San Francisco Travel Forum

As some of you are already aware, I've been put in the delightful and challenging position of planning a budget student tour to and from San Francisco. Don't worry - it's a collective effort and a lot of work has already gone into the planning stages. I'm, however, developing the driving logistics at the moment where we have a bus full of students arriving into San Francisco on a Friday afternoon via 1-5 from Redding. They'll be travelling down via 1-5, hooking onto the 505, then onto the 80, over the Bay Bridge and into San Francisco.

What I'm curious about is... can anyone think of a decent stopping place for an early lunch along the way? I know there are some tiny, tiny towns along the 1-5 such as Dunnigan or Williams, which has fast food outlets in a neat and tidy location so the bus can park and the students can go off, eat, and come back to the bus in a timely fashion. But if anyone has a particularly great idea (such as a shopping mall with a food court that's immediately off the highway), I'm all ears! :)

Second, when I was in San Francisco last month, I flew in and drove out via the route I just described above. As a result, I never got the chance to check out the various driving routes in and out of the city.

While our group will be taking the Bay Bridge into SF, does it make sense to take the Golden Gate via the 580 back to 80 on our way back north? Since I haven't driven that section of freeway, I really don't know if it's much of a detour of if it takes about the same time. Essentially, we just want to get back onto the I-5 to get back to Oregon on the same day. Would this secondary route be advisable? We will be bringing the students over the Golden Gate Bridge regardless of whether we choose to use it as a departure route.

Thanks for any insight! :)

Hi,

I'm travelling to San Francisco next Saturday and I'll be arriving at the SFO around 8pm.

As a solo female Asian traveller, I'd like to know if it's safe to take the shuttle van to my hotel in Chinatown area during that hours.

Any responses would be very appreciated. Thank you in advance.

My daughter and I are planning a trip to SF. I'd like to find a hotel that is conveniently located (near cable lines to major attractions), reasonably prices (<$125-150), and in a safe neighborhood for walking through midnight.

Any ideas?

I'm on a short visit to SFO - just 2 days, This is my first time to CA.I plan to visit
1. Golden Gate Bridge
2. Alamo Square
3. Bay Bridge
4. Coit Tower
5. Union Square
6. Fisherman's wharf

Is it possible to cover all of these POI. Can someone please help me schedule this by which ones are closer and the best times to visit them. whether to take public transport or drive by car. I would like to see the Golden gate bridge and the Alamo square by sunset. Will I be winded at the end of this trip??

Thanks for all your inputs.

Hi All!
Is BART running on time?
I have to leave SF for Vancouver for a very early flight (7:25AM)
I have checked in BART website that there is train run on 5AM.
Can it be trusted?
Someone told me SF has many up and down, so I was suggested to take supershuttle instead. Should I really take supershuttle?

Thanks in advance.
Rita

planning to visit Sonoma in mid-end May but i heard from friends it's not harvest period, thus, there's nothing much to see.

is this true?

Hi,

If i choose to go for the night tour in Alcatraz, am i still able to take clear and not dark pictures when touring the insides of the prison itself? Or will it be too dark for photos at a certain point of time?

Will it be better in the day for photography?

thanks.

I have 7 days to spend in San Francisco for my honeymoon in August. Can anybody suggest an itinerary? Would also like to drive out to Napa Valley or nearby places around San Francisco. I'm also a real food buff, so any suggestions on great restaurants also appreciated.

Hi,
I would like to book a trip to visit Alcatraz in May but i realised that there isn't any 4.40pm departure time to Alcatraz in May?
There is 3.55pm and also 6+pm which are the closest.

May i ask if i book the 3.55pm departure time, what is the latest time i must leave Alcatraz Island?
and if i book the 6+pm ferry, what is the latest time i have to leave Alcatraz Island?

If i book the 6+pm tour, will there still be sunlight when i reach Alcatraz? or will it already be dark?

Does anyone know why there isn't any 4.40pm tours for alcatraz during this period?

I am from Asia.

My wife and I will be landing at 12:30am on a Saturday night/Sunday morning. We are staying at the Grant Plaza Hotel in Chinatown. What would be the best (i.e. safest, easiest, and cheapest) way for us to get from the airport to the hotel?

David

Hi,
i'll be in SF for a total of 6 days.

we'll reach on 15th May in the morning and leaving to LA and Vegas on 17th. We will then be back again on 25th May all the way until 29th May.

My hotel is at Union Square, Maxwell Hotel.

on the first and 2nd day, i plan to visit:

Union Square
Lombard St
Chinatown
North Beach
Fisherman's Wharf??
Alcatraz??
Castro
Ghiradeli
Haight Ashbury

Can this be done in 2 days? are these places within walking distance from one another? in what sequence should i start and end?

or what can i do on the first day? and what can i do on the 2nd day? i'm at a loss.

on the remaining 4 days when i'm back, i plan to take a day to visit Muir Woods+Sonoma (taking a tour), another day at Golden Gate Park or something.
on my last day probably shopping and some last minute sight seeing.

is this itinerary ok?
how to fit in all those places i mentioned above?
do i have time to visit Sausalito too?

pls advise, thanks.

What is there to do in China Town. Where is a good place to get some din som?

