SAN FRANCISCO SHORT STAY
Nov 5th, 2011, 02:53 AM
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SAN FRANCISCO SHORT STAY
Can't decide whether to stay in Union Square area or Fisherman's Wharf! First visit to SF & looking to do as much as possible. Also is it easy to get shuttle transport from the airport to your hotel or should you book ahead.
Nov 5th, 2011, 06:10 AM
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BART is an easy, cost effective way to get into the city from the airports, either Oakland {OAK} or San Francisco {SFO}. We actually fly into OAK since we can get there non-stop from our home airport but cannot do that flying into SFO.
I would absolutely suggest staying in Union Square area for your first trip. While you may want to go to FW for a look see, it wouldn't be my choice location. We did stay there once because we got a great deal, but would not do it again unless we got another great deal.
You don't say how long you will be in SF, but I suggest buying a pass to use for the bus, trolley, cable car. It is the most economical way to get around town.{Note: this is NOT for use on BART}
While in SF, make sure to take advantage of wonderful, FREE walking tours offered by SF Public Library.
http://www.sfcityguides.org/
http://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/index.aspx
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
As far as using Priceline, make sure you know the various areas and IF you have never used it before, be sure to know how to bid and that once you win, NO REFUNDS.
What time of year is this trip? That makes a difference on room rates. There are lots of conferences in SF, so that makes prices and availability vary a lot.
I would absolutely suggest staying in Union Square area for your first trip. While you may want to go to FW for a look see, it wouldn't be my choice location. We did stay there once because we got a great deal, but would not do it again unless we got another great deal.
You don't say how long you will be in SF, but I suggest buying a pass to use for the bus, trolley, cable car. It is the most economical way to get around town.{Note: this is NOT for use on BART}
While in SF, make sure to take advantage of wonderful, FREE walking tours offered by SF Public Library.
http://www.sfcityguides.org/
http://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/index.aspx
http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passports.htm
As far as using Priceline, make sure you know the various areas and IF you have never used it before, be sure to know how to bid and that once you win, NO REFUNDS.
What time of year is this trip? That makes a difference on room rates. There are lots of conferences in SF, so that makes prices and availability vary a lot.
Nov 5th, 2011, 06:16 AM
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Priceline Zones 2, 9 and 12 would be the only ones I would bid on BUT I would prefer 2 and 9; 12 starts to get iffy in some spots.
Hotwire may cost a bit more, but using betterbidding.com, you can often figure out, with pretty good results, what hotels are being offered in the "see name after you pay" categories.
Hotwire may cost a bit more, but using betterbidding.com, you can often figure out, with pretty good results, what hotels are being offered in the "see name after you pay" categories.
Nov 5th, 2011, 11:58 AM
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That was my question: any children?
If so, Fisherman's Wharf is better. It's more for families with themed hotels like the Argonaut. No 4* hotels there, just very utilitarian 3 or 4 story hotels on ordinary streets, but easier to get to than the Union Square area which is downtown.
There are more children-related acitivties at FW and nearby. There's the Maritime Museum National Park with several locations, including the Hyde Street Pier where there are several historic ships actually docked. Kids love to roam around those old ships and boats, especially the sailing ship, the Balclutha with all its nooks and crannies. The Maritime Museum itself has reopened after renovations. There's also a part of the Museum housed in the same building as the Argonaut Hotel. You could easily spend a day with your kids here. The little ones love to walk along the pebbly shore and gather up small pebbles.
Further along, there's also Pier 39, although touristy, it's still fun for the kids with a merry-go-round and other things for kids (and not for grown-ups!)
There are also more kid-friendly restaurants, like Lori's Diner and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop in Ghirardelli Square, the Rainforest Cafe on Fisherman's Wharf itself, etc.
Yes, FW is touristy - it's the number one hotel destination in San Francisco.
OTOH, if you're a couple, then you would want to skip the children stuff and stay in the Union Square area for grown-up shopping, dining and grown-up tourist things like museums - although you'll be missing a lot of the history of San Francisco, which after all was/is a seafaring town/city, available only at FW.
If so, Fisherman's Wharf is better. It's more for families with themed hotels like the Argonaut. No 4* hotels there, just very utilitarian 3 or 4 story hotels on ordinary streets, but easier to get to than the Union Square area which is downtown.
