Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
people find accessible lodging and arrangements throughout the area; its listings are
comprehensive and frequently updated. Likewise, the city's CVB website maintains
an entire section devoted to accessible travel, and you can download a multi-page
guide,
Access San Francisco,
online as well (www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/
plan_your_trip/access_guide.asp). Organizations that offer assistance to travelers
with disabilities include the
American Federation for the Blind
(
%
800/232-5463;
www.afb.org)
and
Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality
(
%
212/447-7284;
www.sath.org).
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS
You won't find much help. My advice boils down to: Have your ID ready to go,
and always mention that you're a student, because at movie theaters and some
minor attractions, it'll save you a little cash. Before leaving home, obtain some
recognized ID such as the
International Student ID Card
(ISIC; www.istc.org)
so
that there's never a question of your eligibility.
Those under 26 who are not still in school can obtain a
Federation of
International Youth Travel Organizations
(FIYTO; www.fiyto.org)
card, which
performs many of the same tricks as a student discount card. You can get the
FIYTO from discount travel sellers and hostelling associations.
ADVICE FOR SENIORS
Just about every attraction offers a special price for seniors, and the bigger hotel
chains may also offer deals though one of the following organizations.
If you're over 50, you can join
AARP
(601 E Street NW, Washington, DC, 24009;
%
888/687-2277; www.aarp.org),
and wrangle discounts on hotels, airfare, and car
rentals. The well-respected
Elderhostel
(
%
877/426-8056; www.elderhostel.org)
runs many classes and programs, both inside the city and around the Bay Area,
designed to authentically delve into literature, history, the arts, and music. Packages
last from a day to a week and include lodging, tours, and meals. Some are even
multigenerational; bring the grandkids.
ADVICE FOR GAY & LESBIAN TRAVELERS
As you may have heard, San Francisco is one of the most gay-friendly cities any-
where on Earth. In fact, if you're hostile or ungenerous toward homosexuals, it's
you
who will be frowned upon here. It's a true integrated city. Gay folks feel wel-
come pretty much anywhere they go, and same-sex couples may check into any
hotel without feeling self-conscious. For this reason, and for the town's prolifera-
tion of gay-oriented bars and clubs, the city is considered something of a gay par-
adise. Personally, I think that's going a little far—the gay folk here are increasingly
of a certain generation, and there's not much of a young scene. It will also help to
like leather, since several of the city's biggest bars and most popular festivals center
on the fetish. Fortunately, you don't have to be into bars or sex to participate in gay
culture here; there's a sizable group of people who don't get into such activities.
The
Bay Area Reporter
(www.ebar.com)
is a publication that focuses on gay
events and news, and it's available for free at most gay bars and throughout the
Castro. Otherwise, the usual sources of gay travel information apply, including
the mighty
Spartacus
guide, which will set the weight of your luggage to a new
high.
On
(www.onbayarea.com)
caters to upscale gay readers, while
EDGE San
