Well we've booked for San Fran so thanks for everyone's help and advice. Decided on the Archbishop's Mansion - mostly based on fantastic looking rooms.
I wanted to post to say thanks to Donna who tipped me off on iloveinns.com where they have a guide book you can buy for $18 which comes with two "stay one night get a second free" certificates. I called up and booked and they said no problem for the free night - so that's like a $300 savings. Plus I used the second certificate for Olympia and saved another $140.
What a great deal! I'll have to remember that one. I wish I could think of a place to go soon where I could use the same offer. I'll have to look into it; maybe I'll get some ideas.
Yep, it is such a good deal that my wife thinks it must be some kind of scam. But I made the reservations for both places over the phone and there seemed to be no suprise or problems. The place in SF in fact email me two confirmations: one for the first night at normal rates and a second for the second night with a zero balance...