DESPERATE FOR INFO RE: BEST HOTELS in San Francisco, Monterey(Carmel) and Santa Monica area for our first trip to Calf. Travelling with hubby and two teenagers (17 & 13). Looking for a central, safe location in the $150-$200 range. All help appreciated!

A great hotel in SF is the Ritz Carlton and the Clift Hotel (they are both centrally located by Union Square- a great place for your teens). The Loews in Santa Monica is very nice. Have a great time in the sunny state!

I do like the Ritz, but I love the Fairmont in SF.

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in SF. It is in the Embarcadero and is nice and safe. Sorry, don't know the hotels in Santa Monica area. We live 15 minutes from Disneyland and 10 minutes from Raging Waters (your teenagers would love this place!) We know all the theme parks in the area like the back of our hand. Please e-mail us if you would like some useful tips at [email protected]. Enjoy!!!

The Fairmont is great, but the Hilton (downtown) is very nice too. Good location.

Re: Santa Monica Hotel. Suggest you make inquiries at the Shangri-la on Ocean Avenue only if you can get a reeom with a view of Pacific Ocean and a balcony that overlooks it, and it's in your pride range. Loews Santa Monica and Shutters are right on beach,but a bit more formal and probably too expensive. Shangri-la is near , Santas Monica Pier, all good for walking, shopping, eating and people watching.

You are not seeking lodging in San Luis Obispo, but I recommend that you consider staying there, especially with teenagers since you seem to be driving along the coast highway. The Madonna Inn is an absolute scream as well as comfortable lodging. They have theme rooms--flintstones, caveman, train, etc. We stayed in the Rocky Mountain room which has a wateerfall shower. Ran us about $100 in 1993. Loooking back, I would have sprung for the most expensive and outlandish--in the $150-175 range. It's something your family will remember and talk about for some time!