San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Travel Tips

When to Visit San Francisco

Simply put, you never quite know what you’re going to get when you visit San Francisco. That doesn’t necessarily mean you will see blizzards one day, hot and humid weather the next. Instead, the temperatures and cloudiness are difficult to predict. Because San Francisco is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, it is subject to random ocean-related weather and temperatures. The temperature does not often drop below 40°F, so a sweater or jacket will suffice, and if the temperature reaches over 80°F, the locals call it a heat wave. Still, most visitors find that just about any time of the year is good to visit. March, April, and May are particular favorites of travelers for mild, sunny weather, and September and October are (oddly enough) two of the warmest months and brings out the locals in force. Festivals, celebrations, and concerts fill the air and streets, giving you more to enjoy during your time there.

San Francisco Seasons

The one thing you can count on in San Francisco is the fog. So if you’re interested in taking a lot of pictures, you might have to pack a lot of patience as well as warm clothes. You’ll find that once the fog burns off, the views are delightful with dazzling sunsets, and at times, even when the fog doesn’t dissipate, it can add in a lot of character to a photo shot, blanketing the city and wrapping around buildings, making it seem like the Golden Gate Bridge was built in the clouds.

Spring is nice and mild, a pleasant time to visit. The spring months tend to be cloudless with mild weather. Even with the ocean all around, you can expect to experience a few days that are surprisingly dry. While other parts of the United States sing about April showers (though a lot of those showers tend to pop up in March), San Francisco hardly sees any of it.

Summer isn’t a lot like summers elsewhere in the country. Most people expect a turn to the sun; warmer temperatures and either dry or humid days. San Francisco summers are surprisingly overcast and cool, and have plenty of that trademark fog meandering through the city and over the bay. When August rolls around, the fog thins out, which can allow for more clear camera shots with a bit more sunshine.

Autumn is indeed named as the perfect time of year for San Francisco. Some of the warmest weather appears here, with plenty of sunshine and cool nights with starry skies. Rainfall is also rare, making the three autumn months favorite times to visit.

Winter is often a time for snow – but not here in San Francisco. In 1887, four inches of snow fell upon the city, a phenomenon the locals haven’t seen since. Instead of snow, the winter months bring plenty of rain. The temperature rarely gets cold enough to bring in snow. In fact, on days that there isn’t any rain, you might find that with a comfortable jacket, strolling through the streets is a pleasant treat with the sun shining and a crisp breeze on your face.

Local Holidays:

Several local holidays are celebrated not only in San Francisco, but also throughout much of the United States. If you are visiting from another part of the country, you may very well feel right at home. If not, you can get a great look into how one city takes on important holidays and celebrates them to the fullest:

New Year's Day (January 1)
Martin Luther King's Birthday (third Monday in January)
Washington's Birthday (third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (first Monday in September)
Discoverers' Day (second Monday in October)
Veterans' Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November)
Christmas (December 25)

Local Customs & Language (including Tipping)

Language

The local language can vary depending upon which section of the city you are in. If you travel to Chinatown, chances are you will encounter Mandarin or Cantonese. In Japantown, you will hear Japanese. Other places you may hear Spanish, Italian, and more. However, English is the language most widely spoken; even those speaking other languages tend to know English in order to interact with the large number of tourists passing through.

Tipping Advice

Gratuities are not an option in the US because the service personnel you tip rely on your contribution. In restaurants, leave at least fifteen percent of the bill as a tip. For taxi drivers, a ten percent tip will often suffice.

Health and Security

When traveling and sightseeing within the city, steer clear of certain neighborhoods if they look unsavory or if you are unfamiliar with them. Some of these include: Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Sunnydale, Western Addition, Ingleside, Tenderloin, the area around 6th and Market, and parts of the Mission and Potrero Hill. San Francisco has experienced an increase in violent crime over the past few years, though many of these occur southeast of the city. It can be a bit difficult to avoid places sometimes (as certain attractions exist in the Mission). But if you do find yourself drawn to the Mission to take in the area, avoid wearing clothes that are red or blue as much as possible as two Hispanic gangs stake the place out as their territory and the colors represent the rival gangs. This is especially true around the intersections of Sixteenth Street and Mission and Twenty-Fourth Street and Mission.

The SoMa district was once rather gritty, but lately has been built up and transforming into a place considered hip and desirable. Likewise, this change has brought on a measure of safety to the area. However, still keep an eye on your valuables and stick to well-lit areas and places where people can see you.

Big cities tend to house plenty of crime as well as homeless people. Indeed, San Francisco also has one of the biggest homeless populations in the city. You’re most likely to see homeless individuals as you head toward City Hall (near the intersection of Sixth and Market Streets) and in the ill-famed Tenderloin. If someone begs from you, you can keep walking or politely explain that you have no change to offer. On the whole, they will then leave you alone. You should stay away from Haight as it comes to a close (near Golden Gate Park) as the area has many junkies and other unsavory characters moving around, especially at night.

Keep purses and wallets close to you and remain sharp on Muni buses and crowded trains, as pickpockets will quickly snatch untended money and valuables. Likewise, be suspicious of scam artists selling tickets for trains or parking. Machines are often nearby that will dispense train or parking tickets, or if you buy from a person, it will be the driver of a train or bus, or conductor of a cable car.

If you go hiking in the fields of the Bay Area, always check for ticks. The Bay Area has experienced a spike in lyme disease transmissions, so if you see a rash that resembles the bull’s eye at a tick bite site, you’ll need to find a medical professional right away.

Tax Refunds

Taxes are included on almost everything you purchase within the United States. Check with your particular embassy or country’s guidelines to see if your purchases qualify for a value added tax (VAT) refund.

The tax on hotel rooms is 8.05%-12%. The sales tax in San Francisco is 8.25%. There's none on most groceries, but there is on newspapers (unless bought from a coin-operated machine) and magazines. However, sales taxes in the United States are collected by State and local authorities, not the Federal Government, so no sales tax refund is possible.

Hotels in San Francisco, California