San Francisco - advice please

danielley

I've stayed at http://www.goldengatewayhotel.com/ It was a fab hotel and well located, as there is a tram stop on the corner of the street. It has amazing bay views also.

I visisted Alcatraz, which is a must see and amazing value for money!

I have also done a city tour through this company http://www.mrtoadstours.com/ I think it was about $36 each. It was a 90 minute city tour, in a unique vehicle and I suppose it would be good to do on your first day, as it would give you a good general idea of the city and you could then choose where to return to yourself to explore further. You'll see all the touristy spots and have a chance to get out at each place for photo's etc. I also learnt a lot from the guide.

I would also recommend a Napa Wine Valley tour , I used http://www.winecountrytourshuttle.com/?gclid=CM3eidLo86gCFYob4QodGn1CSw This was $89 each, you are out for 8.5 hours, they pick you up from a central location (Ferry Building) and they drive you to Napa (about 70 mins away) over the Golden Gate Bridge and then you spend the day touring Wineries and having lunch etc and then you come back on a Ferry which goes under the GG Bridge (which is just amazing!) and also past Alcatraz! The guide is very informative also.

Enjoy your trip. SF is my favourite place in the whole world!! Got my 3rd trip there tomorrow!

zaffi

we stayed at hotel fusion at union square, loved it close to everything. Agree with the majority on here, alcatraz is a must and book before you go. We didn't and just got tickets before they sold out.

It may not be for everyone, but we went to see the giants play baseball, highly recommend it, it's a great all american night out. Had a look and the giants are at home almost all of early june, except 1st and 2nd. Tickets easy to get we booked using ticketmaster from our hotel on game day.

misa.blue

We just got back from our California trip and we loved San Francisco!
We stayed in Baldwin Hotel at Grant street, it is right by the Gate to Chinatown and only 3-5 min walk to Union Square. Hotel was very reasonably priced, think £70 per night and the location was just brilliant!!
We went to Alcatraz, it's kind of must, isn't it? It was great. Had look around Fisherman's Wharf, there is lots there and so busy!
Had clam chowder in bread bowl for $5.50, it was lovely :-)

Gloomendoom

Do you like trams?

neilbond007

I did this tour (or something similar) http://www.alcatraztrips.com/citytour.asp
Helped us work out where we wanted to look at in more details.
After that full day we walked everywhere for 2 days. Fishermans Wharf, Coit Tower, Castro district, Lombard Street etc etc.

My ex's favourite US city and seemingly a favourite of the homeless too. I thought it was OK

2manybooks

The Colombus Motor Inn is in a good location and gets good reviews on Tripadvisor.
Get the bus to the Golden Gate Bridge and walk across and down into Sausilito and get the Ferry back.
Just walking around the different areas in San Francisco is a great way to spend the day.
Washington Sq in North Beach is great for watching the little Chinese ladies in the morning doing their exercises, Mama's is excellent for breakfast and the Rouge Ales bar does the best beer.
I recommend Hunan Homes for Chinese food and Franchino's or Soldini's for old school Italian.
The Ferry Building has a brilliant farmers Market on a Saturday.
Riding the cable cars and Alcatraz are must dos.

loobs40

We stayed in San Francisco for three nights in Nov 2010. The best thing I did by miles was go on a all day tour around the city sights with Green Dream Tours - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g60713-d1539348-Reviews-Green_Dream_Tours-San_Francisco_California.html . Check the reviews (including mine !)

Zazie

You can get a whole range of very good FREE walking tours here:
http://gocalifornia.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=gocalifornia&cdn=travel&tm=116&gps=356_1252_740_611&f=22&su=p284.9.336.ip_p531.50.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.sfcityguides.org/

Just tip the guide a dollar or two at the end.

If you're interested in the Flower Power era, visit the Haight-Ashbury district for lovely houses and quirky hippy shops. See where Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane, etc stayed. From there, you can walk up to Golden Gate Park and see the Japanese Garden.

It's a lovely city! have a gtreat time.

ponymad_3

You will love SF ... agree with the recs on here.When you re down at F Wharf do visit Ghiardellis chocolate shop.. free generous tasting when you go in and you can keep going back . Everyone I speak to seem to do just that! We stayed off Union Sq in a fairly cheap boutique hotel I found listed on TA.

Vikki_74

missbaywalker wrote: »

Thank you all so much for your replies - they are much appreciated.

Vicki_74 - details of the walking book would be great - many thanks!

I used a combination of these two books to get the walking and cable car tours for SF - can't remember which bit was in which book:

http://www.thomascookpublishing.com/Traveller%20Guides/747/San%20Francisco%20(4th%20Edition)/

http://www.thomascookpublishing.com/Traveller%20Guides/438/California%20(3rd%20Edition)/

Not worth the £9.99 each they charge online but I got mine last year from The Works for £1.99 each...for that, they're very good guides. If I can find them upstairs later in the week I'll post up or PM you the details of the tours if you want.