Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
vending machines. There is
also a clinic for those with
medical problems
(see p271)
.
Wheelchairs, TDD terminals
for the hearing-impaired, and
an airport shuttle service for
the disabled are readily
available. You can also use
the white courtesy phones
that allow you to contact all
airport services and facilities
free of charge.
Throughout the airport,
a series of galleries display
changing exhibits on a wide
range of subjects. There is also
a museum dedicated to the
history of aviation in the
International Terminal.
The area in front of the terminal at Oakland International Airport
Other International
Airports
Most international flights
arrive at SFO, but
Oakland
International
and
San José
International
airports are also
viable options. Both offer good
ground transportation into San
Francisco by door-to-door bus
shuttle and limousine. BART
serves Oakland International
in conjunction with a shuttle,
getting people into the city
within an hour.
Visitors flying
into San José can
take a
SamTrans
shuttle bus
to the CalTrain
station
(see
p278)
, arriving
in San Francisco
in about 90
minutes. San José airport has
expanded significantly, and the
city's transportation authority is
working on connecting it to the
light-rail system, a project that is
due for completion in 2015.
Tickets and Fares
Flights to San Francisco (and
hotel rates) are most expensive
in the summer. Fortunately,
though, the city's best weather
is in the fall, from September to
the end of October, and flight
prices are often a bit cheaper
then. Late June is particularly
expensive and crowded in San
Francisco due to the annual
Gay Pride Parade
(see p51)
.
Websites such as
Priceline
,
Expedia
, and
Travelocity
often
offer deals on airfares, and
Kayak
compares prices from
all of these sites, as well as the
airline sites, to deliver the best
possible deal.
Getting into the City
from SFO
Information booths on the
lower level of the airport offer
advice on ground transporta-
tion, fares, and boarding
locations. Follow the arrows
marked “Ground Transportation.”
Buses operated by
SuperShuttle
depart
every 20 minutes
from 5am
to 11pm,
serving three
city-center
areas with
drop-offs at
major hotels.
Other companies offer a door-
to-door service, such as
Bayporter Express
and
American Airporter Shuttle
.
These minibus shuttles and
shared limousines will take you
to a specific address. You share
the cost of the trip with other
passengers for an average of
$19 to $40.
The average fare for a
metered cab ride into San
Francisco is $45. This non-stop
trip can take as little as 25
minutes or as long as 40
minutes or even longer during
rush hour (7-9am and 4-7pm).
Travelers on a budget, with
plenty of time (to allow for
frequent stops), can hop on SFO's
light-rail shuttle to the airport's
BART station and take the
subway to San Francisco, the East
Bay, or the CalTrain depot. A one-
way fare to downtown is $4.50.
Package Deals
By far the best value for visitors
can be found by purchasing a
package that includes airfare
and hotel, and sometimes a
rental car. Websites such as
Expedia.com and Travelocity.
com offer exclusive package
deals that are not available
through travel agents.
However, be sure to check
the hotel component, since
it is not uncommon for sites to
bundle a mediocre hotel into a
package. Bear in mind that if
you have booked a package
through a third party, any
changes or complaints will
have to be handled by the
booking party; you will not
be able to make changes to
your reservation directly. In
addition to the travel sites,
hotels also sometimes offer
packages that include meals,
a rental car, tourist activities,
or spa services.
A SuperShuttle minibus service
The airy interior of San José
International Airport
