I’m looking for some help from SF dopers, if I may.
My wife and I will be stopping in the Bay area for two days on our way to Hawaii. We’re staying at Fishermans Wharf for two nights.
We’re flying into the San Francisco airport, and out of the Oakland airport. I emailed our hotel asking about shuttles and such. Their response was “we have a shuttle from the SF airport, $14.00 each. We suggest a taxi to the Oakland airport at roughly $45.00 each.”
Now, if we follow our hotel’s suggestions, transportation to and from the airports will cost us nearly what lodging is costing for two nights:eek:
I’d like to take the BART, but according to an online map I saw, it doesn’t go as far as the SF airport, although it does go to Oakland.
Does anybody have suggestions? Reasonably priced alternatives? Thanks in advance!
When I was there a few years ago, I took BART (from downtown SF) to the end of the line, where there was connecting bus service to SFO. I seem to recall, however, that the bus made only two stops inside the airport, so it wasn’t a carrier-by-carrier stop.
I think the leg of BART that connects to SFO is still being tested, so regular service might not start for a little while. There is a bus you can take to the nearest BART station, then you’d get on BART, then transfer either to MUNI or take a cab to the hotel. It may be easier to just take the shuttle the hotel provides.
Going to Oakland, I’d probably try to catch a cab or MUNI down to the Civic Center BART station, then ride BART over to Oakland (BART stops at the Oakland Coliseum, but there is a shuttle bus that runs people over to the airport every 15 minutes or so). I think BART fare from Civic Center to Oakland will probably be close to $3. Not sure what transport from your hotel to Civic Center would cost. Paying $45 for the trip to Oakland Airport is obscene :(.
Then again, I live in the North Bay and don’t do this often. A San Franciscan may be able to be more helpful.
A cab ride from SFO to our hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf will cost you $40+tips. Taking a shuttle will be cheaper, but will still run you about $30 including tips for two. To get to OAK, the same shuttle service is available, but will cost more ($45+) and you will have to make a reservation. A cab ride will run you more than $50 from Fisherman’s Wharf. Frankly, I think that the most economical (but not the most convenient) option is to get a cheap rental car, which will also allow you to get further away from the wharf area for some sightseeing. I don’t recommend public transportation – you don’t want that hassle while on vacation. I’ve been on many (short) trips where the cost of transportation exceeded the cost of lodging. Have fun in SF!
You have a number of options from SFO. Looks like taking the free shuttle to Caltrain may be your best bet. You may need a (shorter) cab ride from the SF train station. Contact the individual transit companies for current detailed info, including baggage restrictions if any.
Wevets , thanks for the BART link. I spent some time looking at work. Once I figured out where Fishermans Wharf is in relation to the nearest station, it was easy (and looks relatively cheap)
Nivats can I deduce from your message that you work at, or run, a hotel in the area? May I be so bold as to ask which? BTW, we’re staying at the Radisson.
Happyheathen we’re shipping the bulk of our luggage straight to Hawaii, so we’ll just have a carryon each. Public transport shouldn’t be too much trouble.
I’m staying away from the cheap rental car because of the parking issues some good friends warned us about. Tough to find, expensive when you do find space.
rowrrbazzle thanks for the link. I’ll take a look tonight.
from the wharf to the BART station (embarcadaro station) in S.F. try taking the ‘F’ Streetcar line on Muni. It’s probably the quickest public transit from wharf to BART, and it is a scenic ride in a refurbushed classic street car along the city’s Embarcadaro.
DO NOT take CalTrans from SFO to SF it is out of the way.
I’ve tried both the public transit and the rental car option in SF, and public transit was easier, cheaper, and far less frustrating all the way around. I thought driving in SF proper was a nightmare, and parking was generally outrageously expensive or next to impossible to find.
The BART site has specific instructions about how to get to and from the airports. If you don’t have too much luggage, it’s not very difficult at all. If you want to do some sightseeing while you’re in town, you can get a one-day or three-day (cheaper than two one-day) pass on MUNI. This pass gets you on cable cars and streetcars as well as buses, which is a huge bargain when you consider what they normally charge for a ride on a cable car. If you were staying longer, I’d suggest getting a BART Plus ticket, but it’s probably not a bargain for only two days.
If you’d like to do a trans-bay ferry ride, consider taking a trip on one of the commuter ferries during an off-hour rather than buying a ticket on the tourist-oriented ferries. It’s incredibly cheaper, and I think the ride is at least as much fun.
So…San Francisco on the way to Hawaii? I’m incredibly jealous of you. Have a great time!
Of course, my real reason for posting this question wasn’t for travel information, it was so I could say: Nah, nah, I’m going to Hawaii via San Francisco, and you’re not! Nah, nah!
Just coming back from SF. If you have no luggage there is a bus that runs from the airport to downtown SF. There you get the F street line.
The airport recommends the free shuttle to Cal Train. Cal Train to the Embarcadaro then the F street line. This is way too long. If I had one bag I would hop the bus at the airport.
I stayed at Fisherman’s Warf as well. When you leave take the shuttle it is so easier. Plus the busses won’t run for the early hours.
Also I found SF to be small. I live in Chgo and go to NYC often. I found the things I wanted in SF were easily walkable in SF. The map made it look farther. Of course in SF everything is UPHILL. Why is there no downhill in SF
Caltrains terminates at 4th and Townsend (IIRC) - this is not a place you wish to be.
From the Caltrains station, you take the N Judah streetcar to the Embarcadero station, then take the escalator up 25-30 feet to the surface. THEN you can get on the F Embarcadero line.
IOW: take the hotel’s shuttle, then deal with the SF-OAK hassle.
and SF is approimately square, measuring 7 miles x 7 miles. Much is easily walkable, but not all. Take the N Judah to GG park, or the 38 Geary to Land’s End.
This thread was raised by a spammer who has since been wished away to the cornfield. Given the thread’s extreme age, it’s unlikely that any new information will be of any use to the OP. I’ll just go ahead and close this.
