What?! Hubby can't lug five pieces of luggage around while you have the stroller???!!! (They sure don't make men like they used to!)

BTW: BART is not a bus, it's a fast metro system.

I'm not sure it's harder to negotiate getting onto BART than it is to get onto a shuttle bus, but then I haven't tried doing this with a 3-year old and a weak husband. (Just kidding!)

I like mowmow's suggested itinerary.

Hi, paula! Keep up the good work!

Mowmow's plan is a great one. Much more enjoyable with a toddler, in my experience.

I love SF, it is truly a beautiful city. Last time I was there I stayed at the Adante Hotel which is in the Theatre area and close to Union Square. The hotel is basic, yet nicely done and very well priced. I think you can get a suite for about $130 a night so you have a bit more room for the little one. Also comes with breakfast/juice/coffee/cereal/rolls.

I took the BART from Oakland Airport and walked from the Powell St stop to the hotel, about 5 blocks.

The cable cars are just a couple of blocks away from the hotel and you would enjoy the wharf area. The little guy will REALLY love the Ghiradelli Ice Cream Factory, right at the wharf.

Have a great time.

Thanks jimmydt , travelbuff for valuable inputs.
I think, I may drop LV and try to do other enjoyable things (may be seaworld), depending on the schedule/energy.

Based on BART inputs above, I am planning to take taxi (although, expensive, but will be comfortable after long flight + 3YO) from SFO airport to hotel (somewhere in Union square, as suggested).

I am not very sure about only one thing now : whether to take OAK-BUR flight (+taxi fare from union square to OAK) OR take SFO-LAX flight (and catch suttle to pasedena). This will be on Spet2 morning (as against my initial plan of leaving SF on sept1 night. (this way, we can have a good rest after SF tour)

OAK-BUR = $59 oneway (southwest)
SFO-LAX = $69 oneway (AA)

Any thoughts are appreciated.

bondoo7-I think it's a great idea to talk a morning flight. Gives you a little more time for SF. I would book the Beresford Arms-sounds like a good deal and the location is excellent.

As far as the flights, it's a toss up. You didn't mention ground transportation from Burbank to Pasadena. Would your friends pick you up in Burbank? If so then you would probably save a few dollars flying out of Oakland. The taxi/shuttle fare would be more from SF to OAK but I think you would pay even more going from LAX to Pasadena. All things considered I would probably do OAK because it flies into Burbank and you can avoid LAX. You should call a few shuttle companies. In LA, Supershuttle is used a lot.

Thanks Paula for the hotel info. I will go ahead with that one.
I may need to take shuttle/taxi either from LAX or from BUR to pasedena.
But, I got the info that timewise it takes almost same (LAX to pasadena or BUR to pasadena - 45min).
In that case, Union square to SFO will be cheaper than to OAK. Am I right?

Union Square to SFO would be a little cheaper than going to OAK-maybe $10-15. However, as I said before going from LAX to Pasadena would be more expensive than from Burbank. That's why I suggested you look up Supershuttle and get a quote from them. The drive time from LAX to Pasadena vs BUR to Pasadena would not be the same. LAX to around 30 miles from Pasadena, Burbank is 15. Since you are coming into the LA area in the late morning, you very possibly could get from BUR to Pasadena in 20-25 minutes. This is of course without any traffice problems. LAX would be more like 30-40 minutes again with no heavy traffic. I would get a quote from Suppershuttle before I make a decision. Like I said, I would prefer Burbank, much smaller airport to navigate and much closer to your friend's house.

My inlaws live near Pasadena. We used to fly into LAX to visit (from northern CA), but now we fly into BUR. Much, much easier. BUR is a smaller and less congested airport than LAX.

Don't be afraid to take the local buses in San Francisco. We usually park our car (or leave it at the motel) and take the bus around town. The locals are very helpful regarding fare and which bus goes where.

Thanks Paula and BarbAnn. This will help me to take the decision.

Hello fodorites,
One update : Booked the main flights (BUF_SFO, LAX-BUF)
One more interesting thing : for my wife/son, mid week ticket was 99+tax (120 pp total - one way).
Looks that, there are some $99 deals available, if someone is looking for

What a great deal. What airlines?

BUF-SFO, LAX-BUF : Airtran.
Now, next thing is Hotel in SF.
Paula: Mostly, I will go with your advice - Beresford Arms.

I live in Pasadena. THERE IS NO WAY would I take the light rail from LAX to Pasadena with luggage and a small child. You will have to take a bus from LAX to the green line station and make 3 transfers (green to blue to red to gold). It is through LA's seediest grittiest parts of town and will take almost 2.5 hours. I have done it, it is NOT FUN and it is not convenient.

If you are hellbent on public transport from LAX to Pasadena, take the FlyAway bus to Union STtaion and then ride only the Gold Line to Pasadena.

Flying into Burbank is soooo much easier. You cannot fly Southwest from SFO to Burbank but I think you can on United.

I agree with he other-skip LAs Vegas. It will be hot hot hot and with a 3 year old it will be a totally frustrating experience.

Thanks vivi.
Per Pauls, I got the quote for super shuttle from LAX-Pasadena and BUR-pasadena. Both are more or less same.
So, anyways, I will take super suttle. Hope this is easier.
I agree on LV part.

I live in LA and just visited SF last weekend. Here's my 2cents on hotel in SF. I stayed at Westin St. Francis, which is right at Union Square, and very convenient. I won a bid on Priceline for $95/night (which is for a one double-bed room). With $35 upgrade, I got a higher floor room in the new tower with two double-beds. Very nice and spacious room. I paid less than $150/night for a 4* hotel which normally cost $300/night(including tax). Go to betterbidding.com and you'll see people paying incredibly low price for very good hotels. I also think SF is more fun than LA, so stay an extra day if you can.

Thanks ice_leopard.
One of my friend has suggested me "Monticello Inn", right at Powell stn. I am getting a deal of $99 for 2 double beds (with A/c, free wine hr and B/f). Looks that, this hotel is also at convinient location. Not sure about the quality, though photos looks good.

Sounds like a good deal and great location. But for the samr price you may be able to get a nicer 3* or 4* with Priceline. If you do a search of "Priceline and San Francisco" on this forum, you can read about this. Good luck and have a wonderful vacation.

Hi All,
Thanks for all your advise/comments.
Without this forum, it would have been very difficult to get such valuable info.

Update on my plan: Booked SF comprehensive shuttle tour (5hr) for San Fransisco on 1st sept.

Also, planning to shift my Disneyland visit from 3rd sept to 8th sept for 2 reasons:
1.googled that, week after labour day is least crowded there. Hope to avoid loong lines.
2.fantasmic/fireworks is on 8th and not on 3rd (disney calender for sept is updates few days back).

I will visit LA on 3rd sept (via bus from pasedena ...$1.25 one way pp)

comments/suggestions are most welcome.

Using the MTA Gold line and Red Line you can get to parts of LA (downtown, Hollywood ) and to Universal Studios.

Buy a day pass instead of individual bus tickets ($5 pp)

More details and route maps at mta.net

I am still concerned you have a car seat for your 3 year old when you are traveling to all these places by shuttle, taxi or van.

We have a combo one for our 3 year old, and you can find them at Target. Also good for wheeling child through airport, etc. They check it at the door to the plane.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html...t_adv_XSN10001