San Francisco on sale: Uncovering incredible hotel deals

SAN FRANCISCO -- As hotel amenities go, Zeke the Wonder Dog ranks among the most adorable. From his perch in a snazzy carrying case at the front desk of Kimpton's Hotel Monaco, the Chihuahua-terrier mix "has met more international travelers in six months than most people do in a lifetime," boasts guest services manager Kerby Frantz.

But this summer, it's not just the cute mascot, convenient Union Square location and free wine hour in front of a two-story French fireplace that's drawing travelers to this four-star boutique hotel — or to other swank lodgings in one of the USA's priciest and most cosmopolitan cities. "The deals are incredible," Frantz says.

On cue, Las Vegas' Eric and Danielle Williams step up to the Monaco desk to check out after a long Memorial Day getaway. The rate they say they nabbed through an Internet discounter? $86 a night, vs. normal starting rates of $159 to $259.

Across Geary Street from the Monaco, Joie de Vivre's hip Spanish-revival Hotel Adagio offers free, personalized walking tours for guests staying two or more nights — and for stays booked by Monday through San Francisco-basedLocalGetaways.com, a space-available rate of $105 a night with overnight parking (a $39 value).

"It's a painful time for hotels, but from a consumer's perspective, the prices remind me of what we saw in Asia after their currency collapse in 1997," says Barbara Messing of deals consolidator Travel-Ticker.com, which touts such bargains as the newly remodeled, four-star Villa Florence for $85 (a 50% discount).

San Francisco's tourism industry made gains last year, despite the economic slowdown. But an influx of techie travelers for this week's high-profile Apple conference notwithstanding, a recent decline in the ranks of corporate and international visitors has translated to hotel prices that have dropped an average of 13.4% through April vs. a year ago, according to PKF Consulting.

Three years ago, $150 a night would have gotten visitors "a two-star hotel on the outskirts of the city," says PKF's Christopher Kraus. Now, "they can get a four-star on Nob Hill." Some strategies for bargain hounds: