Advice for someone travelling to San Fran

[Frozzy]

I have a friend going to SF for 10 days, but is unsure of some monetary issues.

1) How much are transaction fees for withdrawing cash in the US for foreigners?
2) Would traveller's cheques be more advisable?
3) How much would you advise somebody to take in cash/traveller's cheques for a 10 day holiday (assuming things like fod, tourist tack, etc.)? (i.e. what are the costs like?)

Sure you guys are all more capable of answering these than me

[:) Smiley]

1) No idea.
2) Bad idea, many independent stores don't take them. Not sure if the panhandlers do.
3) It all depends on what kind of places to go and what kind of food one wants to eat.

What is your friend interested in seeing?

[Pekka]

Well, SF isn't the cheapeast places in the world. You can do a budget holiday there too for sure, but how much money should one reserve in genereal, I have no idea. I was there and I can't remember how much I spent, I was living with low budget but we had car and roof over our heads so... but it will not be too cheap.

I would almost compare that you should have the same amount of money, if not more, if you'd be in LA.

It depends so much what your friends wants to do. Go sight seeing or what.. how does your friend like to eat etc..

Impossible to tell really, but just consider this, treat it rather expensive than cheap.

Travelles cheques? Not worth the hassle. Unless you get robbed.

Transaction fees depends where you change the money. Airport, bank,... it all depends. Forex used to offer pretty good rates and fees back in the days, I don't know if this is true anymore, www.forex.com ... just look around.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

figure $50 - $100 a day, for 10 days depending on whehter hotel gives him free food, etc. and which tourist places he goes (some are free, like walking around fishermans wharf or union square, others cost like cable car, alcatraz etc)

[Pekka]

But alcatraz is definitely worth the price if you're into it. It was .. maybe $35 or something like that, but it was special so.. definitely worth my time and money, another great experience and memory to add to me brains.

[Japher]

Good thing about Alcatraz is that it takes half a day, so you won't be spending any more money.

Bad thing is that the launching point is Fisherman's Warf which is a standard tourist trap, with Ghiradeli (sp?) square just a short walk away, and those damn trolleys turning around.

I could easily spend 50-100 bucks a day in SF just on food! Though I'd be eating like a king.

I don't know what they charge for transaction fees.

Travelers checks might be a good idea to take some of your money in as exchanging it will help you control your spending. Most hotels will exchange them for you, though they may screw you on the exchange.

[Gangerolf]

Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

[Pekka]

Also, SF is a place where they hold conferences and stuff, that means, that when there's something going on, every place is reserved and basically it jacks up the prices BIG TIME!! I mean, we went around the city, and even the motels charged over $300 per night per room, cheapest. Everyone else was more expensive, and some motels were more expensive than that, too. It was the day when high school ended, so lots of party people there, plus there was some conference too, so either get the roof over your head in advance, or make sure there's nothing happening there to jack up the prices, it goes multiple times.

[Japher]

buttplug

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

Only if you're planning on simulaneously traveling back to the 1960's.

[:) Smiley]

Yeah, I haven't seen anyone wear flowers in their hair, not even in the hippie district. There's hardly anyone dressed like a hippie for that matter, with the exception of this one student housing building down the street where the sixties never ended. Instead, there's a lot of the indie rock / bohemian / hipster look going on.

Also, there's a whole second side to San Francisco- if your friend is interested in Asian food and stuff- the city is a third Asian.

[Japher]

I like Chinatown

I recommend House of Nanking. It's across the street from Francis Ford Copolla's office. It's on a stretch of about 5 restaurants and will have a line down the street past all the others, and for good reason. Cheap, fast, and awesome. I would easily pay twice as much for the food. Expect to pay $10/person, including a beer.

[Joseph]

Stay away from Market from 4th to 7th. Street bums everywhere. XXX porn everywhere. However go to 3rd and Folsom, 2 block south of Market and visit the Sony center. They have all the new Sony stuff, plus an IMAX theater and playstation room were you can play for free.
Grant and Washington is the hearth of Chinatown. Grant is for the tourist.

[:) Smiley]

On the other hand, if you want the real Chinatown, just go one block west to Stockton.

[Alexander's Horse]

if you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair