DebitNM

When we visit SF [and we do this alot] we fly into and out of OAK because we can do so on non-stop Southwest flights. We use BART to get into the city and while it is a bit more of an effort than from SFO, it is doable. Last trip, I did it alone and was a-ok. Not sure I would want to do it at night though, in all honesty. Taking BART from SFO [we did that once] is easier.

As easy says, unless you absolutely HAVE to have a car, you don't need one IN San Francisco, proper. We rent a car for the day from Dollar in Union Sq and bring it back at end of the day trip so we don't have to pay overnight parking at hotel. We use Muni visitor pass and walk and it is a good way to get around.

DebitNM

Glad to read that, succulent!

isabel

Thanks for the replies. I will be renting a car and heading to the coast (and then Napa) for several days. Then returning the car and taking public transportation to where my son lives - which is Lafayette. He uses BART to commute to work so I know it's on a BART line. He keeps telling me that SFO is 'much easier' but then he's never flown out of OAK (he just moved there this year). And actually, the rentals I was looking at had the cheapest option of picking the car up at OAK and returning it to SFO. Then I guess I should just book my return from flight back east from SFO (to avoid having to get to OAK late at night). I could probably persuade my son to drive me to the airport for my return flight - he only just got a car and I don't think is very comfortable driving in the area yet. It looks to be closer to his house than SFO is if driving but maps don't tell you about traffic and all.

Now to really complicate matters - it's possible I can use my son's car for my coast trip but he won't know if he needs it those days until closer to the trip (in March) and I want to book the flights now. (He has a conference for work the first part of the week and doesn't know yet if he'll need his car to drive to it). So it's possible that instead of renting a car I'll be taking BART to his house to get his car.

sf7307

I know lots of people who live in the Lafayette area and commute to the city by BART, but getting to the station from their houses requires a car.

If you want to make plans now, just fly into Oakland and out of SFO. Cheaper car rental should you need it, and accessibility to BART either way.