Hotel: Ritz Carlton Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA
RITZ CARLTON PHILADELPHIA

10 AVENUE OF THE ARTS
PHILADELPHIA PA

Phone Number:
Fax Number:

Number Of Rooms: 1

Check Out: Jun 15, 2004


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No flight with this one. Drove up to Philadelphia, about 2 and half hours from DC. I-95, Patterson Street, up Broad. First time I've seen this area without Vetrans' Stadium. Very strange experience. The new baseball field looked great (there was a night game going on).

This hotel is right next to City Hall in the old Girard Bank building. The rotunda is a fantasic lobby area, and entire building is posh and tasteful, and about the nicest and most helpful hotel staff you can find anywhere. Of course, much nicer than I'm used to for business travel and not here enough to really enjoy it.

Flight: United #186 SFO-IAD

Departing From: San Francisco California (SFO)
Traveling To: Washington Dulles (IAD)
ETD: 8:40 AM PST
ETA: 5:15 PM EST
Est. Duration: 5 h 29 m
Act. Duration:
Departure Gate: 70
Arrival Gate: C8
Seat: 9F (Economy Plus, Window)
Equipment: Airbus 320
Miles: 2419
Other: Breakfast

Hotel: The Fairmont San Francisco

City: San Francisco, CA
Chain: FAIRMONT HOTELS
Property: THE FAIRMONT SAN FRANCISCO
Address: 950 MASON STREET, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94108
Phone Number: 415 772-5000
Fax Number: 415 391-4833
Rate: 215.00 USD Per Night
Check Out: Jun 09, 2004


The hotel sits at the top of "Nob Hill", pretty much at the very high point of San Francisco. While not necessarily the most interesting place in town (not much nightlife nearby, tall buildings blocking most of the views), it is quite a bit quieter here than down along Market Street and a very relaxing place to stay. The California Street cable car runs right by, which makes it easy to get to Market street or over to the Fisherman's Wharf area ($3 a ride, pay driver cash).

This is a very historic and posh hotel, well beyond what a business traveler normally expects (at least this business traveler). Extremely high service level from the minute you get out of the car. The lobby and lounge areas make you feel like you're well-to-do, and you get the enjoyment of feeling like you're not out of place for acting like a gentleman. Hotel's claim-to-fame: Tony Bennett supposedly sang "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" for the first time here, and the hotel was the model for the television drama "Hotel" from 20 years ago or so (don't remember it).

Room was relatively spacious, with a walk-in closet, and a large, nice bathroom. My room was facing the interior of the hotel, which overlooked equipment and a roof. Killed the experience.

Flight: United #201 IAD-SFO

Departing From: Washington Dulles (IAD)
Traveling To: San Francisco California (SFO)
ETD: 2:40 PM EST
ETA: 5:30 PM PST
Est. Duration: 5 h 50 m
Departure Gate: C4
Arrival Gate: Terminal 3
Seat: 21B (Economy Plus, Aisle)
Equipment: Boeing 767
Miles: 2419
Other:

Flight: US Air #3965 PIT-BWI

Also known as US AIRWAYS EXPRESS-ALLEGHENY AIRLINES -- US 3965
Booked as United #3399 PIT-BWI

Departing From: Pittsburgh Int'l Apt. (PIT)
Traveling To: Baltimore/Washington Balt/Wash Intl (BWI)
ETD: 8:35 PM EST
ETA: 9:45 PM EST
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat:
Equipment:
Miles: 500 (actual probably around 260)
Other:

Flight: US Air #801 EWR-PIT

Booked as United #2439 EWR-PIT

Departing From: Newark Liberty International (EWR)
Traveling To: Pittsburgh Int'l Apt. (PIT)
ETD: 6:00 PM EST
ETA: 7:34 PM EST
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 19D
Equipment:
Miles: 500 (probably around 380)
Other:

Flight: United #664 ORD-EWR

Departing From: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
Traveling To: Newark Liberty International (EWR)
ETD: 9:00 PM CST
ETA: 11:58 PM EST
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 8C
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles: 719
Other:

Delayed - got in very late and tremendous delay in getting bag from airport handlers.

Flight: United #628 DFW-ORD

Departing From: Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 5:26 PM CST
ETA:
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 11B
Equipment: Airbus 319
Miles:
Other:

Flight: United #1203 ORD-DFW

Departing From: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
Traveling To: Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW)
ETD: 6:30 AM CST
ETA: 8:53 AM CST
Est. Duration: 2 h 20 m (Act. Duration: 2 hr 20 min)
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 9C
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Was originally supposed to be United #1189 at 7:55 PM the night before.

Flight: United #473 BWI-ORD

Departing From: Baltimore Washington (BWI
Traveling To: Chicago Ohare (ORD)
ETD: 5:30 EST
ETA: 6:35 AM CST
Est. Duration:
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 16A
Equipment:
Miles:
Other:

Flight was massively delayed, to the point where I missed all the connecting flights for the day. Had to find a hotel room for the night, which was a major hassle and United and Ohare are absolutely no help on this (Orbitz wasn't either -- dealing with cancelations was a disaster and you wait on hold longer than your battery can hold out).

Flight: US Air #6500 Denver-BWI

Actually a United Flight.

Departing From: Denver
Traveling To: Baltimore-Washington Intl (BWI)
ETD: 12:28 PM MST
ETA: 5:50 PM EST
Est. Duration: 3 hours 22 minutes
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 34F
Equipment: Boeing 757
Miles: 1500
Other:

Flight: US Air #6218 PDX-Denver

Actually a United Flight.

Departing From: Portland, Oregon (PDX)
Traveling To: Denver
ETD: 8:35 AM PST
ETA: 11:28 AM MST
Est. Duration: 2 hours 23 minutes
Departure Gate:
Arrival Gate:
Seat: 10F
Equipment: Boeing 757
Miles: 983
Other: