San Francisco

[Julie'5']

Hi, thinking about this destination for next June, roughly 4/5 nights just DH and moi to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
First of all I wondered about doing a DIY package but I cant even sort out direct flights from manchester, so Im going to the TA tomorrow for prices.
Anyone have any info on San Fran, I would have liked to go with a company that also organises escourted tours, so Im not rattling around not knowing where to start. Feel a bit disappointed with myself that Ive struggled to do any organising this time.
Julie.

[Charlotte_18]

personally i havent been but my aunt went last year and it was tailor made by Travel City, they got all the flights, car rentals and hotels for las vegas, to cali to san fran. its worth giving them a call because my aunt couldn't get a direct flight to san fran so did an internal flight from las vegas that they arranged for her. she had a fab time :)

[Tiggernut]

I'm pretty sure that you can only get direct flights to San Francisco from Heathrow - both Virgin and BA do flights from there. There are no direct flights to San Fran from any of the regional airports that I know of. Unlike Florida it's also not somewhere that has charter airlines either so that won't be an option. I'm afraid you'll either have to go to Heathrow or get a conection from Manchester via Chicago (I know BMI do this in conjunction with United) or via Atlanta (with Delta). I know AA fly from Manchester too and I think it's probablyJFK or Newark that is AA's hub.

San Francisco is awesome and I would definaitely do it DIY as you can save a fortune!

[Mrs_Dazzle]

San Fransisco is a fantastic city. You will not be disappointed:)

Must do's on our list were: Alcatraz (but book it before you go, it gets very busy - saying that we didn't but went on 'stand by' tickets and got on the first tour); Lombard Street - the really curvy road - it's actually quite short, but well worth it; Golden Gate Bridge; the Piers where you meet the seals, check out the clam chowder stalls and pavement artists; cable car ride - superb, especially if you get a really fun driver; shopping, say no more!; Coit Tower - the most fantastic views over San Fransisco Bay area.

[floridasgirl]

San Fran is great!!!
We went for part of our honeymoon. We flew via Newark, New York.
We booked all ours via Trailfinders who were fantastic and seem to do quite good hotel deals.
Not sure if there are direct flights from manchester.

[kerryh]

Im going in September. I got quotes from a few companys before i booked and Trailfinders was the best by far. I told them where i wanted to go, how many nights in each place and they gave me several quotes using different airlines & hotels in each place. You can go on-line and request a brochure if you want to look at the hotels they use.

[ian180]

Just came back yesterday for 4 nights (and 3 in Vegas) andhad a great time. Booked it all myself so we could pick and choose what we wanted. Been there twice before but as we were going with Mother In Law, repeated a couple of things as it was her first time.

Day 1 was the afternoon, the day we landed. A bit tired we just explored the local area (stayed at the Fairmont, top of Nob Hill) and had dinnerat Lori's Diner, an American 60's style US diner - great food in a nice atmosphere with 60's rock'n'pop music played.

Day 2 was our own so we walked to Pier 39, down the wharf to the Ghiradelli building (lovely chocolate) and had a great lunch and Irish coffee in the renouned Buena Vista pub, then went to Lombard Street and got a cable car home ready for our night time Hornblower dinner cruise round the bay for 3 hours. Three course meal to a band with dancing and wondering around the deck on a nice sunset evening was great.

Next day was a 6.40 pick up for a day at Yosemite park - an amazing day with brilliant scenery and views alike, with forests, streams, lakes and waterfalls in a warm national park surroundings - an amazing day.

Last day was a city tour going around the harbour, twin peaks, tenderloin area, city centre and suburbs for 4 hours. After lunch we went to the malls and Macy's etc. with a nice meal at the hotel.

We planned this independantly so we could do our own thing. Previous things we have done is Alcatraz (as said, book early), day time boat cruise up and down the harbour, under the bridge, near the sea lions. Next time it might be the Napa Valley wine tasting day!!

Have fun.

[Cannavar]

We are going for a few days on our way back from Australia (we are staying at the Disneyland hotel for a few days on the leg out to Sydney! Yay :) )

Anyway...back to my question...has anyone any recomendations for transfers for the airport to the Fishermans Wharf area? I know there are a few but one that someones used and were happy with would be good.

Thanks.

