What are my options for getting from the airport to downtown? I will be staying at the W for a convention. I don't imagine they have any kind of shuttle service? I'm not going to rent a car because of the outrageous parking fee ($30/day). About how much does a cab cost? Thanks.

You can get to the W in downtown for about
$30 including tip. The Super Shuttle is half
that, but you have to go in a crowded van and
may not be the first to be dropped off.

JD

[This message has been edited by Jet'Dillo (edited 09-29-2001).]

The cheapest alternative that I know of is a shared van service like SuperShuttle: http://www.supershuttle.com/sfo.htm
No reservatation needed. On the ticket counter level of the terminal, head outside and cross over to the center island. They have one pickup spot toward the far end of United (North Terminal) and one toward the far end of US Air (South Terminal).

I prefer the SFOAirporter service (lots of full-size buses and some hotel-shuttle-type vans). Last time I rode them (9/10), One-way was $12 and they run every 20 minutes or so each way from about 4:30 am til midnight. No reservation needed. Clean, reliable, professional, and fairly cheap. They can be found at: www.sfoairporter.com
They've never disappointed me, but nothing in life is guaranteed. Have a safe trip; glad to see that travel continues.

I used the SFOAirporter for the RudiFest and was disappointed. We waited well over 30 minutes for a bus. They claimed they were short staffed. I was on the full size bus and I think we stopped 8 or more times before we got to the Hilton. I don't recall where the W fell into the route. I have used the Super Shuttle and was disappointed in the past...that is why I used the Airporter. But on an expense account, I'd grab a cab. The dollar savings is not enough to justift the extra time, IMHO.

SamTrans Buses 7B and 7F 5:30AM - 1AM at 30' intevals- no luggage on 7F. Stops at the upper level at the Sam Trans sign. 7B: $1.10, 7F (Express): $3. To Transbay Terminal, 1st at Mission, downtown. 30 (Express) to 50 minuts (7B). Express has about 3 stops in downtown SFO.

or

Free CalTrain Shuttle from the SamTrans boarding area upper level to Millbrae CalTrain Station. A shuttle meets every train. CalTrain was 2$ (2 years ago) to downtown SFO, $4.50 to San Jose. Info 800-532-8405.

While I took the cab this week in San Francisco, the Airporter seemed like a good choice, too...
And even though that the conferences take place, loads seem to be pretty light in San Francisco...

In the future please use FlyerTalk Travel, and not MilesBuzz for asking your travel related questions, as MilesBuzz is for discussion on Miles & Points.

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Take the CalTrain. It is inexpensive and easy to use.

IMO, probably not worth the trouble (walk to caltrain bus stop, wait for bus, take bus to caltrain station, wait for caltrain, take caltrain to embarcadero, cab to hotel) unless you happen to be arrive during the heart of the afternoon rush. I'd go for the cab option.

Moderator said: "In the future please use FlyerTalk Travel"

I would have asked this question at airports/sfo. I am still confused about the new navigation.

Sylvia

I would have asked this question at airports/sfo

so would I.

The problem is that noone looks at airports/sfo, so a post there would likely go unnoticed. The same, to a lesser extent, could be said of "travel buzz".

the advantages of posting such questions/answers at airports / sfo is, that the info there will be easily refound later (for others).

I don't consider the airport and dining fora in need of 'heavy activ posting traffic'. But as very usefull reference books/agendas.

I ecommend to the moderators to still move this thread to that airport/sfo place now. to maintain easy access to that information.

I believe to have answered this 'how to get to downtown San Francisco' at least 20 times since the start of Flyertalk.

[This message has been edited by Rudi (edited 09-29-2001).]

For the best review on getting into town from over 100 airports around the world, check out:

www.concierge.com/travel/c_planning/06_airports/intro.html

As for SFO, if you arrive during the work day, the CalTrain runs often. If it is the weekend, I would wait for the city bus. Avoid the shuttle services as these take longer and equal the cost of 2 or more people sharing a taxi to downtown. Or you could do what I did, rent a car at the airport and drive around all day and turn in the car at night at their downtown Union Square location. No overnight parking fees and $30 paid including taxes for weekend rate covered driving around San Francisco. And believe, there is no city more fun than driving the hills of downtown SF!


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"Fly me to the moon and let me earn alot of miles."