Luxury vacation rental meets upscale hotel at the city's best, if most expensive, residence-style lodging. The Ghirardelli Square factory setting has plenty of character, while modern one-, two-, and three-bedroom units feel like designer model homes with top-of-the-line amenities. Maserati car service, personal grocery shopping, 24-hour butlers, and free breakfasts are among service highlights.

Renovated in 2008, this 531-room Sheraton has large, comfortable, and colorful rooms. Outdoor firepits, an outdoor heated pool, and a spacious, modern gym are nice touches. Overall, the hotel is nothing special, but it's a solid choice for tourists exploring Fisherman's Wharf.

After finishing its renovations in 2011, this 285-room Marriott is one of the freshest-feeling hotels in kid-friendly Fisherman's Wharf, and is located three blocks from the shops and attractions along the waterfront. It has up-to-date guest rooms and a spacious fitness center, but unlike the Sheraton, Radisson, Hilton, and Hyatt, it lacks a pool.

Converted from an old canning factory and reopened with 252 nautical-themed rooms and suites, the Argonaut is one of Fisherman's Wharf's best options. Spacious rooms, which underwent soft renovations in 2012, have more character than the nearby Radisson or Hyatt, special features include a free nightly wine reception, and the location makes some of San Francisco's most popular attractions easily accessible.

The confusing co-branding of this hotel really says it all: Best Western Plus The Tuscan -- a Kimpton Hotel is the lovechild of two very different chains. Contemporary rooms have some bold, quirky accents a la Kimpton, a luxury boutique hotel company, but the overall feel is mid-range. The hotel has the requisite Kimpton theme (the decor is inspired by Tuscany), and offers the nightly wine hours that are a hallmark of the brand, but it lacks the usual Kimpton features -- there is no fitness center and spa services are not offered. It's a solid mid-range option for the Fisherman's Wharf area, but those who come expecting a hotel up to Kimpton standards are bound to be disappointed. The nearby Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf may offer you more for your money.

For folks looking to stay in the heart of the convenient, crowded, and tourist-friendly Fisherman's Wharf, the 234-room Hilton meets basic expectations, but other hotels in the vicinity offer better value.

The 313-room Hyatt offers more style (and amenities) per dollar than the other Wharf area chain hotels. It has comfortable rooms, a sleek lobby, a lively sports bar (in an even more impressive space), a large fitness center, and a pool.

With a knockout pool area and direct access from the hotel grounds to the waterfront in Fisherman's Wharf, the Radisson is as family-friendly as a San Francisco hotel gets. The pool will keep kids happy and the convenient location will keep adults sane. And the entire hotel, including all guest rooms, was renovated in 2012.

The 585-room Holiday Inn is probably the least attractive of the chain-hotel options near Fisherman's Wharf. Nearby hotels offer cheaper or comparable rates and better amenities -- like the Hyatt, with its superior restaurant and fitness center, and the Radisson, with it's direct wharf access and impressive pool.