There are more children-related acitivties at FW and nearby. There's the Maritime Museum National Park with several locations, including the Hyde Street Pier where there are several historic ships actually docked. Kids love to roam around those old ships and boats, especially the sailing ship, the Balclutha with all its nooks and crannies. The Maritime Museum itself has reopened after renovations. There's also a part of the Museum housed in the same building as the Argonaut Hotel. You could easily spend a day with your kids here. The little ones love to walk along the pebbly shore and gather up small pebbles.
Further along, there's also Pier 39, although touristy, it's still fun for the kids with a merry-go-round and other things for kids (and not for grown-ups!)
There are also more kid-friendly restaurants, like Lori's Diner and the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop in Ghirardelli Square, the Rainforest Cafe on Fisherman's Wharf itself, etc.
Yes, FW is touristy - it's the number one hotel destination in San Francisco.
OTOH, if you're a couple, then you would want to skip the children stuff and stay in the Union Square area for grown-up shopping, dining and grown-up tourist things like museums - although you'll be missing a lot of the history of San Francisco, which after all was/is a seafaring town/city, available only at FW.
Nov 5th, 2011, 02:36 PM
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions - Union Square wins!! We are a couple and in SF for 3.5 days. The only "must do" so far is Alcatraz and looking forward to "exploring". Will definitely look at the BART or Limo from SFO to hotel.
Nov 5th, 2011, 02:40 PM
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Here are my suggestions of things to do & see:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm
Stu Dudley
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm
Stu Dudley
Nov 5th, 2011, 05:58 PM
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Stu: Sorry easy - I would not agree with that. Much more history elsewhere. Gold Coast, Ft Point, Victorians, Market St, etc. The Wharf is tacky, IMO.
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, Stu. After all, FW is San Francisco's most popular tourist destination for a reason.
IMHO, there's only one section that's tacky where the restaurants aren't exactly the most wonderful, nevertheless, there's still a lot more to offer, especially for families. Of course, there's history in other parts of SF also, but this area is particularly rich in maritime history of SF.
Anyhow, this is all moot, since the OP has decided on Union Square.
We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one, Stu. After all, FW is San Francisco's most popular tourist destination for a reason.
IMHO, there's only one section that's tacky where the restaurants aren't exactly the most wonderful, nevertheless, there's still a lot more to offer, especially for families. Of course, there's history in other parts of SF also, but this area is particularly rich in maritime history of SF.
Anyhow, this is all moot, since the OP has decided on Union Square.
Nov 6th, 2011, 10:24 AM
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Stu: FW has a lot more to offer than McDonald's.
Not only is there a McD's, but there's an In-and-Out burger, for health nuts like us.
I know many of you prefer to send visitors to Perbacco's or the Slanted Door (ugh!), but FW has a lot to offer families.
Besides which, it's a lively place and much more fun to visit than those empty streets where the guide will point to what is an upscale entrance today but which used to be the entrance to an infamous Barbary Coast brothel (wink, wink! raised eyebrows - and the whole lot).
Guess if one looks for tacky, one can always find it. I even found an entire tacky market in Vienna - but that didn't stop me from going there and taking a look-see.
Anyhow, this is getting to falling-off-the-cliff moot at this point.
Not only is there a McD's, but there's an In-and-Out burger, for health nuts like us.
I know many of you prefer to send visitors to Perbacco's or the Slanted Door (ugh!), but FW has a lot to offer families.
Besides which, it's a lively place and much more fun to visit than those empty streets where the guide will point to what is an upscale entrance today but which used to be the entrance to an infamous Barbary Coast brothel (wink, wink! raised eyebrows - and the whole lot).
Guess if one looks for tacky, one can always find it. I even found an entire tacky market in Vienna - but that didn't stop me from going there and taking a look-see.
Anyhow, this is getting to falling-off-the-cliff moot at this point.
Nov 6th, 2011, 11:41 AM
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For a short stay, I'll go for Union Square. There's a lot of things to do in SF, it really depends on why you want to visit SF. Culture? Art? Food? Entertainment? For touristy location go to Pier 39. You can take the F-market line or the cable car. (easy access if you stay in Union Square). Food trip: Chinatown, Little Italy, the Mission, Sunset District, and many more depending on what you're craving for.
Art: SOMA district, the Golden Gate Park, * must California Academy of Sciencesand there's more just let me know what you really want to do.
Art: SOMA district, the Golden Gate Park, * must California Academy of Sciences
and there's more just let me know what you really want to do.
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