Anyone have tips for San Fransisco, California?
Thanks

Crystal
Take me Roberta!

Not me going .

Roberta awww that sucks

Nope...I'd rather do the sun & sand all-inclusive thing !

I booked a city tour and it included Alcatraz, it was so much fun. a bus tour for the whole day, the one I booked through picks up from your hotel.

Which hotel did you stay at Sharon?

Roberta was years ago, cannot remember, know it was a few blocks from Union Square and Macy's, it had a continental breakfast,included. If I remember, will post.

I really enjoyed San Fran. I stayed near union square in a hotel with tiny rooms in may of 2010 and it was affortable because americans were not traveling because of the collapse of 2008. Not so much any more. Renting a car is for leaving the city or day trips outside but within the city is a pain because parking is sparce and expensive. Overnight parking was $30 or more at the time so I can imagine how expensive is now. Walking and public transportation is the way to go. This may not be obvious but wearing good walking shoes is very important just like a trip to NY or D.C. I biked the Golden Gate, went to a Giants and Atheletics game, and took a street car ride. Hanging off the side of the street car was definitely one of the hightlights, but I did it at 8:00 am near Market got on the very first one I saw. Arriving at Fishermans wharf the line up for the return was already quite long. When I was there in 1992 I had seen most of fishermans wharf already, so I just picked up my bike to do the for the trilp across the bridge to Sausalito. I took the ferry back from sausailto, so you get some great views of the city and got to see a lot of Fishermans wharf returning the bike. It very Touristy at the Wharf. In 92 I also took a tour of the USS Pampanito a WWII submarine near there,iIt was a nice diversion. If you want to shop for non touristy stuff Union Square is the place to be with lots of big US retailers like Macys, tiffany, Saks Fifth ave, nordstrom and Neiman Marcus etc. I spent $80 at Marshall picked up two pairs of pants, shorts and 2 shirts. That was extremely cheap in 2010. If you smoke cigars California has some of the highest taxes on tobacco so it's cheaper than Canada but still expensive and smoking isn't exactly encouraged. I also rented a car and traveled to Gilroy south of San Jose to an Outlet Ctr and then hwy 101 down to Santa Barbera. Driving around Union Sqaure is not for the faint of heart I prepared my self during the 5 days there, by observing. Pretty much all one way streets, avoiding Streetcars, Trolleys and buses is challenging. Returning the rental car I knew that the place was hard to find, and realized that it might take a second attempt. I was right and it took only 8 blocks to get back because of the oneways, no left hand turns and no lanes to turn left because of the street car tracks. So I didn't sweat it. Probably should have took more right hand turns but I was enjoying the ride. I would definitely go back with a whole lot more money.

Another fav city of mine - been there six times. Must go to the Buena Vista - bar like Cheers where Irish Coffee was invented. You have to order it-it will change your coffee life.The "silver fox" bartender does magic and entertains you. It by the Ghirardelli chocolate place-which also makes a great chocolate milkshake .
Lots of seafood places on Fishermans Wharf and you can even get crab or shrimp in little French fry tray containers to go.
There is a wine bar tucked to the right as you enter the shops on the main shopping in Fishermans Wharf-Wines of California where we stop and indulge on their sangria every single visit.
Go for Italian in little Italy -North Beach Restaurant. I go back there every time.
Nighttime go to Deuling Pianos at Johhny Foleys, close to Union Square. Hilarious, raunchy and fun.
Saturday's the Ferry Building has a great outdoor market. Have breakfast outdoors there and take it in.
Take the ferry to Sausilto and hang out at the beach Bar Bocce where the locals go. Play bocce in the sand, have amazing wood fired pizza.
Take a day trip to Napa & Sonoma with a small group wine tour. The Great Pacific Tour company picks up and drops off. I take a different tour each time.
And for the most fun, rent one of those yellow Go Cars and explore. It's like driving a go cart with a gps guided audio tour but you can also go on your own. You can even drive down Lombard street-that crooked one you see. Most fun you can have-I still laugh at our antics.r

Cliff house, Muir Woods, do the walk up the stairs to Coit tower after your Alcatraz tour. The views of the island and city on the way up are beautiful and the parrots are great fun. If you are 'sports' minded the stadium tours are well done.
The airport is a long ride to the city. We always stay just off the wharf.

