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Transportation options in San Francisco

dougp26364

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what’s the opinion on transportation to/from SFO and getting around San Francisco? We have a reservation at the Ritz Carlton Club and they offer free valet, but I do t see us using a car very much if at all.
 

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We used to live in the San Francisco Bay area and now we spend a few nights there each year (on our way to and from Maui). We don't have a car when we are there. We walk or take BART. I'm trying to remember if we've even taken a cab on any recent trips. Our younger dd used Lyft (Uber is also available) on a trip to San Francisco last year. The bus system is also pretty good to get around. If you want to drive somewhere outside of the city you can rent a car for a day. There are lots of locations in the city where you can get one.
 
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btoby61

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what’s the opinion on transportation to/from SFO and getting around San Francisco? We have a reservation at the Ritz Carlton Club and they offer free valet, but I do t see us using a car very much if at all.
I would agree. Do NOT rent a vehicle. Parking is outrageous. We used Uber, Bart. we never waited more than 10 minutes. The money you save on the rental should easily cover incidental transportation costs. You will come out ahead because you wont be paying for parking...
 

chrono88

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Within SF, you definitely don't need a car. You can take BART to and from the airport very easily. The bus/muni system covers the city well. Uber and Lyft are plentiful. If you want to explore outside of SF (such as going to wine country), you could consider renting a car, though.

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And another thought. If you want to rent a car for a day to explore outside the city, reserve your rental ahead of time. You can use Costco (and probably also AutoSlash) to rent in the city. We did that a few years ago when we were in the city for 9 days, but only needed a car for one day. We knew which day we needed and I made a reservation ahead of time. We paid something like $35 for the one day rental. By the time we got to San Francisco one day car rentals were going for $100! Of course it turned out to be during the World Series and several games were being played in San Francisco. But, you can never tell what will cause the prices to rise.
 

Luanne

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And to address your question about back and forth from the airport. When we go (we usually fly in and out of Oakland because we can get a nonstop flight) we use a car service. It's more expensive than other options, but just the way dh likes to travel.

You can take BART, but if you have a lot of luggage that may not be the best way. Also, unless you really like to walk hills dragging suitcases, I'd suggest catching an Uber or Lyft after getting off BART. Oops, just checked a map. Looks like the Ritz is on Market, so no hills. Five minute walk so it might not be bad with luggage, again depending on how much you have.

You can take a cab, or Uber or Lyft.

You can take a shuttle (may be multiple stops).

You can price out all of these options and see which one appeals to you.
 

TheTimeTraveler

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Streetcars, Trackless Trolleys, Buses, and BART all make an excellent Public Transportation system in San Francisco.

Personally I would use all of the above (plus Uber/Lyft) as long as you remain in the city. Having a car can be a real headache when it comes to traffic and parking.

Enjoy your trip!




.
 

vacationtime1

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BART from SFO is easy; $9.65/person to either the Powell Street or Montgomery Street stations (RCC is between them). BART is crowded during rush hour, but street traffic is also awful.
 

Big Matt

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BART is old and dirty IMO. I would take an Uber/Lyft from SFO just to get to the Ritz Carlton Club. Try BART during the day without luggage to see what you think. Definitely don't need a car unless you want to go up to Muir Woods, down to Half Moon Ban, Monterey, or up to Wine Country. If Wine Country is on your list, try to get a party bus or shuttle that takes you to a few wineries. It will cost more, but you don't have to worry about drinking and driving.
 

JohnB3

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I never get a car in SF. BART runs to the Airport and you can use uber/lyft if you would rather get door to door service on your trip in and out (which I usually do) I get a transit pass while in the city and use public transport for running around the city. For wine country we took the Ferry and Hired a car to tour Napa which allowed me to enjoy the wine tasting without thinking about driving. Last time we were there we hired a tour guide who took us out of the city for a day to muir, mount tam the headlands and salsalito. Driving and parking in SF is painful to me.
 
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