We have just returned home after spending 3 wks in the States - the last 8 days in SF!

What a gorgeous city... Our accommodation was arranged through priceline with the assistance of the Biddingfortravel site which made this expensive city far more affordable for our Aussie Dollars.

We stayed 6 nights at the Hilton San Francisco in O'Farrell Street. Room was just fine with 2 double beds and a view over Taylor Street - Glide Memorial Church.
Loved SF so much, we extended our trip by 2 nights, which meant another priceline bid, this time getting the Sheraton Fishermans Wharf. All I can say about this hotel is read the reviews. Certainly not the standard of other Sheratons and certainly not 4*... but the location at Fishermans Wharf is just great.

We organised tours through the net - to go to Monteray/Carmel, Yosemite and Wine Country. Our wine country tour was cancelled at the last minute which was a bummer, but the tour company were most helpful in trying to put us on a tour we would be happy with instead.

Yosemite was done with Extranomical Adventures in their 14 person van now with poptop, DVD and LCD tv. Jack (our Driver) was just great - very informative and inclusive with the other participants.

We Aussies saw our very first snow in Yosemite - ok - it was just a little patch - but enough for us to get a photo beside a tree to vaguely resemble a Winter Christmas photo...

We also obtained CityPasses for SF which included a Muni 9 day pass. We got ours through Costco which was around $32 so a few more yank dollars saved.

The Hilton was in a terrific location (near Union Square, SHOPPING and Theatre District. The Half Price ticket booth at Union Square is also something I would recommend if you plan on attending Theatre etc.

And... I will always remember discovering ROSS and Marshalls in SF.... shopping heaven.. handbag heaven... and seeiing my first Golden Labrador shopping with its owners in Nordstroms... apparently SAKS and Nordstroms encourage their customers to bring along their dogs.. Hmmmm. Be OK if they are well behaved.. - come to think of it - I would probably be more tolerant of dogs than badly behaved children shopping...

We walked, cablecar'd, Flined everywhere we could... a walk through Chinatown to this great bakery in Grant Ave where they had these FANTASTIC warm egg custard tarts... to die for... And Chinatown as well as Walgreens was far cheaper place to pick up souvenirs...

A tip for those thinking of picking up a bargain "duty free" - if it is alcohol you want to take home, consider buying it at Safeways like we did - much cheaper than duty free and larger size bottles... not a real problem carrying them home in carryon or checking them through with a huge FRAGILE sticker on the bag...

Also - because of our extended stay, we had to pay some penalty fees with United.. this worked out ok - as they bumped us up to Economy Plus and the extra 5" leg room made the trip home far more tolerable than what it would have been further back...

Just a few days since we left, and I am already looking at live web cams of the Bay Area... wishing like [--] I was back there, instead of coming home to 95 - 100f temps for the next month.

Time to save for our next visit.

Hulinea

We lived in San Francisco back in the 60's didn't go back until 1986 and now go at least twice a year, you do leave your heart in San Francisco! You can enjoy this wonderful city time after time and not spend a fortune. We live in midwest and get great deals on air and hotel packages. You can wander all over the city all the diversived neighborhoods without a car-the Muni system is wonderful you can get anywhere on bus, F line, light rail, cable cars, electric buses, streetcar lines etc..There are Muni passes available at the airport information booths $20.00 a week will get you on all transportation other than BART. No matter where you are you can call MUNI and they will tell you how to get there from Golden Gate Bridge to the Cliff House and beach. There are also one day and three day passes available, this is a really great bargain. Union Square is fun to wander around in but very busy consider staying on Lombard, Van Ness or some North Beach area motels and hotels, you can save a bundle and get around much easier than trying to dodge the crowds of Union Square and the hotels with the high price tags. You are never in your room that much the city is so great you just want to be out all the time. The neighborhoods have wonderful restaurants without costing an arm and a leg, the Polk Street area is wonderful, Union Street, North Beach just every neighborhood has some real jewels! Do investigate before you go, it is very possible to have the experience without leaving your wallet in San Francisco, watch hotel area around Union Square that are near the Tenderloin Area this area is not safe and doesn't give you the proper feel of this wonderful city.

i'll make this simple but to the point... san francisco is simply the most beautiful,elegant,interesting city i have ever seen... it is wonderful... now i know what tony bennet meant

Just got back today from san francisco vacation.Now first the Radisson fishermans wharf,great location but a run down hotel needs upgrade bad,from bedding to room furniture to nasty carpets!! Dont ask directions they send you wrong way everytime. 32 dollars a day to park there but i chose knowing that i wasnt riding with the bums on public transpotation a real but sad problem at the wharf as this has to be homeless central in san francisco. Lot like the wisconsin dells around here lot same junk ,same stores. Haight ashbury forget about it, north beach great food try chicken at pio lolo on columbus ave,then a el gelato next door ice cream or maybe a canolli ,superbo. Forgot ate at cha chas in haight very good. walked golden gate after climbing to the top from the presidio park all the way next to golden gate bridge a modern marvel! Ghiradelli square good chocalate,nice ice cream parlor, Union sqare still looking for bargains didnt find any ,took cable cars there super neat, the cannery couple nice stores nice comedy club called green room had few laughs got funnier as the drinks started going down good food. YOU have to go to alcatraz dont miss it, unbeleiveable .All in all san francisco great town ,lil cold but nice city