San Francisco (California)

Advantages: Amazing and versitile city
Disadvantages: That l had to come back to reality - boo hoo

...love California, to be precise, San Francisco. We are just back from a fantastic week there from the 11th to 18th September. There was amazing weather even though l was warned by everyone that SF is notorious for being cold and foggy. To be honest l saw fog once - on our first morning there l woke up to find the most amazing dense fog l have ever saw in my life – but this disappeared by lunch into a glorious day. So San Francisco, in Northern California, ...
...York. We got to San Francisco via a flight from Belfast to London and London direct to San Francisco. The flight took a little over 9 hours and we actually arrived half an hour earlier that anticipated. We flew direct with United Airways although others such as Virgin Atlantic and BA both fly direct to the city also. Now the queues to go through immigration were phenomenal – but l would expect that any US airport to have the same queues – a necessary ... Read review

Advantages: A very tourist-friendly metropolitan area
Disadvantages: None, except that you really have to stay longer

...some part of California State. San Francisco is one of them for the very first time. A month prior to my departure from Britain, I contacted my friend working in San Francisco with an IT firm if I could stay at his place during my short visit. Being a close friend and the godfather of his only daughter, he did not hesitate to answer 'yes' to my request. So, my accommodation for few days at the city is completely ok except that I will be travelling ...
...San Diego by car) to Los Angeles, and then finally from San Fernando Valley to SF. To save some dollars during my trip, I decided to travel by bus (Greyhound) which took me more than 10 hours along the road, having a two-day stop in San Fernando Valley (LA) and had a quick visit to the Universal Studios. Well, within that long journey it took the bus more than 6 hours to reach SF from San Fernando Valley. But it was a quick journey from the bus station ... Read review

Advantages: Diverse cultural experience
Disadvantages: You just don't want to leave

...on during a visit to San Francisco is such that doing it justice will be difficult, but I will try to. San Francisco, on the Californian coast, is a diversity of culture and lifestyle, a city of architectural magnificence and breathtaking scenery. The atmosphere is warm and friendly, and visitors are welcomed with open arms. SF is so different to many other cities because it comprises of small communites, 'neighborhoods', each displaying their own ...
...A shoppers paradise with the San Francisco Shopping Centre (an 8 level mall with over 90 shops and the added attraction of a spiral escalator) nearby. You will also find the visitor centre here so it maybe a good place to start. Best avoided at night, once darkness falls a large number of undesirable characters appear. They will go to quite devious lenghts to attempt to get money from you including offering for sale invalid travel tickets for cable ... Read review

Advantages: Small enough to walk around - Big enough to get lost in.
Disadvantages: Someone - maybe Mark Twain - said that the worst winter he ever spent was summer in San Francisco. The weather can be...strange.

...can I tell you about San Francisco? Well...I could tell you I left my heart there, but that would be a stone lie, and you’d only give me a hard time. Plus, Tony Bennett might sue. So – instead of that, let me give you a brisk trot round this scenic and very human city. It’s not a huge place, San Francisco: About 800,000 people in an area roughly the same as Edinburgh. The whole place sits on a peninsula between the Pacific and San Francisco Bay ...
...Moscone Convention Centre, the splendid San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMO if I have to mention it again) and many of the great facilities this city has to offer the resident or the visitor alike. Sadly, it’s also convenient for the stretch of town where many of the disadvantaged, the homeless, the poor, disabled and downright bonkers tend to hang out, so every stroll beyond the portals of the hotel requires a pocketful of change...that ... Read review

Advantages: saves money, time, hassle
Disadvantages: some confusion over the Alcatraz tour

...anyone is thinking of visiting San Francisco then I have a tip which will save you money in an otherwise expensive city and help you do the things tourists want to do as easily as possible. My tip is that you buy a Citypass ticket at the first tourist attraction listed below. This ticket gives you unlimited city travel by bus, streetcar or the famous cablecars for 7 consecutive days from the date of first use as well as admission to 5 main attractions ...
...to another tourist's guide to San Francisco as other quality Ciao opinions have been written which do the job extremely well. My only other recommendation is the DK Eyewitness Guide as a guidebook to this wonderful city. I visited in November 2000 and had a week of wonderful weather and sightseeing. The Citypass made things easy and I could hop on and off public transport, which was excellent, by showing the pass. Some drivers will check the date ... Read review

Advantages: Complimentary parking and breakfast, best price guarantee via web
Disadvantages: Drinks a little expensive.

...to use it, the hotel also has a decent size pool. Overall I feel this hotel offered good service and is an ideal for both business guests and for holidaymakers arriving or departing SF Airport. With a strong brand like this one, the products and services should be similar in other Embassy Suite Hotels across America. Recommended. Embassy Suites Hotel San Francisco-Airport, South San Francisco. 250 Gateway Boulevard, South San Francisco, California, United States 94080 Tel: +1-650-589-3400 Fax: +1-650-876-0305 www.embassysuites.com Dial 1800 EMBASSY for reservations within USA.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Includes many classic movies
Disadvantages: A bit anorakish

...Hotel 999 California, the Renaissance Stanford Court Hotel at California & Powell, the St Francis Hotel on Powell Street at Union Square & 2700 Vallejo Street at Divisadero on Pacific heights. The Thunderbird Hotel seen in the film is now the Clarion Hotel 401 East Milbrae Avenue. MRS DOUBTFIRE A comedy classic from 1993 was mainly filmed in San Francisco & featured Robin Williams, Sally Anne Field, Pierce Bronson & Harvey Fierstien to name just four. You may recall the scene in the film where Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) is in the restaurant & has to do a quick costume change from Mrs Doubtfire to himself. This was filmed in the Bridges Restaurant, 44 Bridges Street, Danville, east of Oakland. It is also in this area where the studio scenes were filmed when Daniel got himself a job at a TV studio. They were actually filmed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Lots to see and do
Disadvantages: Can be hard to navigate if you are driving

...hop aboard and tour the ship. The Virginia Symphony originated in Norfolk and gives frequent performances at the Harrison Opera House. There are dinner theatre groups and playhouses abound. Scope is a dome-shaped building that is an entertainment center where Old Dominion University basketball games are played, concerts are held, and ice shows are performed. Although the city can be confusing to navigate, luckily there are trolley cars (though not as pretty as the ones in San Francisco, California) and other forms of public transportation. If ever you have the chance to visit Virginia, be sure to visit Norfolk. It is a lovely coastal city with loads to offer. You can spend a little money or a lot; it all depends on what you choose to do while you are there. Just remember, once you get some Virginia sand in your shoes, you just... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful