phw

would like to go from Monterey to San francisco for a day trip. Have no car. Anyone have any suggestions/tips for public transportation. (i realize i prob. have to transfer at least once) Thanks!

gb944

Fly to SFO.

Take BART from SFO to SF Muni.

phw

Thanks for replying. I'm a student studying in Monterey from NY. Have no car but would like to see San Francisco. Thought I could get up there using some type of public transportation. All the info i've found on buses/BART/Caltrains is kind of confusing. Thought someone might be able to simplify the "maze" for me.

toedtoes

Have you looked at Amtrak? You can catch a bus in Monterey, then connect to a train in Merced or Salinas, then catch a second bus in Stockton or Oakland. The Salinas/Oakland variation is an evening trip (5:20 - 10:10 p.m.) and the Merced/Stockton is a morning trip (6:25 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.). I didn't check the return schedule.

There's also Greyhound. You could catch it out of Salinas, and could get to SF by 10 a.m. and leave at 7 p.m. getting into Salinas around 11 p.m.

Each of those is less than $75 round trip.

saps

Rent a car for the day.

If you don't drive then beg a friend of yours to rent a car for the day.

A rental car is probably cheaper than Greyhound and Amtrak. And if it is a few bucks more then it is 1000% more enjoyable. You can park at a BART lot outside of SF and take BART into the city.

Driving from Monterey to SF takes at least 2.5 hours each way. I can't even imagine what it would take using buses and trains.

toedtoes

Saps,

The train takes about 5-7 hours and greyhound takes about 3-5 hours.

A car would definitely speed things up and make it more convenient, if that's a possibility for the OP. As for the cost, you could rent a nice convertible for the price of the train.

kerikeri

not to be mean, but why don't you take the advice that was offered to you when you asked this exact same question last year?

you can find the answers by clicking on your own name.

LoveItaly

Hello phw. Here is a website for you: http://www.montereyairbus.com

$40.00 each way from downtown Monterey to SFO (SF airport).

You can take BART from SFO into SF..see http://www.bart.gov for the SF BART stations etc.

Have fun planning your day in San Francisco!

phw

to kerikeri----last year i did have a car, but was unable to go. Therefore, never used any public transportation to San Francisco. This year, NO car for any part of the trip. Thank you for your concern (your question does sound mean btw).To everyone else, I truly thank you for your input. Can't wait to move back to NY

Karenpj

Actually, there is a new bus from Monterey that connects to the CalTrain station in San Jose. Then you would take Caltrain to San Francisco. Give this a look: http://www.mst.org/. I think it's bus 55.
Caltrain: http://www.caltrain.org/

janisj

"Can't wait to move back to NY" Wow - testy aren't we??

The way that makes much sense to me is to use the monterey airporter to SFO and then BART into the city. Takes about 2 hrs 15 mins to SFO and then BART into SF.

kerikeri

sorry if i hurt your feeling, phw! (but you can't really be from ny if that hurt your feelings! )

Karenpj

I don't think PHW is coming back. Too bad, because I think my MST to Catrain option is worth checking into.

LoveItaly

It seems as of late that there are posters that ask questions, Fodorites take the time to research and give answers and the original poster tells everyone how "annoyed" they are and are never heard from again. I think in the future I will probably just give answers to people that have been on Fodor's for awhile.

Karenpj

Good point Loveitaly. Yes, i have noticed the same attitudes.

LoveItaly

Hi karenpj, do you think maybe Fodor's will give all us a raise, lol. We aren't asking for a tip when we take the time to answer questions but a pleasant thank you rather than a negative response would certainly be nice. Take care!

phw

Thank you all for your input. I do not use this board much because 1)I don't travel much, 2)I try to figure things out for myself as to not bother other people. I really would like to see San Francisco before I leave California. I wasn't able to go last year. Hopefully, will get there this year. It would be a shame to be so close and not get there. I am researching Karenpj's suggestion re: bus 55 and caltrain----looks good!!!
Looking back on my previous posts for this thread, I have said thank you in each one, but I will say it again...Thank You.
I do not live in NYC where there are subways, taxis, and commuter trains, or Long Island where I hear but traffic is horrendous, but in upstate NY (where the cows graze)
I agree that the comment about going back to NY was unwarranted, but I was frustrated...I was only asking for help, and instead got slammed.
I wish you all happy travels. Thank you again.

Karenpj

You're welcome phw.

LoveItaly

I hope you can spend a day in San Francisco phw, it is a beautiful city. I am not great with public transportation in SF either, except for the ferry, BART and taxis so I understand your confusion. I have a friend in SF that has told me she will "teach" me about the buses etc. It is time I learned about them, lol.
Best regards.

Karenpj

Hi LoveItaly. My daughter trained me on taking the NJudah muni train. From UCSF area to Union Square. It was a quick trip (maybe 15 minutes). And also from CalTrain to Powell street station, which I think was 5 minutes.