Visiting San Francisco for the first time? Ready to tour Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf? I’ve found a few helpful tips for how to travel cheap and have a great visit to this charming city.
Here’s a tip for the cable cars. I actually figured this one out on my last stay. There was a stop right in front of my hotel over by the Wharf, and for a couple days it was the stop my friends and I used exclusively — to the tune of about an hour’s wait on every occasion. Now, we did use this time to people watch and also to run back up to our room to get things we forgot, but it was not exactly what we wanted to be spending our time doing. Well, on the second evening, we happened to be walking from our hotel in the other direction to visit a shop, and lo and behold, there was another cable car stop. And guess what? No line at all. We used that stop from then on. So don’t assume that the busiest cable car stop which might be right in plain sight is the ONLY stop near you. Check out the next closest and you may save a lot of time that way.
San Francisco has many gourmet restaurants, and you’ll want to try a few. How to travel cheap and still enjoy the food in these restaurants? Go for lunch instead of dinner. You will still get to sample the same food but just smaller portions. And less crowds. If you still would rather go for dinner, make sure you call ahead for reservations. Or, here’s a hint if you forget to call. Check to see if there is seating in the bar. There often is and sometimes you can just bypass the entire waiting crowd of people in the lobby and sit down at a table in the bar.
Is Alcatraz worth the trip? I think so and so do hordes of others, as it remains one of the most-visited tourist attractions in the state. As far as how to travel cheap, you can check the local city magazines for coupons, but whatever you do, don’t scrimp and save money by not paying for the audio tour, as it is a fascinating narrative performed by former inmates and guards. Really very interesting and worthwhile. Again, be sure to reserve early. Even though there are numerous tours throughout the day they fill up fast.
For yet another tip on how to travel cheap, check out some of the great museums such as the National Maritime Museum or the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. These are free but call to check the hours before heading over just in case they are closed on the day you plan to visit.
There are also many annual events like arts and wine festivals, parades, and the strawberry festival that are also great how-to-travel-cheap ideas and ways to plan some inexpensive fun while visiting this most beautiful and charm-filled city.
By: Terrie Bryan
Posts Tagged ‘Crowds’
Tourist Tips for San Francisco – How to Travel Cheap and More
March 21st, 2010Philippine Travel – When and Where
February 25th, 2010
Be aware that the experiences you’re about to encounter is unlike anything you’d encounter anywhere else in the world. Each and every country has its own unique experience to offer you and when you travel to the Philippines, you should expect the same.
When Is It Best To Travel To The Philippines?
Are you allergic to rain? If so, it would do you good to avoid traveling to this part of Southeast Asia during the months of June till November as that’s when the occasional typhoon or two makes time to visit the Philippines. Traveling during the rainy season of the Philippines can be quite a hassle, especially if you don’t have a car. But if you do, you could expect smaller crowds to contend with as most people tend to stay indoors.
If you’re unable to take the heat and still be merry, then you should not travel to the Philippines during the months of March till May because that’s officially the summer season of the country. Everyone head for the nearest beach so if you don’t want to feel crowded when you’re sunbathing, set your travel date for another time of the year. The Easter season is always busy for everyone in the Philippines so expect a difficult time on reserving transportation when it’s Holy Week.
If you’re on the lookout for the world-famous fiestas that only the Philippines could offer, schedule your travel date for January, May or December. The flower season of Baguio – described as the summer capital of the Philippines because of its perennially cool weather – is something to look forward to. And then there’s the Santacruzan during May and which each and every town parades its most beautiful residents in a walk around town.
Where In The Philippines Is It Best To Travel To?
There are so many types of places to visit in the Philippines that it’s hard to enumerate each and every one of them. Beaches, however, are one of the most favorite travel spots of the country so if you want to enjoy your stay in a beautiful paradise of clear blue green water and cool white sand, you could check out Tali Beach, the world-famous Boracay or try surfing the secluded beaches of Surigao and La Union.
By: John Grant
