Before You Go

Dress in layers, even in the summer. As the saying goes in San Francisco, if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes. With offshore breezes, microclimates, and the prevalence of fog in the summer, the temperature changes constantly in San Francisco, particularly if you’re on the move. Even if it’s sunny and warm at noon, bring a sweater or light jacket just in case—when the fog rolls in, it gets chilly fast. 

Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels—otherwise they won’t make it through airport security. Visitors from outside the U.S. should carry generic names of prescription drugs.

For more helpful information on packing for your trip, head to Frommers.com and click on the “Tips & News” drop-down section, which contains packing tips and information.

As major U.S. cities go, San Francisco tends to be on the more expensive side. A competitive market keeps hotel prices high, and restaurant meals can be pricy, thanks to a combination of high rents and the high ambitions of this foodie capital. There are bargains, however, and our listings try to steer you to them. Plan your activities carefully and you can get a lot for your tourist dollar in San Francisco.

It’s always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and ATM cards. Credit and debit cards are the most widely used form of payment in San Francisco: You must have a credit card (not a debit card) to rent a car, and hotels and airlines usually require a credit card imprint as a deposit against expenses.

Before you leave home, you should also have enough petty cash upon arrival to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and transportation to your hotel. You can always withdraw money upon arrival at an airport ATM, but you’ll still need to make smaller change for tipping.

If you are traveling from overseas, check with your credit or debit card issuer to see what fees, if any, will be charged for overseas transactions. Recent reform legislation in the U.S. has curbed some exploitative lending practices, but many banks have responded by increasing fees in other areas, including fees for customers who use credit and debit cards while out of the country—even if those charges were made in U.S. dollars. Fees can amount to 3% or more of the purchase price. Check with your bank before departing to avoid any surprise charges on your statement.

Frommer’s lists prices in the local currency. The currency conversion rates we list here were correct at press time, but rates fluctuate—before you leave on your trip, consult a currency-exchange website such as www.xe.com to get up-to-the-minute rates.