Just returned last Saturday from five days in SF and its surroundings. I thought I would offer some general reflections that may be useful to those planning a trip.

First, we took the BART from SFO to Powell Street Station, and found it a quick, convenient, and inexpensive way to get into the city. The fare is less than $5 each way, and at the Powell Street Station you are also at the SF Visitors Center where you can pick up MUNI passports and a MUNI map. I highly recommend doing this as the MUNI can get you just about anywhere you want to go, and the passports work on all conveyances, including the cable cars.

Regarding the cable cars, I would add this. They are a wonderful, nostalgic way of traveling, but I would not rely on them for my sole means of transportation. They are often jammed packed, and at times even impossible to get on anywhere but the turn-arounds. Also, you will most likely wait in long lines at these points. I hasten to add, however, that this is less true on the Califonia line, which if you are staying in Nob Hill is very handy to get down to the Financial District and Ferry Building.

Concerning lodging, we stayed on Nob Hill at the Nob Hill Lambourne. I can certainly recommend this boutique hotel, located on Pine between Powell and Stockton. The Ritz-Carleton was right around the corner, and the Mark Hopkins, Huntington,and Fairmont nearby. We found this to be a nice, very quiet area, especially compared to Union Square. Nob Hill Lambourne has very nice rooms with comfortable beds, large bathrooms, and a small kitchenette if that appeals to you. We took advantage of the refrigerator, but not the stove. Who wants to cook on vacation?? Our stay was during weekdays and we paid $135/night. This included a healthy continental breakfast and evening wine gathering. One bit of advise regarding this--and I suspect many other boutique hotels-- ask for a room toward the back. Rooms facing the street can be very noisy, especially when it is unseasonably warm (as it has been)and the lack of air conditioning requires opening windows.

As for what to do while there, I will mention several things.

When visiting Chinatown, be sure to go beyond Grant Avenue. To get a real sense of this area, venture on the side streets and be sure to stroll down Stockton, with its many food and meat markets. In the morning and late afternoon, Stockton is a hub of activity with people doing their shopping. If you are not Chinese, you will be in a distinct minority and feel as if you have stumbled into a foreign land.

If you have a bent for musical comedy, or just want to witness a real SF institution, do see Beach Blanket Babylon. There is no adequate way to describe BBB to someone who has not seen it, but I assure you it will be a highlight of your trip. I saw it last week for the second time--about a year and a half after the first--and I found it even funnier and mor enjoyable.

In my past trips to SF, I avoided Alcatraz either becasue I could not get tickets or thought it too touristy, an impression easily forged by the imprint on various t-shirts and sweatshirts hawked throughout the city and Fisherman's Wharf especially. This time, however, we did an evening tour, and it was very good. The evening tour costs a little more, but the number of visitors are restricted, so the island is less crowded. Also, part of the fee goes toward the preservation of Alcatraz. On the evening tour, the audio tour of the cellblock is automatically included, and I do not see how anyone could really enjoy the visit without it. So, if you go during the day and have the option, spend a little more for the audio tour. Also, whenever you plan to go, reserve your tickets well in advance via the web or you risk being disappointed. When I picked up our tickets at the prepaid wimdow Friday, the sign at the counter said the next available Alactraz tour was on the coming Thursday, six days hence.

I could go on and on, but I do not want this to be a travelogue. Rather, I hope these firsthand accounts and reflections will be useful to the many who post here looking for information on SF.

Bill, thanks for your report! Great feedback. The extension of BART to SFO is indeed a marvelous thing! Glad you had a good time.

Thanks Bill!
I'm going to SF in Oct. and didn't know the BART was extended to SFO, even with carrying suitcases it was ok?
Did you go to SFMOMA? There is an Marc Chagall exhibit i'm interested in seeing.

Bill: How is it that you stayed within mere blocks of Union Square and actually survived?
You must be a rugged or adventurous soul!

This is for irishdame and anyone else wondering about using BART from the airport. We had no trouble with our luggage on the train, although we were traveling relatively light. My wife and I each had the maximum size carry-ons with wheels. She also had a smaller bag that was part of the luggage set and slid over the handle of the carry on when extended. I, however, used a small backpack for my other bag, very handy for carrying things around during the day as you go from place to place. Admittedly, we were on BART duirng non-peak hours (about 1 pm on a Monday and 10:30 am on a Saturday) and it might be more difficult at other times. Still, I saw no postings that indicated any restriction on luggage be taken on BART, as some seem to think exists. One last note I should have mentioned. If you are staying down in the Financial District, you probably want to take BART to the Embarcadero Station. If you are staying around Union Square, you can not beat Powell Street Station. And, oh, we did not make to SFMOMA. No big deal, it just affords an excuse for a future visit.

Let me also suggest, for future visits, a trip to the new Asian Art Museum which is now in the Civic Center Area. It is wonderful & also has a great cafe and bookstore.

Thanks for your report, billb. People here seem to like this Beach Blanket Babylon. Did you have to buy tickets much in advance?

Also, does anyone know how busy Alcatraz might be in the last half of September? We have only four days in San Francisco, so would we likely be safe getting tickets if we book the trip on our first day in town? Or should we buy them now by phone or internet? I'd prefer not to use a credit card if it can be avoided.

One more question - how much is the sales tax in California?

Thanks for the info Bill! Do you know how late the BART runs? We're staying in the Union Square area and no,we are not afraid, but we get in rather late and aren't sure if it will still be running at about 11:30pm.

Sales tax is 8.5% on non-food items in San Francisco. Don't know about hotel taxes.

This is a reply to some of the others who have respnded to the thread. First, I would receommend purchasing Alcatraz tickets in advance for two reasons. First, to assure you get to go, and second, to avoid the lines at the window. I have been to SF in October, and although not as crowded as it was when visited last week, the area around Fisherman's Wharf was humming as I recall. Admittedly that was almost ten years ago, but also before some of the recent hotels in the area were built. I picked up our tickets for the 6:20 night tour at 5:15 and walked right up to the prepaid window. Very easy and convenient.

I really do not know whether purchasing Beach Blanket Babylon tickets far in advance is necessary, but again, I would do it simply to assure I got them for the night I wanted. I would think if you plan to go on a Friday or Saturday night this would be especially true, even though there are two shows each of those evenings, one at 7 and another at 8. On Wedndesday and Thursday there is just one show nightly at 8. It lasts about 1.5 hours with no intermission. Also, be aware that seating is cabaret style, with price basically determined by where your table is situated relative to the stage. Prime seating is in the front and side balconies, but actually there are no bad seats as the theatre is small. There are no reserved seats per se. The doors open one hour prior to the show, so those intent on obtaining the best seats start lining up about fifteen minutes before that. Once inside, you are escorted to your table, so there is no mad dash or anything.

Finally, I believe the BART runs 24 hours even from SFO. To get an exact schedule visit either the BART or SFO web pages. The latter can be helpful in explaining how the Air Train sytem works. This is a light rail system that connects all the terminals, as well as the BART station and car remtal central location.

Thanks, billb!

...oops, and FainaAgain.