We are arriving at SF Airport and spending a couple days in SF, then off to Napa. I hear having a car in SF is a nuisance, so wondreing what is the best mode of transportation to SF from the airport? Also, Would renting a car as we leave SF be better than from the airport?
2006-12-18 07:13:09 · 9 answers · asked by Jan W 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Francisco
You are smart not to rent a car while in the city. Parking is expensive and you will see the city better without a car.
Take BART from the airport to downtown and purchase a muni passport [$7 per day, 3 days for $18] that will give you unimited rides on the cable cars [$5 one way!], busses, trollies, and light rail.
Rent your car from downtown outlets. All the major agencies have offices near union square. No sense in going all the way to the airport to rent a car and then having to drive back through the city to get to Napa.
2006-12-19 04:15:25 · answer #1 · answered by ajtheactress 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
From SFO airport, take the subway (BART) Downtown. It only costs $5.15 and will get you to Union Square in about 30 minutes. The BART station is located next to Concourse G in the International Terminal.
Once Downtown... there are buses, cable cars, trams, trains, and ferries crisscrossing the city and beyond. San Francisco has a very comprehensive public transportation network.
Although you can do Wine Country on a guided tour, using Greyhound, or through a combination of ferry/local buses...I do agree that a rental car is probably the best way to go. It'll give you the freedom you need to truly explore the area. It's better to pick up your car as you leave San Francisco. Most of the car rental chains (including Enterprise, Thrifty, National, and Budget) have garages Downtown.
2006-12-18 16:51:29 · answer #2 · answered by SFdude 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Airport rentals are always more expensive than rentals from an agency outside of the airport. Having a car in SF isn't too bad (at least it wasn't when I lived in the Bay area). Parking can be a pain sometimes but it all depends on where you are and where you want to go. There's a ton of public transportation ie Bart (Bay Area Rapid Transit), Bus, Cable Car, etc. I would say it all depends on whether or not your hotel has available parking. Do a check on the areas you want to visit and see what options there are. As for transportion from SFO, again, check with your hotel and see what they suggest, they're usually very helpful.
2006-12-18 15:24:24 · answer #3 · answered by koral2800 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once you have your transportation down in SF, there's an easy way to get to Napa without driving. The Evans bus picks up at the airports in SF and Oakland, and drops you right off in Napa where you can have a car waiting for you from Budget or Enterprise, and no driving from the city. An Evans ticket one-way is around $19. And driving in Napa Valley is simple. I love Evans, I've used them for over 17 years.
Email me and I can look up the number.
2006-12-18 16:04:10 · answer #4 · answered by chefgrille 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
From the airport to the city there are several buses and shuttles and stuff that can take where you need to go. In the actual city, take the cable car, street car, walk, bike tours, muni bus, basically anything but cars. Parking in SF in a royal pain in the butt. Plus walking up those hills will get rid of jiggly butt.
Go check out the Bocce Cafe on Green in North beach and Kan's in China town. Good food, Good prices. Walk the bridge as well.
2006-12-18 16:16:54 · answer #5 · answered by RoadRunner 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could take BART to downtown SF lots of hotels at Union Square (Powell St. Station, then go up hill). Then rent a car from the hotel to get to Napa (45 minute drive) then drive back to SFO preferably going around downtown.
2006-12-18 19:04:53 · answer #6 · answered by spitfin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. While in San Francisco take the cable car, taxi to see the sights. When leaving for Napa call Enterprise Rent a Car. Have fun in Napa, don't forget to see the Charles Krug, Christian Brothers and Mondavi wineries. I lived there for over twenty years and miss it.
Have fun!
2006-12-18 15:29:52 · answer #7 · answered by Sim 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
SFO-airport: BART. Very easy.
Getting around city: walking & MUNI (which includes cable cars). Taxis are plentiful as well.
SF to Napa: rent a car.
2006-12-18 18:34:58 · answer #8 · answered by Sean B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Renting definitely is better. If you were only staying in San Francisco, BART and cable car would have been sufficient.
2006-12-18 20:28:02 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