Getting Around
Airlines
Airport
| Oakland
Airport |
(510)577-4000
|
| San
Francisco International Airport (SFO) |
(650)876-7809
|
| San Francisco International
Airport Information and Airport Paging (not airlines) |
(650)876-2377
|
| San Francisco International
Airport Parking Garage |
(650)877-0227
|
| Share the Ride
to SFO* |
(800)73-2008
|
*This service provides a list of convenient and reliable
services such as scheduled buses, door-to-door vans, BART and CalTrain
Shuttles, shared taxes and limos.
Airport Shuttles
The San Francisco International airport (SFO) is located 19 miles south
of the city. A cab ride into the city from the airport costs around $30.00.
Many travelers prefer to take a shuttle, which costs between $9.00-$12.00
per person (including children). The Airporter Bus is slightly less, but
only goes to the major hotels. Staying at an airport hotel is convenient
for the night before your departure, or if you really just want to sleep
and get something to eat at the hotel itself. All airport hotels have
shuttles to and from the airport, and there are some all-suite hotels
that cost about the same as staying in a major hotel.
| Bay Porter Shuttle |
(415)467-1800
|
| Bay Shuttle |
(415)564-3400
|
| Super
Shuttle |
(415)659-2547
|
Amtrak
The Cable Car
There are three cable car lines: Hyde Street, California Street, and
Powell Street. At the end of each line there is the cable car turn around
where tourists line up in droves to hop on. You don't really have to wait
in line. As much as it is a tourist attraction, the cable car is part
of the public transit system. It drops people off and picks people up
at almost every block. You just have to squeeze in and hold
on. I took it to the top of Nob Hill. I stood on the outer
edge sort of leaning off, holding on with one hand. I said to the woman
next to me, "Geeze, this seems kind of dangerous." She agreed. I made
it safely, of course.
The whole experience is really fun. I often chat with people when I'm
on the cable car, it has always been a very friendly experience. And it's
just cool. It is $2.00 per person. One person "drives" the cable
car and the other one collects the fares. Don't stand in that big empty
space behind the conductor, they need the space to yank on the brakes.
At the Hyde Street turn around down at the wharf, they have this thing
that shows you where all the cable is and the inner workings of the "engine",
which is pretty interesting.
Ferry Boats
Many of the ferries leave from the Wharf. The Blue and Gold Fleet at Pier 41
provides the only service to Alcatraz. They also travel to Sausalito,
Tiburon, Muir Woods, Angel Island, and have a Golden Gate Bridge cruise
that circles Alcatraz and sails under the Bridge. Plan your reservations
in advance! I was at the Wharf hoping to go to Alcatraz and they were
booked up until the next day. There is an additional fee to pre-order
tickets over the phone, but worth it. The line to buy a ticket can be
slow going.
| Blue & Gold Fleet (Pier
41 Marine Terminal) |
(415)705-8214
|
|
| Ferry Services: |
|
|
| Sausalito and Tiburon (One
way): |
Adult $6.00
|
Children(5-11) $3.00
|
| Alameda - Oakland (One Way): |
Adult $4.75
|
Children (5-11) $2.00
|
| Vallejo (One Way): |
Adult $8.00
|
Children (6-12) $4.00
|
| Tourist Sites and Specialty
Ferries |
| Red & White Fleet |
(800)-229-2784 Information and Tickets
|
Greyhound
Parking Garages
Union Square/ Downtown Area
| Sutter/ Stockton Garage |
330 Sutter
|
(415)982-7275
|
| Union Square Garage |
200 Block of Geary
|
(415)567-7357
|
| Yerba Buena Garage |
833 Mission St.
|
(415)982-8522
|
Fisherman's Wharf
| Wharf Garage |
350 Beach
|
(415)921-0226
|
| Ghiradelli Sq. Parking
Garage |
900 North Point
|
(415)929-1665
|
Public Transportation To Get
Out of San Francisco
| AC
Transit (East Bay) |
(510)839-2882
|
| CalTrain |
(800)660-4287
|
| Golden Gate Transit (North
Bay, Marin) |
(415)923-2000
|
| SamTrans
(Throughout San Mateo County, Hayward, Palo Alto) |
(800)660-4287
|
Rental Car
Generally speaking, it is not recommended to have a car in San Francisco.
Parking is expensive and difficult, if not impossible, to
find in many neighborhoods and everything in San Francisco is easily accessed
by public transportation or by taxicabs. If you're planning on a day trip,
renting a car for the day is a good idea.
* For special SFR/Avis discount use the following: Avis Arc #0075025Y
Avis World Wide Discount #K135300
** For special SFR/Hertz discount use the following: CDP#1164678
Within San Francisco
Bay Area Rapid Transport
BART( Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs entirely on a rail system, in and
between San Francisco, the East Bay, and Daly City. In San Francisco,
B.A.R.T. runs from the Bay Bridge along Market Street and towards South
San Francisco. You can bring a bike on certain cars at certain times.
Municipal Railway
San Francisco's public transport, called MUNI (San Francisco Municipal
Railway), includes electric and gas running buses, cable cars, an above/below
ground rail system, and a shopper shuttle. There are various MUNI passes
that can be purchased that can make travelling about the city easier,
such as a 1-day ($6), 3-day ($10), or 7-day ($16), 1 month ($35) "Fast
Pass." There is also an "Explorer Pass," which enables one full transport
to and from all the museums in Golden Gate Park. Call for more information
on these options (you'll probably be glad you did).
| MUNI |
(415)673-6864
|
| MUNI (For the Hearing Impaired) |
(415)923-6366
|
Taxicabs
It can be extremely difficult to get a cab on a Friday or Saturday night,
and in my experience, they have never been quick in coming. You've been
forewarned.
|
