San Francisco California HELP!
Jun 30th, 2005, 06:44 AM
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San Francisco California HELP!
Hi! My husband and I will be traveling to San Francisco late October. I am going to run in the Women's nike marathon at Union Square. I'm CLUELESS! I need help! We will be arriving on a Thursday evening (sixish) and will have Friday and Saturday for us. The marathon will be Sunday and a totally lost day and will fly home early Monday. We have to be at Union Square for the expo on Saturday to pick up our runners packet. Anyway.. I need some advice on where to stay and transportation. I originally thought we could stay near the airport (cheaper and free parking for rental car) and drive everywhere we need to go. I have heard that you can't just drive to Union Square hop out of your car and do as you please. Is this true? Would it be best for us to NOT rent a car and stay at Union Square since we will be there most of the time? Or should we rent a car and stay near the airport but take other means of transportation to Union Square and use our car for other excursions?? We will really have only Friday for something "special" to do. Are there any recommendations for that special thing to do on Friday and will we need a car?? THANKS FOR YOU HELP!!!
Jun 30th, 2005, 06:54 AM
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I think SF is one of those cities where a car is usually a burden...especially now that train service connects the airport....even if you stay at the airport I wouldn't rent a car.......and if you stay in Union Square and want to take a drive for a day to Napa or wherever, you can always rent a car downtown just for the day.
Jun 30th, 2005, 07:08 AM
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You definitely don't want a car, especially if you need to make trips to Union Square. We just returned from a wonderful visit there. We stayed in the Orchard Hotel just two blocks up from Union Square. It was very nice, great location, nice rooms, and included a european style breakfast (i.e. no hot food). Not sure what your price range is but you can look it up on the internet theorchardhotel.com.
Jun 30th, 2005, 07:14 AM
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My opinion - do not rent a car, do not stay near airport. Take transportation into the city from the airport - we usually take a cab, but airport shuttle is fine choice, also. Stay in Union Square area - is it already too late to reserve at hotel linked to marathon? They usually have good prices worked out ahead of time. Nothing is cheap in SF. Just remember your time is valuable also, so stay close and pay alittle extra if need be. I would absolutely NOT rent a car for such a short visit. You'll do fine without it and the parking fees would eat up your savings if you are staying farther out. SF is a wonderful city. Walk around and enjoy it, take a tour, take a cable car ride, go see the seals at fisherman's wharf, take a ferry over to Sausalito - just soak in the city and have fun!
Jun 30th, 2005, 04:05 PM
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Wow! You are all so helpful! Ok, we won't rent a car and will try to stay at Union Square somewhere. I was going to try priceline because .. yes, the budget is not tooooo high. The marathon website is not linked to any special hotels. Most all of the marathons I have been to have a host hotel that offers better prices but not in this case. However, they recommend for us to stay near the start line which is at Geary and Stockton across from niketown. Is this Union Square East or West? I'll need to know when bidding for a hotel. Oh.. I'm getting excited now!!! Thanks so much!!
Jun 30th, 2005, 04:10 PM
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Yo!
Ditto P'line or Hotwire.
The "B" Boutique hotels for East Union Sq area we've been getting the past few years for SF have been either Galleria Park or Villa Florence...all a stones throw from UnSq...VF is closer...GOP quieter, IMHO. Kuletos @ VF...Perry's at GP.
Got them for around anywhere $65/90.00 a night.
I've used Hotwire too, for good deals in SF near/in UnSq.
Good luck!!! 1st Marathon? TnT?
Beachbum and his better half may be joining all of us down there.
Ditto P'line or Hotwire.
The "B" Boutique hotels for East Union Sq area we've been getting the past few years for SF have been either Galleria Park or Villa Florence...all a stones throw from UnSq...VF is closer...GOP quieter, IMHO. Kuletos @ VF...Perry's at GP.
Got them for around anywhere $65/90.00 a night.
I've used Hotwire too, for good deals in SF near/in UnSq.
Good luck!!! 1st Marathon? TnT?
Beachbum and his better half may be joining all of us down there.
Jun 30th, 2005, 07:36 PM
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Tammy...Mrs Kal and I figger'd we may as well book our room now for SF and the Nike Marathon...
Used Priceline and bid $70 for a 4* hotel in UnSq East/Embarcadero.
Wasn't accepted so I did some P'line maneuvering w/ "free bids"....finally did the "B" Boutique for UnSq East/Embarc and got The Galleria Park for $80 a night. Since you won't have a car, no $24/night (or so...) parking
One of our fave hotels. A block away from Belden Place and a lot of great post race restaurants.
