Are you visiting San Francisco for the first time? Ready to tour Alcatraz and Fisherman’s Wharf? I have found some useful tips on how to travel cheap and have a great visit to this charming city.
Here is a tip for cable cars. In fact, I discovered this on my last stay. There was a stop right in front of my hotel on the pier, and for a couple of days it was the stop my friends and I used exclusively, with a wait of about an hour each time. Now, we use this time to people watch and also to run back to our room to get the things we forgot, but it wasn’t exactly what we wanted to do. Well, on the second night, we were walking from our hotel in the other direction to visit a store, and lo and behold, there was another cable car stop. And guess what? There is no line at all. We use that stop from then on. So don’t assume that the busiest cable car stop that might be in sight is the ONLY stop near you. Check out the next closest one and you can 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 be able to taste the same food but just smaller portions. And less crowds. If you still prefer to go out for dinner, be sure to call ahead to make a reservation. Or here’s a hint if you forget to call. Check if there are seats at the bar. There are often and sometimes you can miss the whole crowd of people waiting in the lobby and sit at a table in the bar.
Is it worth the trip to Alcatraz? I think so do hordes of others, as it remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in the state. As for how to travel cheap, you can check your local city magazines for coupons, but whatever you do, don’t skimp and save money by not paying for the audio tour, as it’s fascinating narration performed by former inmates and guards . . Really very interesting and valuable. Again, be sure to book early. Although there are numerous tours throughout the day, they fill up fast.
For another tip on how to travel cheap, check out some of the great museums, like the National Maritime Museum or the San Francisco Cable Car Museum. These are free, but call to check hours before you head, just in case they’re closed on the day you plan to visit.
There are also many annual events such as art and wine festivals, parades and the strawberry festival which are also great travel ideas and affordable ways to plan budget fun while visiting this beautiful and enchanting city.