I traveled on september 2009 with my girlfriend. Since it was our first time in San Francisco, we wanted a central hotel near Union Square which wasn't very expensive.
We found this hotel and started reading all the reviews in Tripadvisor and saw they were very good. We also contacted the hotel and asked them to send them more pictures, which they did right away.
The hotel is located just 3 streets of Union Square (and Powell street) and there is a Muni just around the block (free if you buy the city pass) that takes you there.
The rooms are great, confortable queen bed, lcd/plasma tv, big bathroom and a kitchenette with fridge and microwave.
There was free Wifi at the lobby and the staff was very helpful. There was a parking lot just around the corner ($$).
When we arrived, they gave us a key to a room that was already taken. We went to the front desk and they immediately gave us a key to another room.
The only thing that shocked us was that just when we arrived, we had to use the service elevator, which was in pretty bad shape. It had no ceiling and just a lightbulb hanging from it. However, after 2 days, both of the elevators started working just fine.

If you're on a budget and want a pretty good hotel, this should be your choice.

I stayed here in half term holiday period with 5 girlfriends. The hotel is in a great location, only a few blocks from Union Square reached within 5 minutes walk. We were all put on the 12th floor (this is the highest floor). Rooms had all been decorated recently. (worth noting that hairdryers are now supplied as this is now stated in hotel details). There are adequate kitchenettes in each room with fridges and wine openers! The rooms varied in size. Mine was small but prefectly adequate whilst others had proper suites! There are very good restaurants just a short stroll from the hotel including Chutney's Indian and Dottie's for breakfast (you need to get there very early by 07:30am at latest as queues form very quickly through the whole morning). the reception staff were happy to answer any queries and can given you the directions to anywhere you want to go. If you are going for a week make sure you get a San francisco City Pass. This gives you free transport around SF and at $5 per cable car ride this can add up. It also gives you free entry to lots of the best things to see and do. Do make sure you book your Alcatraz trip in advance not to be missed. Make sure you also book Beach Blanket Babylon!

I have lived at the Gaylord for almost 9 yrs. and I have seen this beautiful building decline. In 2002, it was still a S.F. gem with the friendly vibe that you now must travel to Portland to find. It was an apartment building/community of friendly neighbors, Tuesday pasta nights, Friday happy hours, and Sunday brunches enjoyed by residents from 1 to 94 years old, until a local real estate co. bought the building, harassed 80-85% of the tenants out of the building including two women who were dying of cancer. The real estate co.'s tactics made the front pages of SF newpapers.The new owners also gutted out much of the 1929 Moorish Art Deco and antiques. They replaced real palm plants in the lobby with plastic palms and raised the rate$. The 'renovated' rooms are stark and bland. Courtyard trees have been cut down so that the sirens are even louder and rooms are dustier. The Spanish tile fountain and garden were bulldozed and replaced with asphalt and unpainted grey-concrete German brutalism. Upkeep and cleaning of the building have declined. The friendliness is gone. A bank has taken over the building and we all know how much banks know or care about running a hotel/former apartment building.

Having read the very mixed revews of this place, we arrived with some trepidation. First they tried to give us a room that was midway through renovation and seemed surprised when we refused it. We were then moved to a much nicer room on the 11th floor.

The room is sparsely, but adequately furnished. We were there during a heatwave, so a fan or air-con would have been appreciated, but would not normally be necessary.

The room is only serviced once a week, and by the end of the first week it's pretty dusty and grotty.

The location is excellent for all tourist sites and transport, an while the area to the south of the hotel might look and feel very dodgy, we always felt safe.

Staff were friendly enough, but they don't do anyting other than man the front desk.

If you're looking for a no frills pied a terre in the heart of San Francisco, then this is a great place. Just don't expect to much comfort or service.