Luxury Explorer’s concierge team prearranged a limo transfer and we checked into the Taj Campton Place at 7.00pm local time, with the intention of freshening up and going walkabout around Union Square, which our corner room overlooked.

Room 1101, a “Deluxe with king size bed and a spacious homelike atmosphere”, offered all the luxe-trotting touches you’d hope for, including 42” LCD TV and Nespresso coffee maker. Taj’s legendary service includes turndown and chocolates and twice daily towel changes.

3am... how comfortable is this bed? Extremely... nearly as good as our Vi- Spring at home! Body clocks whirring... 11am at home - nearly lunchtime... back to sleep then... (if only!). Roll-on breakfast...

Friday - a little sightseeing and gourmandising. The restaurant at Campton Place offers an ambience of efficiency and extremely polite service and it was a pleasant surprise to be served, rather than the ubiquitous help yourself breakfast buffet. The comprehensive menu offers a healthy fresh fruit, yogurt and granola option, one portion of which would easily have satisfied us both. Head Chef, Srijith Gopinathan, is revered by Campton Place regulars and I can understand why. His experience includes stints at, amongst other establishments of note, Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

Saturday Sunny and warm again, as we board a cable car for the first time in Union Square, just outside the hotel. The Powell Mason Line stops at Fisherman’s Wharf, where we pick up our mountain bikes from Blazing Saddles. We need the exercise desperately, and what better way to take in the sights. Equipped with water and guide maps we head towards Golden Gate Bridge, which we cross after an hour and a half. The view from the bridge is simply magnificent and watching the swirling eddy of the pale blue tide passing below is mesmerizing.The ferry back took 30 minutes and affords spectacular views of Golden Gate Bridge and the famous city skyline from a San Francisco Bay perspective.

Sunday Bay City Bike Rentals supply our ‘steeds’, today. Mounting our lighter ‘hybrids’, we head for Golden Gate Park, which entails scaling Pacific Heights. Although we tried our best to avoid the steeper gradients, by the time we arrived at our destination we were ready to take a taxi back to the hotel for a shower.

Monday Our helpful Concierge had booked a table for dinner at the Carnelian Rooms on the 52nd floor of the Bank of America building. She did us proud by reserving us “pole position”, a table facing two picture windows meeting at the corner, offering truly staggering views of San Francisco Bay.

Andrew Kenny

Read the full review and book online at www.luxuryexplorer.com