Good luck!!!
Used Priceline and bid $70 for a 4* hotel in UnSq East/Embarcadero.
Wasn't accepted so I did some P'line maneuvering w/ "free bids"....finally did the "B" Boutique for UnSq East/Embarc and got The Galleria Park for $80 a night. Since you won't have a car, no $24/night (or so...) parking
One of our fave hotels. A block away from Belden Place and a lot of great post race restaurants.
Good luck!!!
Jul 1st, 2005, 12:11 AM
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We had planned to stay at The Petite Auberge in San Fran on our honeymoon. It was reasonably priced and conventient in location. However, 9/11 happened, and we cancelled our trip cross country. One day we will make it there though...
Jul 2nd, 2005, 02:11 AM
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UPDATE.. I got a hotel Union Square East. It is within a couple of blocks of marathon start. I'm not going to rent the car so thanks everyone for the help.
Now.. what is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel? The hotel doesn't offer free shuttle service. Do I take BART, cab, shuttle bus or what? We will have luggage of course. Would anything get us to the front door of the hotel besides a cab? And.. what would be the approximate cost from the airport to downtown?
Now.. what is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel? The hotel doesn't offer free shuttle service. Do I take BART, cab, shuttle bus or what? We will have luggage of course. Would anything get us to the front door of the hotel besides a cab? And.. what would be the approximate cost from the airport to downtown?
Jul 2nd, 2005, 03:47 AM
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Bart is probably the best- cheapest.It runs from the international terminal.There are buses too. A cab will "run" about $30-35. It is a long way to downtown. Check the website 511.org for public transport. You can type in you start and end point. Check the SF airport site and they have a section on transportation.Have fun. You will get the flavor of the city more staying downtown too.
Jul 2nd, 2005, 11:32 AM
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The website for SFO is www.flysfo.com.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 01:00 AM
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Welcome Tammy on your future trip to SF! I have lived here 16 years and love it! I agree with the advice, given your itinery, you do not need a car. SF has great public transportation and parking her is VERY difficult! (As the old joke goes, "you know you are a San Franciscian when a good parking space can drive you to tears!")
Union Square is a good central location. Since you are into running, I assume you like walking too. From Union Square, you can walk through Chinatown (Grant AND Stockton streets!) and through to Northbeach (our Italian neighbourhood) and even continue on to Fisherman's Wharf.
Taxi's are also a way to go to get around the city, but our buses are great. Just be careful of pickpockets in the Union Square area. It get's crowded and they know it's a lot of tourists carrying cash, so be careful, but not to worry, I don't want to scare you.
About airport to Union Square. I know BART now goes to the airport. But the BART station is at Powell and Market, so depending on your hotel, you may find yourselves walking several blocks with your luggage to your hotel. Forgive me if I missed someone else's suggestion, but you might consider Super Shuttle. A cab will run you about $40 plus tip. Super Shuttle is about $12 per person, but will take you directly from the airport to your hotel.
There are many other shuttle companies. Be careful, Super Shuttle is great because they put people together in a van that are all going to the same area. You will get there quickly. Other shuttle companies just pile anyone in, and you will find yourself all over the city when they drop people off. There are signs all over the airport for Super Shuttle, easy to find.
Hope you have a great time and enjoy the City! Has anyone warned you about our "summer" weather? Remember, we are by the water, and our summers are rather cold. If you are near the water, it will be about 65 degrees during the day, Union Square area, 70-75. It's smart to layer, bring a light jacket, etc. Shorts and a t-shirt won't do...you'll freeze!
Have a great time!
Union Square is a good central location. Since you are into running, I assume you like walking too. From Union Square, you can walk through Chinatown (Grant AND Stockton streets!) and through to Northbeach (our Italian neighbourhood) and even continue on to Fisherman's Wharf.
Taxi's are also a way to go to get around the city, but our buses are great. Just be careful of pickpockets in the Union Square area. It get's crowded and they know it's a lot of tourists carrying cash, so be careful, but not to worry, I don't want to scare you.
About airport to Union Square. I know BART now goes to the airport. But the BART station is at Powell and Market, so depending on your hotel, you may find yourselves walking several blocks with your luggage to your hotel. Forgive me if I missed someone else's suggestion, but you might consider Super Shuttle. A cab will run you about $40 plus tip. Super Shuttle is about $12 per person, but will take you directly from the airport to your hotel.
