Renting a Car in San Francisco
Feb 25, 2011, 7:13 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 45
Renting a Car in San Francisco
I am planning a trip to San Francisco in April. We are debating if we need to rent a car for us to get around within San Francisco. We figure with the cost of parking and the cost of renting a car; it will easily cost us $100 a day. If we decide to take taxi around mostly downtown, will it be more cost effective for us to just use taxi and public transportation. We will not be visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. We will be stay at the Le Meridien San Francisco.
Mar 2, 2011, 3:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
Anything can be done in SF if you want to take extra time or pay higher costs riding taxi's. A car in SF is good idea if you want to get to select locations in a reasonable time and transport many people and carry your belongings.
So depends on your age and physical ability as buses are long waits.
Cable cars do run in many key downtown areas but take time and are fun if you haven't done it.
Depends how many in your party as a car easily transports four people, number of days sight seeing and if you want to see the special drive areas.
Key areas: Pier 39(night), Fisherman's Wharf, GG Park, Presido, Chinatown.
If you plan to stay downtown all the time I guess busing/taxi's/cable cars might be reasonable.
So depends on your age and physical ability as buses are long waits.
Cable cars do run in many key downtown areas but take time and are fun if you haven't done it.
Depends how many in your party as a car easily transports four people, number of days sight seeing and if you want to see the special drive areas.
Key areas: Pier 39(night), Fisherman's Wharf, GG Park, Presido, Chinatown.
If you plan to stay downtown all the time I guess busing/taxi's/cable cars might be reasonable.
I am planning a trip to San Francisco in April. We are debating if we need to rent a car for us to get around within San Francisco. We figure with the cost of parking and the cost of renting a car; it will easily cost us $100 a day. If we decide to take taxi around mostly downtown, will it be more cost effective for us to just use taxi and public transportation. We will not be visiting the Golden Gate Bridge. We will be stay at the Le Meridien San Francisco.
Mar 2, 2011, 4:45 pm
#7
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
Anything can be done in SF if you want to take extra time or pay higher costs riding taxi's. A car in SF is good idea if you want to get to select locations in a reasonable time and transport many people and carry your belongings.
So depends on your age and physical ability as buses are long waits.
Cable cars do run in many key downtown areas but take time and are fun if you haven't done it.
Depends how many in your party as a car easily transports four people, number of days sight seeing and if you want to see the special drive areas.
Key areas: Pier 39(night), Fisherman's Wharf, GG Park, Presido, Chinatown.
If you plan to stay downtown all the time I guess busing/taxi's/cable cars might be reasonable.
So depends on your age and physical ability as buses are long waits.
Cable cars do run in many key downtown areas but take time and are fun if you haven't done it.
Depends how many in your party as a car easily transports four people, number of days sight seeing and if you want to see the special drive areas.
Key areas: Pier 39(night), Fisherman's Wharf, GG Park, Presido, Chinatown.
If you plan to stay downtown all the time I guess busing/taxi's/cable cars might be reasonable.
Mar 3, 2011, 2:48 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA. USA
Programs: MR, AA, UA, DL, AVIS and growing
Posts: 1,172
I guess the assumption is the person must pay overnight hotel parking charges?
I was able to find free many times parking in most areas by walking a few blocks which includes pier 39 and fisherman's wharf. Then rode the cable cars within the city to see a few sites. Chinatown and downtown were a bit tough for parking but again we were carrying alot of things so a car was good transport and we did find parking.
I was able to find free many times parking in most areas by walking a few blocks which includes pier 39 and fisherman's wharf. Then rode the cable cars within the city to see a few sites. Chinatown and downtown were a bit tough for parking but again we were carrying alot of things so a car was good transport and we did find parking.
Mar 3, 2011, 4:11 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Portland
Posts: 11,571
I'd come out on the side of not renting a car for this particular fact pattern, but be warned that taxis in SF are not as easy to use as in most other cities of similar density. They are OK downtown and from the airport, but there is a serious shortage elsewhere in the city. In Hayes Valley I often cannot get a taxi for hours on end if there is even a hint of rain or it is Friday or Saturday night. It can be an even bigger pain if you are trying to get out to the avenues.
Mar 3, 2011, 11:25 pm
#10
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues & San Francisco
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,001
if you're focusing downtown and GG Bridge
the hotel should be able ot get a taxi for you easily. You can ask the cab driver for his cell # and arrange a pickup at a later time as well - I do it all the time.
Mar 4, 2011, 8:33 am
#11
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
I guess the assumption is the person must pay overnight hotel parking charges?
I was able to find free many times parking in most areas by walking a few blocks which includes pier 39 and fisherman's wharf. Then rode the cable cars within the city to see a few sites. Chinatown and downtown were a bit tough for parking but again we were carrying alot of things so a car was good transport and we did find parking.
I was able to find free many times parking in most areas by walking a few blocks which includes pier 39 and fisherman's wharf. Then rode the cable cars within the city to see a few sites. Chinatown and downtown were a bit tough for parking but again we were carrying alot of things so a car was good transport and we did find parking.
Mar 6, 2011, 2:15 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 657
Mar 6, 2011, 8:49 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
perhaps to visit the Muir Woods
I have rented a car a few times in San Francisco only to use for excursions outside of the City. Driving a car in San Francisco is a pain. I gladly depend on taxis and public transit.
Mar 7, 2011, 11:10 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
I would definitely rent a car at least for a day to go sightseeing beyond common touristy areas but do so in the city and return the same day to avoid parking charge. Driving in SF is fine IMO but parking is indeed a pain.