Your true love first became obsessed with San Francisco after hearing that in the old days it was called the Paris of the West. That made it the most romantic city in the United States. To manage expectations, you offer a reminder that it’s most likely called the Foggy City nowadays. After all, San Francisco occupies a hilly spot on a peninsula in ever misty Northern California. Ever game, your beloved says fog is charming — and that the nook-filled Bay Area has raw nature aplenty and miles of heart-stopping coastline. Then regales you with descriptions of the city’s slope-like streets citing, “Cable cars zip, the scent of baking sourdough bread wafts, wooden wharves brim with corpulent sea lions, and flush Victorian houses stand multi-colored and catawampus all in a row.” Before you can respond, there’s another breathless deluge of information about mansions in Pacific Heights, the edgy Mission District, the museum laden SoMa and the global brand-infused, swanky vibe of Union Square. But in the end, you know the most anticipated stop is Golden Gate National Park, in the heart of the city, home to the storied bridge.
You’ve done some research yourself and boastfully you seduce with options. “We’ll nibble dim sum in Chinatown, peruse the second-hand shops along Haight Street, sample the nightlife in hip Castro and hop the green cable cars to Fisherman’s Wharf for a seafood feast,” you say. Only to be countered by, “And can we visit Coit Tower, Alcatraz Island, Telegraph Hill and run hand-in-hand across the Golden Gate Bridge!” Together you cheer. “And the wine country awaits just an hour away!” However, it’s only a honeymoon dream until you put the plan in motion. After all, you’re not engaged officially yet. But what if you didn’t have to wait for after the nuptials to visit? What if you went now and made a surprise proposal. San Francisco wouldn’t be your honeymoon; it would be your engagement trip.
Enter the bedazzling Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, located in the city’s prestigious Nob Hill neighborhood. While you know how to set a romantic scene to impress, the idea does overwhelm. Lucky for you both, the hotel vaunts a dedicated Proposal Concierge, whose sole goal in life is to ensure you attain that picture-perfect wedding proposal you both have envisioned. Via the lovey-dovey Presidential Suite Proposal Package you will luxuriate with breathtaking views of San Francisco in the hotel’s jewel in the crown guestroom, while the Proposal Concierge attends to every detail behind the scenes. Your two-night stay includes: a pampering afternoon of appointments for hair, nails and makeup application in the city. Evening brings a private four-course and wine-paired dinner, set on the suite’s rose petal-filled terrace. To the background of diamond-like city lights, a violinist will serenade, embodying your devotion to one another. The next day, newly engaged, officially at last, you’ll be whisked away by a private chauffeur and accompanied by a professional photographer to capture engagement photos with the picturesque city of San Francisco — the Paris of the West — as your backdrop. Rates on request.
More on the hotel:
A fixture in the city for more than 30 years boasting a neo-classical façade dating back to 1909, The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco is one of the most charming and romantic hotels in the city. It blends history with contemporary elegance. The lobby is adorned with marble columns and crystal chandeliers, while guest rooms offer some of the city’s best skyline and bay views.