There are many other shuttle companies. Be careful, Super Shuttle is great because they put people together in a van that are all going to the same area. You will get there quickly. Other shuttle companies just pile anyone in, and you will find yourself all over the city when they drop people off. There are signs all over the airport for Super Shuttle, easy to find.
Hope you have a great time and enjoy the City! Has anyone warned you about our "summer" weather? Remember, we are by the water, and our summers are rather cold. If you are near the water, it will be about 65 degrees during the day, Union Square area, 70-75. It's smart to layer, bring a light jacket, etc. Shorts and a t-shirt won't do...you'll freeze!
Have a great time!
Jul 3rd, 2005, 01:03 AM
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Sorry, one more thing. I just met some fodor's friends from Britian who stayed at the Carlton on Sutter Street. It was just a few blocks walk to Union Square and they said the hotel and the rooms were wonderful and very reasonably priced. Just something to look at.
Andiamo
Andiamo
Jul 3rd, 2005, 01:32 AM
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Andiamo! That is excellent information, Thank you so much for taking the time to help. I used priceline and got the Galleria Park Hotel (thanks to another helpful poster)which is on Sutter Street at Kearny. The website says that it is only a few blocks from Union Square. I hope this is a "good" area. Yes, love to walk and exercise but shouldn't (but probably will) do too much of that the couple of days before marathon! I wish I could stay longer! It sounds wonderful! I want to do so many things but really only have one day. I HAVE to do Chinatown and would love to go to fishermans wharf .. how about the alcatrz evening tour. Is that worth while? I've heard it is neat. Thanks again my friends!
Jul 3rd, 2005, 02:14 AM
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Haven't done Alcatraz evening tour but any tour there is great....but book early. Locals never to to Fisherman's Wharf but I guess visitors want to.
Don;t forget our many great museums. Museum of Modern Art and Yerba Buena are an easy walk from your hotel. The De Young will have reopened by October and promises to be spectacular. It is in Golden Gate Park and will require a bus (any Fulton Street Bus) or cab. The park is great for walking....all the way the ocean if you are ambitious. The Palace of Legion is another great museum...a little farther out...with a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the ocean side.
October weather can be much nicer than summer but always bring layers to SF.
And nobody has mentioned it but you will eat very well here. You don;t have to spend a fortune either. Check reviews at sfgate.com or sfweekly.com for ideas. Or buy Patricia Untermann's new edition of her restaurant book (she owns the excellent Hayes Street Grill and is the Examiner critic.)
And if you want the ultimate SF experience, plan to attend Beach Blanket Babylon one evening (or Sunday matinee.) If you like music, comedy and outrageous costumes you'll be in heaven. Again, book now. Wait till you see those hats: http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/ Another experience you won't get anywhere else (except Seattle) is Teatro Zinzanni. http://zinzanni.org/ Not cheap but $100 buys you dinner and a full evenings entertainment. Joan Baez is currently hostess.
A visit to the SF CEnter Nordstrom's is worth it to ride a circular escalator.
If you want to experience a legendary SF saloon where you might bump into members of the local filmmaking scene, try Tosca's in North Beach. Next door is a great jazz club, Pearls. The owner, the fantastic singer Kim Nalley, usually sings Tuesdays and she is really great. Across the street is the legendary City Lights Book Store, packed into many nooks and various levels with unusual books and a place where the Beats hung out.
Up the street is Coppola's Neibaum-Coppola Cafe. Excellent creative Italian food. But if you want to eat for Italian for less wander around Columbus and Grant Avenues and check out the menus. Family style can be great at places like Capps Corner where $15 will buy you a huge meal. http://www.bestofsanfrancisco.net/cappscornerdinner.htm
More expensive but such huge platters of pasta that several can share them is at Caffe Sport, a packed little joint where reservations are a must, the waiters can be surly but if you let them pick your entree you'll be happy. Check out all the stuff hanging on walls and the beautiflu plates under your food. http://caffesport.citysearch.com/
Our local coffee chain Peets beats Starbucks by miles and if in North Beach try Caffe Trieste on Grant for the real thing.
I can't even start to touch the possibilities.
Have fun.
Don;t forget our many great museums. Museum of Modern Art and Yerba Buena are an easy walk from your hotel. The De Young will have reopened by October and promises to be spectacular. It is in Golden Gate Park and will require a bus (any Fulton Street Bus) or cab. The park is great for walking....all the way the ocean if you are ambitious. The Palace of Legion is another great museum...a little farther out...with a spectacular view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the ocean side.
October weather can be much nicer than summer but always bring layers to SF.
