Packing anxiety is a thing, it's a real problem, right? You're so excited for your trip to SF and want to look absolutely fabulous the entire time - then, suddenly you feel completely overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Well don't worry, we're here to coach you through this...

Let's get one thing clear first. San Francisco weather is highly unpredictable, no matter what season it is. Even the different districts and neighborhoods have their own microclimates. In just 7 miles, from one end of the city to the other, San Francisco can surprise you with thick fog, patches of sun, wind tunnels, and possible areas of rain. 

So, for winter, we have a few tips to ease your packing anxiety. (Chances are these tips will be appropriate no matter when you visit, thanks to SF's ever-changing conditions).

•  Layers are key - both lightweight and heavier layers: t-shirts, warm sweaters, leggings, scarves, hoodies, maybe even gloves. The point is to bring anything that is easy to remove if the sun peeks out and it suddenly becomes warm, but easy to carry and put back on when the clouds roll in.

• A warm coat, especially for walking around the city.

• Comfy closed toed shoes. (No flip flops - save those for September/October)

We are a fairly casual city. Remember to choose comfort first, then add layers. For example...

Some winter looks we love (for more inspiration check out our Fashion // Style board on Pinterest):

Feeling merry, spending money, eating food, drinking cocktails: kind of expected during the holidays... but drinking really good cocktails, adds another level of festivity. Here's your guide to the best places to get a good, well crafted cocktail. Sorry vodka red bull lovers, this guide might not be for you.

1. Tradition

Private confessionals? Check. Church Pews? Check. Craft cocktails? Check. Welcome to Tradition, where the atmosphere is regal and the cocktails are traditional with a twist.

Our fav is the Sazerac. Many places say they can make this, and most can't. Cognac, Rye Whisky, sugar, Angostora & Peychard bitters with a touch of absinthe. 

2. Gitane

If it's hidden in an alley then it must be special. This unknown little gem is a mix of sexy playfulness and modern swagger.

Must try cocktail:  Curandero - La Vida Mezcal, Blood Orange, dash of absinthe

3. Rye

Think of Rye's version of the Hot Toddy (the Hot Ta-dah) as Christmas in a châteaux, by a warm fireplace overlooking the Swiss Alps. It's that magical.

Must Try cocktail: The Hot Ta-dah - obviously.
Wild turkey Rye, Averna, ginger syrup, Angostora bitters nutmeg, lemon and a sprig of rosemary.

4. 15 Romolo

Just a short walk from Union Square and located up an alley (we like these types of places) is where you can the one and only Santa Suckerpunch.

Old grand-dad bonded bourbon, aperol, pedro ximenez sherry, lemon, bitters.

Psst... they also have a burger with Peanut Butter - It's Ahh-mazing!

5. Jaspers

Negronis on tap? Yes please. 
Located in the Tenderloin, Jaspers has Negronis on tap and really what more do you need to know?

A few weeks ago we were delighted to have designer and DIY blogger, Aimee Santos, stay at Hotel Diva for a weekend in the Suite Atelier. She reunited with college friends, shopped at H&M in Union Square, and took gorgeous photos of her suite - which we couldn't resist sharing.

We loved having you, Aimee. And we must say... no one has ever looked better in the bubble chair! 

Something about this time of year makes us crave sweets more than usual. Maybe it's our way of prepping for the holiday season and all the indulgence that seems to come along with it. Or maybe it's just because our San Francisco Personality Hotels are located (dangerously) close to some of the best spots to treat that sweet tooth. Even if you're not a sweets person, chances are someone you're shopping for this holiday season is!

