's essentially a Best Western, and Best Western isn't exactly the sexiest company out there* -- but I was completely blown away by my experience.
The property was cool, with a boutique hotel feel, the service was great, and the price was fantastic.
It's no secret that SFO Media publisher Mark Johnson is in San Francisco. After all, he did get to ride on the virgin Virgin America flight from NY to SF.
So where did Mark rest his travel and Branson-weary head? Why at the Hotel Tomo. If you recall, the Tomo just re-opened in Japantown. In its former life, it was a Best Western but has since been done up in Japanime style by California hotelier--JDV Hospitality.
While the rooms certainly look cool, the thin walls are not. In fact, the crying babe who can be heard at the start of the video actually forced Mark to request a new room. Apparently babies don't like Japanime.
While Jason Pomeranc's 6 Columbus keeps working out the kinks, Chip Conley's newest hotel, Hotel Tomo is set to start taking reservations on June 1.
The hotel used to be the Best Western Miyako Inn in San Fran's Japantown but the only thing that remains is the Best Western handle. Inside Hotel Tomo, you will find lots of Japanese pop-culture artwork, (think anime), 26-inch LCD flat-screen TVs, iPod docking station and radio, J-Pop wall murals and what looks like Ugly Dolls on each bed.
There's also a restaurant called Mum's which specializes in shabu-shabu -- "thinly sliced meat and vegetables cooked at your table in an iron hot pot, and served with savory, special, house dipping sauces."
But the best part might be the two "gaming suites" available which include PS3 and Wii, bean bags, sofa bed, 6-foot LCD projection screen, microwaves and mini-refrigerators (What? No Guitar Hero??)