And nobody has mentioned it but you will eat very well here. You don;t have to spend a fortune either. Check reviews at sfgate.com or sfweekly.com for ideas. Or buy Patricia Untermann's new edition of her restaurant book (she owns the excellent Hayes Street Grill and is the Examiner critic.)
And if you want the ultimate SF experience, plan to attend Beach Blanket Babylon one evening (or Sunday matinee.) If you like music, comedy and outrageous costumes you'll be in heaven. Again, book now. Wait till you see those hats: http://www.beachblanketbabylon.com/ Another experience you won't get anywhere else (except Seattle) is Teatro Zinzanni. http://zinzanni.org/ Not cheap but $100 buys you dinner and a full evenings entertainment. Joan Baez is currently hostess.
A visit to the SF CEnter Nordstrom's is worth it to ride a circular escalator.
If you want to experience a legendary SF saloon where you might bump into members of the local filmmaking scene, try Tosca's in North Beach. Next door is a great jazz club, Pearls. The owner, the fantastic singer Kim Nalley, usually sings Tuesdays and she is really great. Across the street is the legendary City Lights Book Store, packed into many nooks and various levels with unusual books and a place where the Beats hung out.
Up the street is Coppola's Neibaum-Coppola Cafe. Excellent creative Italian food. But if you want to eat for Italian for less wander around Columbus and Grant Avenues and check out the menus. Family style can be great at places like Capps Corner where $15 will buy you a huge meal. http://www.bestofsanfrancisco.net/cappscornerdinner.htm
More expensive but such huge platters of pasta that several can share them is at Caffe Sport, a packed little joint where reservations are a must, the waiters can be surly but if you let them pick your entree you'll be happy. Check out all the stuff hanging on walls and the beautiflu plates under your food. http://caffesport.citysearch.com/
Our local coffee chain Peets beats Starbucks by miles and if in North Beach try Caffe Trieste on Grant for the real thing.
I can't even start to touch the possibilities.
Have fun.
Jul 3rd, 2005, 06:41 PM
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Hi Tammy, happy to help. Where are you traveling from? The hotel you mentioned is a great location, you will be at the beginning of our Financial District, and yes, it is very close to Union Square. You will also be very close to the beginning of Chinatown. FYI: If you are buying gifts for anyone, Chinatown is the place to do it. Don't buy at the first block or two of shops....it gets cheaper as you go further down, and most of the stores have the same things. I took my Goddaughter there last week, and we went to Canton Bazaar (a huge store in the middle of Chinatown on Grant Street) and there was a man who would hand paint your name in Chinese caligraphy, signing his name, a stamp for love and happiness, and the artists name in Chinese. This was on a matted print that he also painted with beautiful flowers and butterflies (about 5x7) A bargain at $8.00, and you can watch him make it for you, and even take photos of him making it. A great souvinere!
Also, if you like Chinese food, you will be just a few blocks from "House of Nan King". It's on Kearny near Columbus. It looks like a hole in the wall, but the food is outstanding!!! (And very inexpensive!) Almost always a line out the door, and almost always rated number one Chinese food in SF! I highly recommend any of their "Nan King" specials. (ooh, I'm getting hungry!)
If you drink coffee, the previous poster was absolutely correct. DON'T go to starbucks! Check out Peet's, our local chain...it's amazing (and if you get addicted, they do ship coffee from their website!) Also, caffe triest (previously recommended) simply is the best coffee this side (or any side) of Italy. On Saturdays, the family that owns the caffe has live opera singing!
Walking through Chinatown ends at Northbeach, and then to Fishermans Wharf if you want....it really isn't too far of a walk, and the majority of it is flat. Would be a great way to get a feel of the city. When you do Chinatown, Grant is the "main" street, more touristy, one street to the West is Stockton, that is the "real" Chinatown, where the local residents do their daily shopping. You will definitely see some unique things! On Ross Ave (maybe street?) a little alley between Washington and Jackson, there is a fortune cookie factory. It's very small, but you can get a huge bag of fortune cookies (some of them still hot!) for just a few dollars.
So...sorry for the long post, but have a great time! Your location is fantastic! About SuperShuttle, it's also known as "blue van", you will see signs in Blue saying "Super Shuttle" at the airport. Easy way to get downtown directly to your hotel. I use it all the time!
Have fun!!!!! October is a great time to come....check the weather, although I said it can be cold, (which is true, the wind off the ocean can send a mean cold breeze in when you least expect it) but we tend to get an "Indian Summer" in Sept or Oct, so you could hit some high temps, but even then, we don't get humidity, so it's rather nice.
