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I think this is consistent with my claim that the Four Seasons was built in a good location and that San Francisco has elected to turn it into a shithole. Unfortunate. In one sense, @Tomato is correct that @2rafa is "visit[ing] cities incorrectly" and that more research is required, but I think "cities" is doing too much work there, when what we really mean is that the most pathologically progressive American cities have been ruined to the extent that you have to exercise a degree of attention that should never be necessary in first world hubs.
You don't have to do this in Geneva, Madrid, or Amsterdam. You just go to the Hyatt or Marriott website (or go independent if you want, it doesn't really matter for most purposes), select a hotel at the brand level you're comfortable with, and you will default to staying somewhere pretty neat. Sure, you could benefit from additional planning, but you don't need it to avoid being accosted by junkies.
I agree with everything you said, and no one should have to worry about making sure there isn't a homeless encampment a block away from a Four Seasons.
That said... 2cim isn't some yokel from Kansas City visiting San Francisco for the first time with her corn-fed husband and kids unexpectedly finding herself surrounded by syringes and shit. She is absolutely aware of the issues with San Francisco, and she's quite capable of finding and staying in parts of the city that are liveable.
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