Hi

I have been looking at a number of postings about the Alcatraz trips and a number have reccomended pre-booking tickets. I am coming to SF at the end of November do you think I should pre book for even then ? bearing in mind I live in the UK i will have to do it either over the web (and pay an extra $2.25 for the privalige !)or by post.

Yes.

Hi Ian,

I was in San Francisco a few years back and was able to book my tickets for Alcatraz one day in advance - no problem. I was there at the end of October. I don't think you will have a problem.

Laura

I was in San Fran in March (which is not the main tourist season), and could not get tickets to Alcatraz the whole time I was there (long weekend). I was told by friends that we should buy tickets online, but in the rush leading up to my vacation I neglected doing so. I would definitely buy tickets ahead of time on the web and pay the 2.25 premium. Alcatraz was the one thing we wished we had seen when we departed for home. (Maybe next time.)

I wouldn't take a chance. Alcatraz was the best part of my trip to SF. I got my tickets a month ahead of time, but I went during the height of tourist season. Better safe than sorry, especially if you're coming all the way from the UK!

Ian, It's difficult to give you a definite answer. If Alcatraz is high on your list, I would go ahead and prebook. Remember that the third Thursday of November is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. and SF is a terrible zoo of tourists on the weekend following Thanksgiving. We stay well away on that weekend. If that's when you plan to be here, prebook everything including special restaurants you might want to try--and do it now! The risk you take with prebooking Alcatraz is that it could possibly be rainy at that time of year. For sure it will be chilly. Now, have I totally confused you? Hope this makes a bit of sense.