Definitely spend a day in fishermans warf. There is an aquarium, tons of restaurant options, (depending on the time of year) sea lions lounging on the piers, and a little bit of shopping.
Also, hit up Union Square if you want to do some great shopping. I loved San Francisco, it is still one of my favourite trips!

I was there in Oct with my 2 daughters for 6 nights. My first time in a hostel but I loved it. Just off Union Square. We got a private 3 female room. Small but clean but we made it work. Went to Walgreens for groceries and booze. Put in the kitchens fridge with your name on it. No one touched it..not even my beer!! Continental breakfast in morning so we'd make bagel sandwiches and snacks for the day to save on eating out all the time. Gave left over food to homeless cuz they're everywhere. Met people from all over the world in common room for drinks. We took BART from airport. Cheap! Got 2 day Hop On Hop Off Bus. Well worth it! Bought s 2 day bus pass at Walgreens and used it for cable cars and trams. Booked Alcatraz in edmonton 3 weeks before we left. Rented a car and went wine tasting in Nappa Valley.

We enjoyed the Alcatraz tour. Ride the cable cars. Great views. Coit Tower. Lombard St. Chinatown. North Beach bar scene. Drive across Golden Gate and visit Sausalito and also the redwoods at Muir Woods. So many cool neighbourhoods. Lots of great restaurants. Top of the Berkeley campus for amazing panoramic views of SF and the Bay.

We stayed at San Remo - great fisherman wharf location, easy parking, quiet and clean. Really good prices.
http://www.sanremohotel.com/

Buy one of the multi day transit passes. You can walk and take transit everywhere. If you are there for enough days, I loved the day trip to Yosemite. Long day, but so worth it. The ferry building has a farmers market. Worth just going to eat there. Walk the golden gate. Muir woods is nice.

Book your trip to Alcatraz ASAP as they sell out months in advance.

Clam Chowder Sourdough Breadbowl. Best was DT at Macy's.

Take BART from the airport to market and Powell station

Also, Fishermans Warf...you could spend all day there. Hop On bus also has night tour. Goes across Golden Gate Bridge with all the lights. There's a 7-11 where you line up...got cheap little bottles of wine to drink on the bus tour...poured into our water bottles!!

There's a company that does a movie tour, showing you famous spots from movies like Vertigo. Also serves as a good city tour. We once got a taxi driver who drove like Steve McQueen in Bullitt--that was exciting but not something you can pre-plan. ; )
https://sanfranciscomovietours.com/

I am planning a trip in may but finding the hotels ridiculously expensive. How important is it to stay close to city centre? If we stayed close to the airport, is it relatively easy to get to city centre and everything worth seeing?

I was finding them crazy and then I checked group on. I got a great 4 star hotel for $109 on group on.

Hailey never even thought to check there. Thanks!!

it is one of those cities where you want to soak in the ambience - day and night. I would really try to stay in the centre. We've found reasonable deals in Cow Hollow, Alamo Square, and Union Square/Opera area. Might check BandBs or airbnb too.

I stayed here. It was central, clean, serviceable and included breakfast. A little noisy, but I find hotels in San Francisco to be noisy as they don't insulate like we do. Doesn't get as cold.

If they still have it, get the city pass! Lots of admissions to different museums and galleries as well as use of the Muni for 7 days!

Vantigo was amazing. You can look them up on Trip Advisor.

City pass! Awesome deals.....and cable car museum....so cool!

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Alcatraz was the best audio tour I have ever done

City pass great to ride trolleys and let you in to places

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Walk the Golden Gate Bridge

Are you wanting clean and serviceable, or fancy

Definitely not fancy!! Thank you!!

This is near union square. Walkable from market and Powell or take the trolley. Small rooms but cheap.

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