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If you are planning to visit San Francisco, here’s what you need to know about getting to or from the city based on how you’re getting in or out:
By Air:
To and From SFO (San Francisco Intl): The BART transit system connects SFO to downtown San Francisco (Powell Street Station) in about 35 minutes, with a one-way fare of about $6 USD. The train literally stops at SFO’s International Terminal, leaving you a walk away from your gate. Getting to/from the airport by BART works for almost all flight arrivals and departures (first BART arrival at SFO on Saturdays 09:15, Sundays 07:07; last BART departure from SFO 23:53 daily). Secondary transit options for SFO are shared shuttles (such as SuperShuttle – about 50 minutes, about $17 USD) and private taxis (about 30 minutes, about $45 USD).
To and From OAK (Oakland Intl): The cheapest way of getting to downtown San Francisco from OAK also utilizes the BART transit system, but also requires taking a short “AirBART” bus ride between the Coliseum/Oakland Airport Station and Oakland Airport. The total fare for the journey is about $7 USD (train portion $4 USD, AirBART portion $3 USD (exact change required)), and you should expect this trip to take about 45 minutes. The secondary transit option for OAK is shared shuttles (about 60 minutes, about $27 USD).
To and From SJC (San Jose Intl): San Jose is the farthest of the three airports from San Francisco, but is reachable via the Caltrain system for about $8 USD and in about 90 minutes. The San Francisco Caltrain station (terminus) is in the South of Market area of San Francisco, you may need to take a MUNI bus ($1.5o USD, exact change required) or taxi to connect with your starting or final destination. For the airport, board/exit Caltrain at the Santa Clara station, where the VTA #10 “Airport Flyer” bus connects you to SJC for free.
By Rail (Amtrak):
There are no intercity rail stations in San Francisco proper. Amtrak uses buses to pickup and dropoff passengers in the city of San Francisco – the buses either connect to the main rail station in Emeryville (20 minutes East), or begin the journey towards your destination (for example, when traveling to Los Angeles from San Francisco, some Amtrak routings involve taking a bus from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, where you connect with a train to complete your journey to Los Angeles). Although some popular accomadations are within walking distance, you may need take a MUNI bus ($1.5o USD, exact change required) or taxi to connect with your starting or final destination.
By Bus:
Buses depart and arrive in downtown San Francisco; the exact location varies based on the bus company with which you are traveling. There is a primary bus terminal called the Transbay Terminal that is located right in the middle of downtown – be alert in this area late at night or early in the morning as it can be ‘dodgy.’ Other buses do not stop at terminals er se, but instead pickup and dropoff at specifc addresses along the street – there may not be a proper bus shelter of any kind available so be prepared! Although some popular accomadations are within walking distance, you may need take a MUNI bus ($1.5o USD, exact change required) or taxi to connect with your starting or final destination.
By Car:
Should you be planning to drive to or from San Francisco, a primary concern will be parking – in most areas local resident permits are required if you wish to park your car for more than two hours (except on Sundays when no permits are required). Check to see if your place of accomadation provides parking, or works with a parking garage to provide parking for guests – beware that parking in downtown San Francisco can be as high as $50 USD per day, but much less if you are not in the Financial District or major tourist districts (North Beach, Fisherman’s Wharf).
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There are great times to be had in The Bay Area, no doubt. I could tell many a story of glee, and I am not alone in this regard, of that I am sure. On this occasion, however, I would like to tell another story. One not mentioned nearly enough. Unflattering though it may be, there cannot be mention of the BART without mention of aggressive panhandling. On my most recent trip to Berkeley and SF, by way of Oakland airport, I was greeted by junkies and panhandlers at almost every juncture. First off, once you get in the BART station (this happened to me twice in three uses of the BART system) someone is probably going to approach you to beg change. In the first case, a haggard one-toothed junkie (no pun intended… let’s just say, not the passport type) actually started pushing the buttons during my attempt to use the ticket machine! I almost decapitated the loathsome beast, but pity stayed my hand. The idea is supposed to be, she “helps” me to get my ticket, and I reward with a tip. I’m not having it. The second occasion, far less dramatics, nevertheless included some downtrodden and forlorn character hovering over me for the duration of my transaction after having already been denied the tuppence he sought. Listen, don’t even get me started on Telegraph street in Berkeley: it is a circus one local bar goer described to me as a cocktail of suburban white guilt and dated hippie values gone awry. I nearly lost it when some dirt-smeared and rag-laden freak, bouncing from foot to foot and sporting a shit eating grin effecting the look of some undead court jester, emphatically shook his money jar directly in my face as I passed. Let us just say I was proud of myself for the level of restraint I exhibited, as I wasn’t entirely sure I had it in me. Aside from that, The Bay is lovely, especially its assortment of eccentric convenience store owners and avid disc golf players. Also, don’t miss the Tenerloin and TenderNob areas.
Johnraekown
-PPJ-
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