The Historic Fairmont Hotel…

When I made my first trip up to San Francisco for the holidays (well, I went once when I was 18 but that totally doesn’t count), I knew the Fairmont was a must — especially for Christmas!

It’s one of the oldest hotels in SF, opened in 1907, and one of the most grand. With 591 rooms and perched atop Nob Hill, you get the best views of the city and steepest.

The location was a breath of fresh compared to all the hotels we were staying in downtown/Union Square. It felt so clean, castle-like and definitely like we were worlds away. Across the street of the hotel is a really nice grassy park — perfect for the pups.

The interior definitely feels like it hasn’t changed much from the early 1900s but it has its own old-world grandeur charm. The holiday festivities were the sweetest, with a gigantic Christmas tree and a walk-through gingerbread house. The room was a decent size with a large walk-in closet — great for longer stays! Pets are $75 per stay. Rooms start at $400.