Donovan H.
Yelp
I've stayed in my share of hotels throughout the years. Everything that ranges from the cheap bedbug-infested fleabag motels up to the overpriced, posh 5-star luxury suites. These days, I mainly focus on affordability, convenience, and most importantly, location. "The Coventry Motor Inn" fits the bill and is definitely tops in my book, especially when staying in San Francisco. This place has 5 sister locations; "Chelsea Inn", "Cow Hollow Inn" (also on Lombard St.), "Columbus Inn" (near Fisherman's Wharf), " The Bay Landing Hotel" (at SFO), and "Vineyard Country Inn" (at St. Helena in the Napa wine country).
Located directly on Lombard St. (and adjacent to Buchanan St.), The Coventry Motor Inn is in the heart of the affluent Cow Hollow Marina District. There is a ton of things in close proximity; restaurants, coffee shops, parks, a library, shopping, the Marina Greens, and much more all within walking distance. Only two blocks away is Union St. where there is an endless amount of bars, shops, and boutiques. And roughly three blocks the other direction is Chestnut St. which also offers a variety of entertainment options. Public transportation here is abundant as Muni bus service runs nearby as well as plenty of Uber drivers to take you where you want to go.
This particular hotel is not fancy so if you're looking for a modern, updated experience with all the bells and whistles, look elsewhere. However, this place does offer all the necessary amenities. On the inside, they include free Wi-Fi, a 40" flatscreen TV, a fireproof safe, hairdryer, coffee maker, a Temper-Pedic brand mattress, full-size bathtub w/shower head, generous closet space, and a digital heater/air conditioner with a wall mounted unit. However, the main reason why I am deducting a star from this review is that there is no mini-refrigerator or a microwave inside (at least in the room I was staying in). The exterior does offer free complimentary parking; a major plus which is the primary reason why I wanted to stay here.
I booked my one-night stay from Saturday 4/1/2023 to Sunday 4/2/2023. Check-in times are at 3:00pm. I had arrived with my luggage at 2:45pm and the gentleman at the front desk was very polite. Keep in mind that a $100 refundable deposit is required (which you will get back after you check out of your room). Once you get your key cards, you proceed to the elevator and go up to either the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd floors. I stayed on the 1st floor and had a nice street view from Lombard Street. They also include an ice machine and soda machine near the elevator. And just a heads up, this place does not offer any type of breakfast/snacks so if you're hungry, I would recommend packing food prior to your stay. Check-out times are at 11:00am as everything flowed super smooth. I also got my $100 deposit wiped off my bank statement the following day.
All in all, "The Coventry Motor Inn" was a wonderful above-average experience as I recommend anyone that wishes to enjoy a safe and painless stay in a very desirable area of San Francisco. I booked my appointment online through Expedia and only paid $139 for the one night (which included all taxes and fees). I am sure you can find deals on other sites such as Priceline and Orbitz so it is good to keep an eye out for the best deal possible. With that said and done, I am giving my overall experience here an above average 4-star rating.