My husband and I are going to California at the end of March... flying into LA to visit my sisters for 3 nights... then driving up the coast to spend 3 nights in Big Sur. We're driving to San Francisco on a Friday and are taking a red-eye flight to NY on Saturday night. So, we basically have most of Friday and all day Saturday to enjoy San Francisco. Can anyone recommend a fun area to stay in? We've been to San Francisco once before for a day and stayed down by the wharf. We'd prefer to stay in another area... in the middle of the action. Union Square sounds like it might be good.

Can anyone recommend an area... and also a nice hotel? We'd like to spend no more than $250-300 for the night.

Thank you.

Stay in the Union Square area, and if you're willing to spend up to $300 a night you shouldn't have any trouble finding a suitable room.

We're thinking of the Hotel Adagio on Geary Steet. Any thoughts? Can you recommend a specific hotel?

Thank you.

The Compton Place Hotel is probably the best hotel in the Union Square area. Check out tripadvisor.com for user reviews of this and other hotels.

I can recommend the following:

Villa Florence, Savoy HOtel, Maxwell Hotel, Cartwright Hotel are all around Union Square. A lovely hotel (although not in Union Square area) is right down on the embarcadero off Market Street - the Griffon HOtel which also has a wonderful restaurant. It is within a block of the newly remodeled Ferry Building and other good restuarants and the very charming old trolley cars that run the emarcadero and Market Street.

I stay at the Villa Florence which is on Powell St. just one half block south of Union Sq. Just stayed there before Christmas. If you want a small hotel, pleasant and helpful staff, complimentary wine served at 5:00pm, Kuletos restaurant attached if you want a fantastic breakfast and everything all within walking distant it is a great hotel. Not 5 star luxery though.

Do walk through Union Sq. and sit at the cafe at the east side (outdoor tables) and have a drink and enjoy a bit of people watching.

Compton Place is certainly a luxery hotel and you might want to check them out since your budget might allow it.

BTW, Villa Florence is part of the Kimpton Group.