What is there to do in China Town? Where is a good place to get some din som?

Hi all,
i'll be visiting San Francisco for the first time and would like to go on a wine tasting tour (we won't be driving) and would like to visit 1 wine neighbourhood.

Is Napa Valley or Sonoma a better/more scenic place to visit?

What are the differences between both places?

and any good tours to recommend? (would prefer reviews of tours from people who actually took the tours before and not those who are advertising for their companies)

Thank you!

Hi

Before I book, I have read that there are different things to do on the night visit to Alcatraz than there is during the day visit. I'm assuming most people go on the day trip. Do you have any ideas which would be best? I want to go twice - during the day and night but my friend only wants to go once (he doesn't mind when) I like taking photographs so I'm assuming the day visit would be best.

Any ideas?

Helen x

I'm staying in SF for a week in mid April, staying off Market near 14th by The Castro. Any hints on finding reliable parking for the week? I'm willing to pay.

Steve-Seatle

What is your favorite seafood restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf?

Any suggestions for late night dining? Probably close to midnight on a Wednesday. Are any restaurants in the Wharf area open that late?

Hi All--I am looking for a guided napa/sonoma valley wine tour where a bus takes you from San Francisco downtown to the vineyards and back again during the same day. Has anyone heard of a great service?

Thanks for your help!

-Will

We are considering a whale-watching trip when we are in Monterey at the beginning of May. Should we book a whale-watching trip or will we see whales from the beach?

Hi i have 3 nights in SF before picking up a car and driving down to Carmel, from there were off to Yosemite.
Any suggestions what to see in SF and is there anything to stop off and see on route to Yosemite, although we need to get to Yosemite in a day.
also were driving back to SF airport to drop off the car any suggestion for a stop on route back for lunch.

Going to San Francisco in August with 17 year old daughter, any good tips for night-time activities, like bars / grills with live music that don't have an 18 or 21 or over rule. Or Dinner shows etc. She's very broadminded so no problems with nudity, language etc

Is there direct flights (without stop-overs) between any major European city & San Jose (SJC) airport?? Or is it advisable to choose San Fransisco (SFO) airport instead? Please advise.

My wife and I are booked at the EXECUTIVE HOTEL VINTAGE COURT, 650 Bush Street. I stayed there last September with 3 friends, but it was late when we checked in and early when we checked out, so I didnt get too see much of what was around. What can we expect from this location? What is in walking distance?

andmarnclt

I am traveling from LAS to SFO & want to carry on my Garmin GPS to use in my rental car. Is anyone aware of TSA restrictions regarding this electronic device? It is not like a laptop -- you cannot "turn it on".

Due to the nature of this device, I certainly would not check it because it might "disappear".

Any help certainly appreciated.

We have made a reservation to stay at the Heritage Marina on Van Ness in San Francisco. Has anyone ever stayed there?

I will be finishing my California holiday, arriving in San Francisco on April 07/08 and flying back to Canada on April 10, 2008. At this time, we do not have a motel booked. We now hear of a protest that will take place in SF on April 09th. Does anyone know how large this protest will be or where it will take place? I would like to stay near Fisherman's Wharf, but would it be wiser to book accomodation out near the airport to avoid the crowds? Will this be a safe protest? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

I have a lay over from a Friday afternoon to a Sunday afternoon in San Francisco.
My hobby is street photography. So,I want to spend my time in areas with lots of open public places, markets, etc. I do not care to see all the sights, just the heart of the city.

First choice for a hotel would of course be in the center of all the activity. But I am guessing that would be $$$$. Second choice would be a short BART away.

Any suggestions for hotels. I am traveling alone, and also looking for interesting coffee shops, cafes, etc for breakfast / brunches, good for people watching.

Thanks
J Male, 50

Hi,

We are planning to go to SF this summer (from Sweden) and we found this hotel online: http://www.edwardii.com/hotel-pensione.shtml

It seems really nice, but does anyone know if this is a good place to stay? or do you have other recommendations on accommodation in San Francisco?

Thanks!

Looking into Hotels in SF.
I don't have many critera to meet:

The Hotel has to have wi-fi access available (preferably free)
And I'm looking at $200 Per Night or less.

As a starting point I have this
http://www.harborcourthotel.com/
Which is at 165 Steuart Street.

Any thoughts on The Hotel? The Location?
And/or any recommendations of other hotels or probably more inportantly better areas to locate myself in.


Again, thanks in advance for your help.

Hi,
I will be coming to SF in May, will be there for 6 nights in total. The first 2 nights i have booked a hostel at:
Dakota Hostel
606 Post Street
San Francisco

After the first 2 nights, i'll be going to LA and Vegas for a week and after that will be coming back to SF for another 4 nights.

i chose this because i am on a budget and i hope to stay somewhere close to shopping area which i think is Union Square. (please correct me if i'm wrong, are there anymore nice places to shop at besides Union Square?)

Is Dakota Hostel located in a safe neighbourhood? is it in general, a reasonable place to stay? (i am not fussy, i just need a bed and basic cleanliness and of course safety because i am a petite size Asian girl)

Should i continue staying at Dakota Hostel for the rest of my trip or should i book somewhere else?

Thanks!