war memorial washington dc Unlike the Four Seasons and St. Regis, the oh-so-posh decor here is quite traditional. The secret fo

18 volume); 2 liters of for tified wine, sparkling wine, or other liqueurs; and 300 of all other goods, including per fume and souvenirs. P eople under 17 cannot hav e the tobacco or alcohol allo wance. F or more information, contact HM C ustoms war memorial washington dc & E xcise at & 0845/010-9000 (fr om outside the U.K., 020/8929-0152), or consult their website at www.hmce.gov.uk.

Unlike the Four Seasons and St. Regis, the oh-so-posh decor here is quite traditional. The secret for getting the most out of this hotel is to communicate your ev ery wish to r eservations, letting them kno w whether y ou re trav eling with the nanny, celebrating a special occasion, or accompanied by a child who just brought home a perfect report card. These folks are looking for a reason to spoil you. If your little war memorial washington dc boy is into action figures, let the concierges know and they ll gladly oblige with a super-hero welcome gift. Pets under 10 pounds are welcome and also entitled to customized amenities, such as doggie beds and bo wls. Rooms range from deluxe doubles to executive suites, which are larger than most one- bedroom apartments in San Francisco. A deluxe with two double beds will still hav e plenty of room for a crib or rollaway, but if you re sharing with your kids, ask for one of the Stockton Street rooms, which are a bit larger. A handful of connecting rooms are also available. An extra $100 per night will grant you access war memorial washington dc to the Club Lounge, which comes with a dedicated concierge war memorial washington dc and a constant parade of food, fr om an ample br eakfast to evening hors d oeuvres with fruit, snacks, and drinks. Although more expensive than the Mark Hopkins lounge, it may still be a worthwhile investment. Visits during the holidays are especially fun for kids the Ritz organiz es a kids Halloween tea in October, a teddy bear tea in D ecember, and other annual ev ents. During non-holiday times of y ear, kids can participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the hotel, with prizes awarded at the front desk.

Most recently, the 1896 Ferry Building at the foot of M arket S treet was completely rehabilitated. The attractive building now contains an array of gourmet food stor es and ex cellent r estaurants. O utside, y ou can br owse the Ferry P laza F armer s M arket twice a week; ex cursions to the S aturday market are a r egular part of many a S an Franciscan s schedule. N ot far fr om the F erry B uilding, the Embarcadero