Guest Travel Writer MPT, Portland OR: Call me sentimental. Call me ancient. You'd be right on both counts. My favorite four hotels in San Francisco are the Fairmont, Mark Hopkins, Palace and Westin St. Francis.

OK, so they're among the oldest hotels in the famed Bay City, but are still wonderfully multi-star, luxurious places to meet, sleep, drink, dance, romance and dine. All list current room rates starting at about $400 a night, but before booking, check every possible source for discount deals.

A random first choice happens to be the Mark Hopkins InterContinental, celebrating its 90th birthday this year. It’s perched atop Nob Hill, across the street from the equally classic St. Francis. If you get a room with a big window or balcony overlooking the city and the bay, spend time sipping a drink just to enjoy the magnificent views, both day and night.

Maybe it isn’t the original, but it is an impressive 3/5th replica of it, the tallest structure in Las Vegas (540 feet), and offers spectacular day and night 360 degree viewing. From the observation deck, you can see the glittering city below, busy sky activity at nearby Las Vegas Airport, surrounding desert and mountains. There’s a glass-paneled elevator to take you up, as well as to the glitzy Eiffel Tower Restaurant about halfway to the top.

Except on very windy days, when the tower is closed, it welcomes visitors daily from 9:30 am to 12:30 after midnight. Ticket prices vary, depending on time of day and night. Many Vegas hotels offer half-price or free tickets to guests. Other ticket deals are available for groups.

Guest Writer NS, Milwaukee WI: Top singing stars have lauded it, from Jeanette MacDonald in 1936 in the movie of the city’s name, to Tony Bennett in 1962 when he lost his heart there. Also Judy Garland, Cab Calloway, Merle Haggard, Otis Redding, Frank Sinatra, The Mowgli’s and many, many others have lauded ‘Frisco, from yesterday’s crooners on to today’s rockers.

My first visit was in 1943, just out of Navy boot camp and on my way to troop transport duty in the Pacific during World War 2. While waiting assignment, I bunked at the Navy base on Treasure Island. It’s a little spit of land under the Bay Bridge halfway between Oakland and San Francisco, and the site of the San Francisco World’s Fair in 1939-40.

If The City by the Bay is on your bucket list, consider all it has to offer: Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Cable Cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz and much, much more. Also museums, fine dining, beaches, surfing, pubs and great entertainment. For more info, go to www.sanfrancisco.travel

Recently I visited Manila, The Philippines. It brought back memories of when I was there in 1945 in an advanced Navy communications team, when U.S. forces recaptured the city from the Japanese invaders near the end of WW2. The fighting had been heavy, and the once-beautiful city was severely damaged, especially in the educational area called the Intramuras.

My unit was there for several months, and in my spare time I took many photos of the ruined areas. When on a recent tour of the city, I was impressed by the contemporary beauty of what was once called the Pearl of the Orient.

I drove through the Intramuras area where a GI tent had been my home for the months before I shipped out for home. As I passed the campus of Letran College, I saw the main building, and its soaring clock tower looked familiar.

I took a photo, and then when I returned home, I went through my old WW2 scrapbook, and there it was. When I put the two side by side, it was a match, and all the memories came flooding back. Coincidence, fate or what?

If your travels take you to the beautiful Philippines, be sure the nation’s capital of Manila is on your schedule. Experience the great city and its historic areas. cityofmanila.com