1. Tout Sweet Patisserie

You just can't go wrong with anything at Tout Sweet. Owner and Top Chef Desserts winner, Yigit Pura has perfected the French macaron and, well, all of the other sweet and savory treats they offer. And with an upscale, European feel and plenty of seating, you’d never know you were on the third floor of Macy’s. 170 O’Farrell Street, Macy’s Union Square  

2. Fiona's Sweetshoppe

Hard candy, soft candy, chewy candy, toffeed candy, chocolate candy - that pretty sums up this little treasure trove that specializes in treats from the UK. And the petite shop has all the charm of an old English Sweetshoppe. 214 Sutter Street

3. Cafe Madeleine

Think Starbucks alternative, but with a twist. Breakfast and lunch is available but the cakes, pastries, and coffee drinks are what we come for. There is limited seating, but the line moves fast. 43 O'Farrell Street

4. Leonidas Chocolates

If you love Belgian chocolate, definitely stop by Leonidas. Their spacious shop on the ground level of the Crocker Galleria is the perfect place to indulge and grab a gift for your favorite chocoholic. 50 Post St

5. Ghirardelli Chocolate

A San Francisco staple and an absolute must, Ghirardelli has been getting it right since 1852. Our personal favorite is the hot fudge sundae but hey, nothing disappoints here. Multiple locations - 42 Stockton Street; Westfield San Francisco Centre - Concourse Level

We absolutely love Union Square during the holiday season! Besides endless shopping, it offers all kinds of festive activities that the whole family will love. Below are some highlights that we definitely won't miss! See you there... 

1. Nutcracker Under the Dome - November 21st - December 31st, Westfield Centre

Westfield’s iconic Dome will come to life each night with a brand-new, 3-D light show that will showcase performance footage of San Francisco Ballet dancers in an innovative new format. Inspired by the real-life ballet performance, Nutcracker Under the Dome provides a magical holiday experience for shoppers and visitors of all ages.

The free 6-minute light spectacular runs nightly every half hour from 5:00pm until the Centre’s closing on Level 4/Dome Level.

Happy Holidays! We're so excited to share our 2013 holiday package with you! Every year we put together something special for our guests visiting during the holiday season and this one might be our favorite one yet! 

In honor of the lucky year 2013, our exclusive EAT+DRINK+SHOP package includes 13 different perks at various shops, restaurants, and bars redeemable in festive Union Square.

• Stocking stuffed with great deals and exclusive discounts from bars, restaurants and retailers such as Tradition, Mikkeller, Farallon, Nespresso, Macy's, Ghirardelli and more!
• $25 Westfield Gift Card and VIP Passport 
• Late Check-out
• Reusable Tote Bag
• Bottle of Lucky 13 wine made exclusively for Personality Hotels

Available at Hotel Diva, Kensington Park and Hotel Union Square through January 31st, 2014.

Vita Water was introduced to us last month when Jermaine Jackson signed the Hotel Diva sidewalk of fame. In addition to leaving a permanent hand print, Mr. Jackson wanted to use this opportunity to share his commitment to Vita Water, a company committed to ending the world water crisis. 

Each bottle purchased provides access to clean water to a person in need for up to a year. By building wells in communities around the world that need it most, Vita Water is making a difference to the 1 billion people that lack access to clean water.

Vita Water is now available in all rooms at Hotel Diva and Kensington Park Hotel, and will be offered at Hotel Union Square very soon. We are so proud to support a brand that makes a huge impact with something as simple as a bottle of water. We hope you will love it as much as we do!

If you're searching for kid friendly hotels in San Francisco for your next family vacation, this blog is dedicated to you and your family's sanity. Personality Hotels has two kid suites to make your next family vacation the best one yet!

Hotel Diva makes kids feel like true divas and divos when they stay in the Little Divas Suite, which celebrates famous child actors, actresses and characters. Able to accommodate a family of four, this two-room suite allows kids to have their own room, separated by a connecting door to the parent’s room. Ah...comfort and security!

Stylized for even the savviest pint-sized traveler, the Little Divas Suite comes complete with modern bunk beds, colorful “Donut Pouf” cushions, a Mac computer, a karaoke machine, Wii gaming system, a drawing table and lots of toys.

Read more of what your family can expect on The Mom Reviews.  

Hotel Union Square's Kids Suite boasts retro-style mixed media collages of famous kid-friendly San Francisco landmarks, all stylized in primary colors to engage kids and encourage them to be artistic. This large one bedroom suite, with a bookshelf divider for added privacy, features a cherry wood trundle bed, a computer filled with history related games, Nintendo Wii, a writing desk, books and games.

