I'm trying to utilitze my airline points that will expire this year to rent a car for 6 days in San Jose, however it states that you cannot use points to rent a car in New York, Manhattan or San Jose, CA! Can anyone give me any insight as to why this is? Is the traffic horrendous there? (Never been there...) Any tips on where I could rent a car near San Jose - maybe taxi or bus to a nearby city?? Thanks! =)

Probably just because the locations there don't participate in the plan. So, are any other southbay cities given as options??

I just found out we can take a train for $4 up to San Francisco & rent the car up there. =)

Are you sure about taking a train to San Francisco? I've been to San Jose many times and didn't think the train made that trip... Maybe others can confirm this for you.

Certainly you can take the train up to SF from San Jose!

There's a #10 bus that's free and will take you from the airport to the Caltrain station in Santa Clara. Make sure you ask for the correct #10 bus! One goes to Santa Clara, the other goes the opposite direction.

Take Caltrain up to SF, last station is Townsend.

Where are you renting the car? You may have to take a taxi - with all your luggage - to the rental agency.

If you rent at San Francisco Airport, it might be easier, as Caltrain stops at the Millbrae (? someone correct me if this is the wrong station) stop and then there's a connecting bus to SFO.

If you're going to be in SF for any length of time, you may want to rent as you leave the city as you need a car in SF about as much as a fish needs a bicycle. Share a little about you itinerary if you want additional input.

CalTrain adult full fare from SJ to SF is $7.50.
www.caltrain.org/caltrain_zones_04-02-2007.html

The final Caltrain stop in San Francisco is on Townsend Street, but it's called "4th and King" in the Caltrain system. King Street is on the southeast side of the station, Townsend is on the northwest side. It's listed as "San Francisco" in the train schedule.

To get to SFO (the airport) take Caltrain to Millbrae, then take BART one stop to SFO. Caltrain and BART are in the same station at Millbrae, the BART gates and ticket machines are right there on the platform as you deboard Caltrain. All Caltrains that stop at Santa Clara will also stop at Millbrae, so no worries there. And Millbrae is the end of the line for BART, so all trains leaving there go to the airport.

You need to buy tickets for both Caltrain and BART from the machines on the platforms before you board. You won't get through the BART turnstiles without a ticket, but you can get on Caltrain without one, and ride until the conductor comes through checking tickets, when you will be kicked off at the next station if you don't have one.

It's $5.75 on Caltrain from Santa Clara to Millbrae, then $1.50 to take BART to SFO.

Thanks for all the info on the Caltrain, however we decided to take the most advantage of our points & used them towards hotels instead of a rental car. So we'll just be renting a car in San Jose & driving to SF. But thanks for all the advice - perhaps it will assist someone else in search.