Club Donatello

Question

Hello,

I am looking at hotels for a short stay in San Francisco in early October and I have come across the Club Donatello. From what I can gather, I understand The Donatello and Club Donatello operate in the same building, but the former is a typical hotel whereas Club Donatello are "timeshare" rooms. The room I have found is via Agoda, but it doesn't mention anything about timeshare, it just looks like any other regular hotel booking. It seems to be an absolute bargain at just $148.69 per night. Will I notice any difference in my stay booking this "timeshare" option over any other hotel?

Also, I have never visited San Francisco before (I'm from the UK), the Agoda booking says it incudes taxes and fees, but I'm not sure about the "resort fee", I have heard about this but not sure how it works. Does anyone know if that, or other fees, might be added on arrival or should it all be included as Agoda says?

Many Thanks

Answer

Booking a room at Club Donatello versus the regular Donatello hotel generally comes with a few subtle differences, but for a short stay like yours, most guests don’t notice much difference. The Club Donatello units are part of a timeshare program, but when you book through a standard platform like Agoda, the stay functions similarly to a regular hotel booking: you’ll have access to your room for the duration booked without being obliged to attend any timeshare presentations.

Here’s what you can expect or consider:

Room Type: Club Donatello rooms may be slightly larger and include small kitchenettes or sitting areas, reflecting the timeshare design. Standard hotel rooms are typically more compact.
Service & Amenities: Front desk, housekeeping, and general amenities are similar to the regular hotel. You probably won’t notice a difference in daily services for a short stay.
Timeshare Presentations: Most Agoda bookings don’t require you to attend a timeshare pitch. Occasionally, some guests report being invited to optional presentations, but these are not mandatory.

Regarding fees and taxes:

Taxes and Fees: Agoda usually includes local taxes in the total price. In San Francisco, hotel tax is around 14-15%, so if Agoda confirms all taxes and fees are included, you typically won’t have additional charges beyond optional incidentals like minibar or room service.
Resort Fees: Unlike Las Vegas or some coastal resorts, Club Donatello does not generally charge a separate resort fee. If a resort fee were applicable, it should be clearly listed during the booking process on Agoda. You can double-check by contacting the property directly before arrival.
Incidentals: Standard deposits may be required on check-in (via credit card) to cover potential damages or extras. This is separate from taxes and fees but refundable if nothing extra is used or damaged.

In summary, for your first visit to San Francisco, booking through Agoda at Club Donatello should be a good deal, with a typical hotel experience and no unexpected fees, assuming Agoda explicitly includes taxes and fees in the total. Just bring a credit card for incidentals, and you should be set for a comfortable stay.

Club Donatello

More San Francisco Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions