I have spent many hours helping people in the past in coming to Europe, but now I am in need of assistance and hope someone can help.

I arrive late into SFO at about 7.30pm and then fly out of Oakland the next morning at 7.30am.

My question is whether it is worthwhile to travel into San Fran and stay the night at an hotel. This would at least give me a chane to have a late dinner in the city and see a little of the place.

The other option is to go straight to Oakland airport and stay at a hotel near the airport. Can anyone recommend any reasonable hotels (max budget is about $100, if possible).

If I decide to stay in Oakland it appears from reading other postings that the best way to go from SFO to Oakland Apt is by Super Shuttle, unless anyone knows a better way. I guess taxi will be expensive. I will be travelling with one bag.

Many thanks in advance for your help
Mike

Mike,
SFO is in Burlingame which is about 30-40 minutes south of SF. You could run into the city for a nice dinner, for me it would depend on how jet lagged I was, and with that early flight the next morning, hmmmmm, I would probably not. Although I cannot recommend anything around the Oakland airport, I will tell you Oakland is not an area you would want to be walking around in at night. By SFO there are a couple hotels that would do, I think there was a DoubleTree Suites by SFO that would be fine and I know they have a shuttle. It may go between the two airports at no expense to you. If you decide to venture into SF, dinner and hotel there will most definitely set you back a few bucks. Hope this helps a bit.

With that early a flight you should definitely stay near Oakland airport. As long as you aren't toting too much luggage you could go into SF for dinner and then take Bart or a cab to the hotel. But a better idea would be to go straight to the hotel - super shuttle is convenient - and then take a cab (or the hotel might have a shuttle) to Jack London Square for dinner. JLS is on the Oakland water front and has a lot of really good restaurants.

The airport is south of downtown Oakland and there are several hotels nearby. The Airport Hilton normally runs between $100 and $200 but they have specials - especially on weekends. There are a Holiday Inn Express and a Holiday Inn nearby. There is a new Best Western Airport Inn and Suites that may have specials. The Marina Inn in San Leandro is about 3 miles from the airport. It is a very nice marina-side motel with restaurants within safe walking distance.

I concur with Jains. Your best bet would be to go straight to Oakland from San Francisco Airport. BART would be the least expensive option if you do not have too many bags to carry. If that is not convenient take Super Shuttle. I like Jains' idea of Jack London Square. There are many great restaurants in that part of Oakland. If you like seafood, definitely go to Scotts.

Many thanks for all your comments.

Following your advice I will head straight for Oakland and stay at an airport hotel. The idea of Jack London Square sounds just perfect and I will give that a try.

Thanks again

DONOT stay at the Days Inn near the Oakland airport. It cost $70 but I did not feel safe. Holiday Inn next door looked OK but the neighborhood is not safe to walk around. .

Agree with above -- Jack London Square has good restaurants, a jazz club (Yoshi's) and the Waterfront Plaza Hotel uses a quick shuttle to OAK. Big question!!! Why come from the UK for one night in Bay Area????

Huh? We've made several nonstop trips to London (from SFO) and have spent only one, sometimes less (= zero) nights in London.

It was nothing personal. London is great but we had other plans.

Mike, I would also suggest getting a hotel in the Jack London Sq area. The Oakland airport is a short 10 minute-straight-freeway ride away. Staying there, you could either try Yoshi's for super jazz (check website) or hop BART into SF for the evening. Staying close to OAK airport is basically wasting a night (which is ok if you are dead tired after the long flight and just want to sleep/get up and catch next flight.

Your flight might be delayed into SFO, so I wouldn't risk it, reserve something in Oakland. The BART subway runs from Oakland right into downtown San Francisco, you could always take a 25 minute subway ride into San Francisco, walk around for a while or have dinner, then BART back to Oakland.

Bart does not run from San Fran Airport to Oakland however, as a previous poster may have suggested.

BART is indeed possible from SFO to downtown Oakland. From SFO catch the BART bus to either Colma or Daly City stations ($1.20 I think). CX is the Colma express (no stops - @ 10 min).

The SFO BART station (inside airport) is due to open in December.

Take the Bart to the Rockridge station. It is north Oakland with alot of nice restaraunts, and a safe area to walk around.

Do not stay around the Oakland Airport. I think the waterfron Hotel at JL Square is a good idea. The Oakland airport is really torn up for construction and the neighborhood hotels are near hotels that rent by the hour. You will have a more pleasant night at Jack London. Keep in mind that ouside the perimeter of the square area is also not the best place to go walking. I have lived in the area (Alameda) for 12 years.