Shuttle - SFO to Downtown
 

Hi there - quick question; I've found a number of Shuttle companies online. Wanted to check if anyone can recommend a particular company to use, or are they all pretty much the same/reliable as eachother?

For example => http://www.supershuttle.com

Cheers.

Supershuttle, aka "the blue van" is the one i used, before i started using BART. For where I go downtown SF, it's $15 (shuttle) vs $5 (bart). This is not to say there is anything whatsoever wrong with Supershuttle in my experience.

I typicallly use Supershuttle and are happy with them.

Try BART
 

Where are you staying downtown? BART is pretty easy to take from SFO. About $6.00.

BART is fine if you don't have a lot of bags. Otherwise, go with Supershuttle.

3 bags
 

Hardcase Samsonite & 2 max size carry-ons; will go with Super Shuttle (staying at Hilton O'Farrell)

Thanks everyone for your speedy replies.

Cheers.

I like SuperShuttle as well, especially when you can book online. Also, don't forget to use your AAA card for a $2 discount (code CSAA1) each way. On occasion they send their ExecuCar sedans for a luxurious ride to the airport for the price of SuperShuttle.

All good.....
 

Booked online the day before (15th June HKG time - during transit from SIN-SFO!), and all went smoothly from SFO-Hilton O'Farrell. We had a 7-seater van with max pax; door-to-door in about 30 minutes (we were 2nd stop after Marriott).

Overall, highly recommended.

Cheers, Simon.

Arriving into SFO late August for our honeymoon - should we pre-book the shuttle or do we just find one on arrival?

Any suggestions for a good limo service?

Thanks :-)

Either way would probably work. If it were me, I'd pre-book just to take the hassle out.

The idea of being shuttled around via different hotels after a 12+hours flight on our honeymoon is a bit daunting.

Just looking at limo pickups - about $45 plus taxes. How does this compare with getting a regular taxi? We arrive midday on a Friday ~ I assume there shouldn't be any problem in getting a taxi?

Thanks for your advice!

As per advice from a couple of FTers, I plan to take the BART from SFO to Powell Street, and then jump in a cab to the Crowne Plaza Union Square. I'll have one large suitcase and a hand luggage bag. Fingers crossed all will be OK.

Just one thing... the cab ride from Powell St to the hotel on Sutter Street is only about 5 blocks and less than a mile. Can a taxi driver refuse to take me because the journey is so short?

More or less, the shuttle companies are the same. Super Shuttle was the first, is the biggest, and the most dependable. American Airporter has been good for me, with some nice coupons available sometimes, and Quake City is another good one with coupons that can be printed from their website.

If you're departing SFO, then you can choose which company to take. But if you're arriving, the best thing to do is take the next van that's going to your area rather than wait for a particular company. There's a person working at the van pick-up area that should direct you to the next van that's leaving. A reservation is OK, but with potential delays and waiting for luggage, I've never found it useful.

The BART connection is fine if you don't have a lot of luggage. More Champagne Sir?, the taxi driver may try to refuse to take you on a short trip, but it's unlikely as it's illegal. If they do try and pull such a stunt, let them know that you are aware that they must take you. If the answer is still no, then you can ask for their name, cab #, taxi permit #, etc.

Fliar, I agree that the "hotel tour", after waiting for passengers to fill the van at the airport, is not pleasant after a long flight. A $45 fare to downtown SF is not bad at all. My taxi from the north end of SF to SFO usually runs about $42 before tip these days.

Most likely - no, but I would walk if I were you. You can walk on Powell - see the cable cars at the same time :) It's NOT a long walk - about 5-7 mins even with bags.

Thanks for your advice guys ^