See what Simply Real Moms had to say about their stay. 

Happy kids, even happier parents. We hope to see the whole fam soon!

Everyone likes a good deal, especially when traveling. These top 5 spots that we love are within walking distance to your San Francisco Personality Hotel, and will leave you and your wallet happy:

1. Pearl's Deluxe Burgers

When the burger craving hits, head to Pearl's. It's hard to go wrong here and with some many meat options and add-ons, pretty much anyone will leave feeling full and happy. Not to mention they serve melt-in-your-mouth milkshakes, and several different types of french fries. Sweet potato fries? Yes, please! Good for lunch or dinner. 708 Post St.

2. Kare-Ken

Only open in the evenings, Kare-Ken serves up a classic Japanese katsu curry. This place is small, but dishes up hearty comfort food and friendly service. Their made-from-scratch curry can be served mild or hot and topped with extras like a boiled egg, corn, fried seasonal veggies, and tempura onion rings. You can always add more meat, sauce, or rice to up-size the portions. The late-night (after 10pm) menu flaunts a beef curry dog and a katsu curry sandwich. 552 Jones St.

3. Bio

A cozy gem tucked in the middle of Union Square, Bio caters to those who eat a gluten-free or vegan diet. You'll find gluten-free quiche and vegan vegetable soups and salads. But don't worry, bacon lovers will still be pleased here - the prosciutto, fig, and gruyere sandwich always hits the spot. With both savory and sweet options, and hot and cold beverages (they even make their own Kombucha) Bio is a one-stop-shop ideal for breakfast or lunch. 75 O'Farrell St.

4. Bite

Sandwich lovers should look no further. This order-at-the-counter deli never disappoints. Build your own sandwich or order a specialty, like the Gouda Good - a heavenly combination of their rotisserie chicken with Gouda cheese and special pepperhouse sauces on Dutch crunch bread. Order a salad, or a rotisserie chicken with a side dish for a bread-less, but still delicious, alternative. Open-late. 912 Sutter St.

5. Golden Coffee Shop

With plenty of breakfast options, this mom and pop diner will satisfy the most important meal of the day. Fuel for a day of sight-seeing or to cure last night's hangover, jump-start your day with classic scrambled eggs with corned beef, hash browns and toast, or a stack of fluffy pancakes. Oh, and they also serve Chinese food after 11am. We'll let you be the judge of that. Cash only. 901 Sutter St.

Last Thursday night I got to feel like a little kid again, but with big kid advantages. Full of excitement I attended my first-ever Nightlife event at California Academy of Sciences. With minimal expectations, I headed for Golden Gate Park to take part in 'Sharktoberfest'.

Every Thursday evening, the museum hosts an adult-only festivity influenced by a different environmental or scientific theme. And last week's theme happened to be Sharktoberfest. There was a live German band decked out in ledderhosen, Berlin-style ping pong, a pop-up beer garden, and great cocktails. I can't deny my love for cocktails so I went for the Farallon Collins - a delicious blend of vodka, fresh canteloupe, house-made ginger shrub, local honey and fresh mint. The night was off to a good start.

But cocktails aside, the real celebration of the evening was in honor of sharks. Here in Northern California during October local conservancy groups adopt the theme 'Sharktober' to raise awareness that sharks are endangered and the health of our ocean is suffering because of that.

In addition to shark education, all of the regular Cal Academy exhibitions were open for exploration, as they always are. With cocktail in hand, I came nose-to-nose with creatures at the aquariam, took a virtual safari through Africa in the natural history museum, and excited my senses in the all-too-real earthquake exhibit. Others journeyed through the stunning 4-story rain forest and others were entertained by digital imagery in the planetarium.  

With food and drink options, live music, and tons of activities, Nightlife is the perfect way to spend a Thursday evening with friends. I left feeling happy and proud of the new things I learned. I didn't feel like I was being educated, it just naturally happened, in the most fun way possible.  

INTERESTED IN VISITING CAL ACADEMY? Ask your front desk about discounted tickets.