Saving Money on San Francisco Trip

San Francisco is a city that seems to be getting more and more expensive as the years roll on. If you are planning on visiting the city and want to save a few bucks, there are some tips.

There are hotels offering lower list pricing despite rising hotel prices, but you will have to hunt for them. Another option to save money is to buy your plane ticket at least a month in advance to get a better deal. However, July is the most expensive month to fly, whereas October is the cheapest and has what I find to be the best weather.

Even on a tight budget, it is possible to eat at a pricey restaurant, try lunch as costs are usually lower than dinner prices. You could also make a plan, buy a cheap lunch, and allocate your meal spending for dinners. San Francisco has Restaurant Week twice a year (usually June and January) during which time the city's best eateries provide set dinners at a discount.

Most tourist attractions can be reached by renting a car but only if you intend to travel beyond the city is it advised to have a car to get around San Francisco. If you do have to drive, it can be incredibly challenging to find parking in the city and this can easily ruin your spirits. The centrally placed hotels charge $40 or more per day for parking, which could truly be a budget breaker since it might cause a car rental to cost more than that of the accommodation budget. Also, parking garages are pricey and the fees climb during special events. The ideal alternative is to rent a car for one day to where you are going, complete the activity, and return it along the way so that you don't have to worry about parking.

An excellent substitute for driving is the region's accessible and reasonably priced rail system. The Muni Passport (Muni Pass) is a pass for city transportation that allows unlimited use of the Muni transportation network (metro, buses and streetcars) and the historic cable cars. It offers routes from and to Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, the SOMA neighbourhood, and other locations through historic cable cars, antique trolley cars, local buses, light rail, and the F-line. The Muni pass is good deal if you are planning to use public transport at least a couple of times a day (especially if you will be using the cable car, which costs $5 per trip).

San Francisco CityPass: There are four attractions covered by this card and you have your choice of visiting two at a steep discount. However little you plan to use it, this card will be a good deal in most cases. The places included are some of the most important in San Francisco.

Go San Francisco Pass: Saving money is guaranteed by steep discounts on guided tours, bay cruises, and a variety of performances and shows, as well as free entrance to 25 different locations.

Think about doing free things like visiting popular sites like Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The entrance to the park is free, but admission to the park's attractions may be charged.

Visit the Oakland Airport (OAK), which is close to the heart of San Francisco, for some inexpensive shopping.

Additionally, Union Square's half-price ticket counter provides savings for several acts on the same day.