Taxi?

I should have been more specific, they do not want a taxi, they want a Lincoln, or other nice vehicle and want to pay a flat rate. I think a taxi would be the best value however, they do not want a taxi. They a celebrating an anniversary and want to take it up a notch.

Thanks,
Linda

a couple i use
Execucar - a ranch of Supershuttle, but they have independent drivers w/ limos , bookable through Supershuttle or the execucar website.

Ubercar - drivers w/ limos , bookable on their web site.

Linda, you also said "value", which I don't equate with a Towncar or limo!

I don't understand why your friend just doesn't take a limo to the Fairmont the first night.

When you see words like 'Fairmont' and 'limo', that means that $$$ is not much of an object. That being the case, staying at a Best Western?

Makes no sense to me.

You probably mean the El Rancho (not just 'Rancho')

I don't understand personally - it wouldn't take all that much longer to get tot he Fairmont than to the El Rancho and it would save one extra transfer, check in/out, unpack (at least partially)/re-pack . . . Why don't they just get a car service from SFO right to the Fairmont.

If this is such a 'special/up a notch' visit, I probably wouldn't start it at the El Rancho. I've stayed there several times and while it is nice for Park & Fly convenience, special it ain't.

And if they are getting in late, the traffic will be much lighter so it will be even faster to get into the city than it would most other times of the day. Just MHO.

I agree, best to go straight to the Fairmont, especially if they will arrange for a Town Car to take them. The drive is around 30 minutes without traffic, and not scenic, so there is really no reason to put it off until the next day.

Late in the day, there is probably only a 10 to 15 min driving time difference between the El Rancho & the Fairmont. Compared to the time they will spend sitting in an airplane, retrieving their luggage, locating the limo service - 10-15 seems like negligible time to me.

How will your friends get to the El Rancho - taxi??? Does the El Rancho offer a shuttle that might run 30 mins between pickups late at night. I might even bet that a limo to the Fairmont upon arrival at SFO will take less time door-to-door than a taxi or hotel shuttle to the El Rancho.

Stu Dudley

Almost forgot
If your friends go from the El Rancho to the Fairemont on a work day - they'll hit commute traffic. Plus, assuming they don't plan to "hang out" in Millbrae - they will arrive at the Fairmont and have to have the hotel hold their bags for them if their room is not ready. If they explore SF & want to return mid-day for a nap or pottie break - their room still might not be ready.

This seems like a "no-brainer" to me.

Stu Dudley

Ditto what everyone else said - get them to the Fairmont by private car service that night!

Thanks for all the replies. They chose to stay at the Rancho because apparently there is some big conference going on and availablity was limited.

They are staying at the Fairmont compliments of her employer and the rest of the trip is mostly covered as well with gift cards and other incentives she has won through her work.

The did not want to waste their free stay at the Fairmont by getting in too late because they want to take advantage of the time there.

The Rancho does offer a free airport shuttle.

I will check that website for the car service.

Thanks again everyone.

I would still stay the first night in San Francisco - maybe not at the Fairmont, but someplace else that is more exciting than Millbrae (SF7307 & I live close to Millbrae). If the Rancho shuttle operates on their schedule and not you friend's schedule, it is highly likely that it will take them longer to get to the Rancho from SFO then to San Francisco from SFO.

If there are rooms available, have them stay at the Hyatt at the Embarcadero Center. If they only have carry-ons, they could take the Cable Car to the Fairmont. That would be a great San Francisco experience. If they arrive on a Friday, there is a fabulous Farmer's Market on Saturday across the street from the Hyatt at the Ferry Bldg - another great San Francisco experience.

Stu Dudley

It is the El Rancho. Yes they have a shuttle. But you have to call for it and wait. So w/ the shuttle time to/from SFO, traveling into the city by either a taxi or a pre-booked limo will get them to a nicer, city center hotel in about the exact same time.

Like I said - I've used the El Rancho probably 5 or 6 times - always when I needed parking while flying out of SFO. It is a perfectly nice motel. But there are no views, and nothing much to write home about.

I'm sure they can get a nice hotel in the city for not much more than they are paying at the El Rancho.

Their plan makes somewhat more sense now, but I agree with the latest responses, Millbrae is still not a great idea. Get into the city so you can wake up in the city! The time they will spend getting to and from the El Rancho will be utterly wasted, and will also be far more than the time it would take to just take a cab to a hotel in SF the night the plane lands.