[Rebelrebel]

We are going for a few days on our way back from Australia (we are staying at the Disneyland hotel for a few days on the leg out to Sydney! Yay :) )

Anyway...back to my question...has anyone any recomendations for transfers for the airport to the Fishermans Wharf area? I know there are a few but one that someones used and were happy with would be good.

Thanks.

I think you can use Super Shuttle, not used them yet though :confused2


Ian what was it like getting around San Francisco, what transport did you use?

[flikflak]

From the airport there is a train that takes you into the city for about $6 (I think). You can then hop on the tram down to Fishermans wharf. Dead easy!

I was also there in April and stopped there on my way back from NZ.

It was a great city - had a different vibe to any other US city I have been to.

I got the hop on and off bus tour which was a great way to see the city. Also popped up to lake Tahoe for the weekend which was so pretty.

[TyphoonTilly]

Can echo what everyone else has said - It is an amazing city - we flew BA from Heathrow.

A fantastic time is guaranteed x

[ju_itfc]

From the airport there is a train that takes you into the city for about $6 (I think). You can then hop on the tram down to Fishermans wharf. Dead easy!



The train that flikflk is talking about is the BART and although very convenient and easy to navigate (and the cheapest option by far), it can be a problem if you have lots of luggage especially when you have to transfer to a bus or street car in Downtown SF to get to your hotel. If you are staying in or near Union Square it is a better option (even with suitcases) but anybody staying in Fishermans Wharf would probably still be better off getting a shuttle.

[ju_itfc]

Link to the BART website:-

http://www.bart.gov/index.asp

:thumbs-up

[Rebelrebel]

I've been doing some hunting around for myself for transport from SFO to our hotel and a taxi is going to cost about $35-$40 much less than the shuttle for the four of us.

[jf01570]

Next day was a 6.40 pick up for a day at Yosemite park - an amazing day with brilliant scenery and views alike, with forests, streams, lakes and waterfalls in a warm national park surroundings - an amazing day.



Can you tell me what tour company you used - Yosemite is definitely on my 'to do' list! Thanks.
Joan

[ju_itfc]

We booked through the Virgin Holidays rep for our tour to Yosemite in 2004 but I believe it was with these guys.

http://www.sftours.com/yosemite_sightseeing_tours/yosemite_national_park_day_tour.htm

It's a long day and you have to remember you will only have a short time in the park but for an introduction to Yosemite it was a nice taster and certainly contributed to our return for 2 days and nights in 2006.

Aside from the obvious highlights in the park itself, coming back at night and driving over the Oakland Bay Bridge with the city lights glistening, whilst the driver was playing I left my heart in San Francisco is still one of the most amazing memories of any trip I have ever done in my lifetime. Truly an exceptional city to visit.:cool2:

[ian180]

Can you tell me what tour company you used - Yosemite is definitely on my 'to do' list! Thanks.
Joan

Booked it through Virgin Holidays as an additional / optional tour. I think you can book them down at Fishermans Wharf where you see tour buses dropping people off (down from Pier 39, towards the main shopping area there on the left hand side) - you can book city tours, Nappa Valley tours and Yosemite as well as others.

[eeyore88]

We stayed in the Queen Anne Hotel, absolutely Beautiful, also if you like Garlic book a meal at the Stinking Rose Restaurant, we went on the Yosemite tour and were very disapointed, we had been twice to Yosemite before and we thought this tour was a complete waste of money as we were only in the park under 2 hours.

[ian180]

We stayed in the Queen Anne Hotel, absolutely Beautiful, also if you like Garlic book a meal at the Stinking Rose Restaurant, we went on the Yosemite tour and were very disapointed, we had been twice to Yosemite before and we thought this tour was a complete waste of money as we were only in the park under 2 hours.

We were lucky as we had 4 hours in the park, including 3 of those to do what we wanted and had a brilliant time.

[ju_itfc]

We stayed in the Queen Anne Hotel, absolutely Beautiful, also if you like Garlic book a meal at the Stinking Rose Restaurant, we went on the Yosemite tour and were very disapointed, we had been twice to Yosemite before and we thought this tour was a complete waste of money as we were only in the park under 2 hours.

It has to be said that to fully appreciate Yosemite it cannot be done in one day and although we had longer than 2 hours in the park, it was nowhere near enough time.

The benefit we felt from this one day tour was having a guide who had actually worked in the park, and hence he knew all the great photo opportunties including one particular viewpoint of El Capitan which was absolutely stunning.