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Great Escapes Travel: San Francisco
by Ashlea Deahl

For the full holiday effect, you'll want to start with a cozy hotel, smack-dab in the middle of Union Square. You might have to splurge a little for the location, but the closeness to the best shopping, dining and entertainment in the city is definitely worth the extra cash.

One option is Kensington Park Hotel, which was built in 1925 and is located on Post Street within eyeshot of Union Square - it's a worthy fit for those who dig a Dickens-style December. The warm, classic lobby is draped with decadent crystal chandeliers, cushy velvet seating, Queen Anne antiques, mosaic tiling and ornate gold-framed mirrors, all of which perfectly complement the Moorish-style building. Complimentary tea, sherry and holiday cookies every evening from 4 p.m to 6 p.m round out the lobby's welcoming vibe. Upstairs, the rooms exude the same coziness 0 they come complete with mahogany armoires, marble bathrooms, feather beds and caramel-colored duvets.

The hotel shares the building with San Francisco's storied Elks Lodge and the Post Street Theatre, where, should you need a New York fix, you can check out the Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean - a corny but comical musical review of the Rat Pack. The show runs through the New Year.

For dinner, don't miss Farallon, which is next door. The upscale seafood restaurant assumes an aquatic theme - squid shaped lamps loom overhead, velvet booths slop up and down like sand dunes, and even delicate aqua appetizer plates look like jellyfish - without screaming "under the sea." The restaurant's original, hand-tiled ceiling once sheltered the Elks Lodge's Olympic-sized swimming pool in the 1920s, and now hovers over locals and tourists who dine on mouthwatering fish dishes from the menu, which morphs daily.

Equally impressive are the hotel's prices, especially for this time of year. Kensington Park, along with its sexier sister hotel, Hotel Diva, is offering a special holiday rate of $179 per night. The price includes deluxe accommodations for two, complimentary parking, Macy's coupons, a signature holiday ornament, and two Boudin Bakery breakfast boxes filled with fresh pastries, fruit, and juice.

Other hotels in the neighborhood are offering holiday specials, as well, including Hotel Union Square, a simple chic boutique that's located along the cable car line on Powell Street, which can be had for $109 a night. Another option is the colorful Hotel Metropolis on Mason Street, which has a special holiday kids' suite for $250 per night. The three-room suite caters especially to tots by offering bunk beds, toys, kid-friendly furniture and, for those who've made it onto Santa's "nice" list, a candy cane on the pillow. A guestroom and adjoining living room, complete with a fridge and a wet bar, are included for the adults (both naughty and nice).

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