Help! I am flying into Oakland airport along with my senior parents. We are staying at a hotel on Post st in Union Square. What is the easiest, least expensive, safest transportation from the airport to the hotel?
Also, from Union Square down to Fishermans Wharf?
Taxi is an option but I would also like other advice on getting around the easiest way possible with my parents and luggage in tow.
thank you!

East and least expensive are two different things.

Easiest - taxi.

Least expensive - BART (but you have to take a shuttle from the airport to the BART station - not sure if you also have to change trains).

From Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf - again, taxi, but also, cable car, buses, trolleys, etc.

W/ your parents definitely a cab from OAK. Easiest/safest - but also most expensive.

(seldom is the easiest also the cheapest)

How mobile are your "senior" parents?

My Mother was bouncing around Disneyland in her 70s, so everything is relative.

if your parents are fairly mobile and you don't have much luggage (please travel light! You really don't need the kitchen sink nor become a pack mule for your possessions!), you should be able to manage taking public transportation into SF.


Getting around SF after you arrive at your hotel is fairly simple. The public transportation system in SF is excellent.

Depending on how long you plan to stay, you can get a 3-day or a 7-day transportation pass.

This website gives you an idea of the different fares:

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passvend.htm


Since you will in the Union Square area, there is a SFMTA kiosk on the corner of Market and Powell. If your parents aren't too mobile, you might want to go and get the three passes by yourself. While you are at the kiosk, get a transportation map, which costs about $2 or $3. This is an invaluable map and will show you all the different transportation modes: bus, cablecar, etc. and where each line goes. You can easily plot your way around the city with this map. This website will give you a flavor of the transportation map:

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/indxmaps.htm

easytraveler: Yes --public transport around SF is mostly very easy. But I personally would never use the Coliseum BART station w/o an armed guard --and even then have 2nd thoughts.

1) taxi from OAK to hotel - fastest, most expensive

2) commercial shuttle for 3 people - NO, too expensive

3) AirBART (shuttle bus) to BART, $3 adult, $1 if over 65. BART to Embarcadero station, exit to Hyatt hotel, take a cab to hotel.

Janis: what's wrong with Coliseum BART station? Always lots of people around, even by myself I've never felt threatened.

Now, about BART - what time and day of the week is your arrival/departure? BART and AirBart may have limited hours.

I wouldn't use the BART Coliseum station at night, unless it was immediately after an event at the Coliseum, but during the day it's fine.

I used to have to stay in a hotel or motel along the Hegenberger corridor 2 or 3 times a month - for several years.

I have been robbed, have seen at least 6 muggings, 3 purse snatchings, and one car jacking, all either at or w/i 1/2 a mile of the BART station. Now, over 6 or 7 years that may not be a huge number -- but its too many for me to be happy anywhere near the place - day or night.

janis, I don't think it's fair to compare the Hegenberger corridor to the Coliseum BART station. I wouldn't stay in the Hegenberger corridor either.

That said, I still think Trena and her parents should take a taxi!

Fully half of the events I mentioned happened either at the BART station or its parking lot and one was walking from there to a game.

(which is why I stayed the last couple of years at the San Leandro Marina)

I actually HATE that walk from the BART station to the Coliseum - I feel caged in with no means of escape