Travel To San Francisco

If you happen to be looking for San Francisco apartments after you do your researh on the Internet, you will undoubtedly want to take a trip to the city to check it out for yourself. While you're there you may as well check out some of the sights. Here are ten tips to use the next time you are apartment hunting in San Francisco:

Understand the weather: Most San Francisco tourists don't realize that it gets cold in San Francisco in the summer, and many dozens of sweatshirt shops thrive on their ignorance. Look for a guide to the weather and what to expect so you can bring the right clothes.

Find the right place to stay: The most convenient areas in the city for a tourist are Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square. Lombard and Van Ness Streets are the areas that many people ask about, arenoisy and inconvenient, and it's more likely you'll need a car to get around.

Save your money: Learn the ways to save money and if you're willing to invest a little time, you can get excellent rates on some of San Francisco's best hotels.

Don't bother renting an Automoble: The city is a small one, and the majority of the tourist sights are located together. The cost of parking is more than many hotels charge more than the price of a good lunch, and parking on the street spot is next to impossible. Pick a hotel in a convenient area and use taxis or public transportation.

Make your Alcatraz Island reservations early: The tours for Alcatraz fill up fast. Go to the ticket ofice the first day of your trip or make your reservations online ahead of time.

Choose your Tour Guide wisely: Avoid the obvious choices if you ahve a desie to take a guided tour. The guided tours have a way of being restrictive, routine and many times their guides are simply wrong. Try taking a free walking tour with City Guides or hire a small, local company to take you on a private tour. Although a private tour costs a little more, it's well worth it.

Don't eat bad food: Many think that Sanfrancisco has the world's best food. Don't settle for the medioce, tired Fisherman's Wharf restaurants. Stop a San Franciscan fom the street where the best places to eat are or ask your hotel for suggestions.

A faster way to catch a Cable Car: Don't stand in the ever so slow line below Ghirardelli Square. Rather, go over to Bay and Mason Streets, where the lines are much shorter. You'll wind up at Union Square on either line. If you just want to go for a fun ride, get on the California line where Market Street intersects California near the Ferry Building.

Don't stay behind the facade: Rather than just standing there looking at the boats in Fisherman's Wharf, walk toward the water anywhere you can find an opening and see what the wharf is really like.

Take a stroll on the "Bridge": It is considered a cardinal sin not walk on the Golden Gate bridge. In order to get the real feel of this amazing landmark, walk on the the sidewalk.