Enjoy!!!
Andiamo
Also, if you like Chinese food, you will be just a few blocks from "House of Nan King". It's on Kearny near Columbus. It looks like a hole in the wall, but the food is outstanding!!! (And very inexpensive!) Almost always a line out the door, and almost always rated number one Chinese food in SF! I highly recommend any of their "Nan King" specials. (ooh, I'm getting hungry!)
If you drink coffee, the previous poster was absolutely correct. DON'T go to starbucks! Check out Peet's, our local chain...it's amazing (and if you get addicted, they do ship coffee from their website!) Also, caffe triest (previously recommended) simply is the best coffee this side (or any side) of Italy. On Saturdays, the family that owns the caffe has live opera singing!
Walking through Chinatown ends at Northbeach, and then to Fishermans Wharf if you want....it really isn't too far of a walk, and the majority of it is flat. Would be a great way to get a feel of the city. When you do Chinatown, Grant is the "main" street, more touristy, one street to the West is Stockton, that is the "real" Chinatown, where the local residents do their daily shopping. You will definitely see some unique things! On Ross Ave (maybe street?) a little alley between Washington and Jackson, there is a fortune cookie factory. It's very small, but you can get a huge bag of fortune cookies (some of them still hot!) for just a few dollars.
So...sorry for the long post, but have a great time! Your location is fantastic! About SuperShuttle, it's also known as "blue van", you will see signs in Blue saying "Super Shuttle" at the airport. Easy way to get downtown directly to your hotel. I use it all the time!
Have fun!!!!! October is a great time to come....check the weather, although I said it can be cold, (which is true, the wind off the ocean can send a mean cold breeze in when you least expect it) but we tend to get an "Indian Summer" in Sept or Oct, so you could hit some high temps, but even then, we don't get humidity, so it's rather nice.
Enjoy!!!
Andiamo
Jul 3rd, 2005, 06:46 PM
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Tammy, forgive me, Canton Bazaar is a great store, don't miss their upstairs if you want a kimono. I bought a gorgeous silk kimono there last week for $40!
But, I was mistaken, the artist who hand paints the name in Chinese, was not at Canton Bazaar. He was at a store a little further down the street on the same side, heading towards Northbeach. I have his card, the address of the store is 838 Grant Ave. He's there from 2pm-8pm. Sorry, don't have the name of the store, but it had a big store front, and a large circular staircase on the left. At the base of the staircase, you will see him sitting.
Sorry to have mislead you!
Andiamo
But, I was mistaken, the artist who hand paints the name in Chinese, was not at Canton Bazaar. He was at a store a little further down the street on the same side, heading towards Northbeach. I have his card, the address of the store is 838 Grant Ave. He's there from 2pm-8pm. Sorry, don't have the name of the store, but it had a big store front, and a large circular staircase on the left. At the base of the staircase, you will see him sitting.
Sorry to have mislead you!
Andiamo
Jul 3rd, 2005, 11:33 PM
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Tammy,
Sorry to keep bugging you! But, you mentioned Alcatraz. First, it's a fabulous tour! But, definitely order tickets either on line or by calling in advance. Even in Oct, they may be sold out on the day you want to go. But....I should warn you.....it's a great tour, but will take up most of your day. I've never done the night tour, but check the posts, someone recently asked about Alcatraz at night. I saw most people said it was fun, but would rather go during the day. If you do go, once again, it will take up at least 2/3 of your day. If you only have one day to "play" in SF, I would skip Alcatraz this time (But, PLEASE, come back to SF and enjoy our City again in the future!!!) and enjoy Chinatown, Northbeach, Union Square, etc. this time.
I wish you a wonderful visit, and best of luck with your marathon!!!!
Andiamo
Sorry to keep bugging you! But, you mentioned Alcatraz. First, it's a fabulous tour! But, definitely order tickets either on line or by calling in advance. Even in Oct, they may be sold out on the day you want to go. But....I should warn you.....it's a great tour, but will take up most of your day. I've never done the night tour, but check the posts, someone recently asked about Alcatraz at night. I saw most people said it was fun, but would rather go during the day. If you do go, once again, it will take up at least 2/3 of your day. If you only have one day to "play" in SF, I would skip Alcatraz this time (But, PLEASE, come back to SF and enjoy our City again in the future!!!) and enjoy Chinatown, Northbeach, Union Square, etc. this time.
I wish you a wonderful visit, and best of luck with your marathon!!!!
Andiamo
