Synopses & Reviews
budgettravel redefined
I put a fresh spin on budget travel, showing you not only how to spend less in San Francisco and the Wine Country, but how to see it in a more authentic way, without sacrificing comfort for savings.
Cozy, restful accommodations: Instead of spending $300 a night for a chain hotel, live it up in a colorful, cinematic-themed room for just $99 (p. 34) or bed down in your own apartment for $69 a night (p. 27).
Food finds: I'll take you to the best of the city's exotic ethnic restaurants and the places where young chefs are creating the new California Cuisine (and charging less than the old guard).
Sights and attractions: Find in-depth coverage of San Francisco's iconic sights and the gems most visitors miss, plus picks for the best wineries and attractions of Napa and Sonoma.
Insider's San Francisco: Attend a local's gourmet dinner party (p. 132), watch a wacky "PowerPoint Slam" (p. 143), or taste the microbrewed flavors on a tour through Anchor Brewing Company (p. 137).
Synopsis
- Spend less on lodgings at typically "San Franciscan" accommodations ranging from guesthouses set in Art Deco landmarks to homestays
- Eat at the coolest ethnic restaurants, many award winners, that charge half what the "places with buzz" do.
- Explore the "Other" San Francisco that only natives know: bathe and relax in an authentic Asian communal spa in Japantown, munch your way through the specialty food stores of North Beach, enjoy a flight of beer tastings at a brewery in business since the mid-1800's, or head to a poetry slam.
- Day trip or weekend in wine country affordably, sampling vino at the more unusual wineries .
Synopsis
Spend less, see more. This is the philosophy behind Pauline Frommer’s guides. Written by travel expert Pauline Frommer (who is also the daughter of Arthur Frommer), and her team of hand-picked writers, these guides show how to truly experience a culture, meet locals, and save money along the way.
• Industry secrets on how to find the best hotel rooms
• Details on alternative accommodations, great neighborhood restaurants, and cool, offbeat finds
• Packed with personality and opinions
Table of Contents
A Note from Pauline.1 A Distinctly American City.
Sights You’ve Gotta See, Things You’ve Gotta Do.
Uncommon Lodgings.
Dining for All Tastes.
The Best “Other” Experiences.
2 The Lay of the Land.
Getting Around San Francisco.
San Francisco’s Layout.
3 Accommodations, Both Standard & Not.
Renting a Room in an Apartment.
Renting Your Own Apartment.
Serviced Apartments.
Hotels.
Hostels.
4 Dining for All Tastes.
Union Square.
North Beach & Telegraph Hill.
Fisherman’s Wharf.
Chinatown.
The Financial District.
South of Market.
The Tenderloin.
Cow Hollow, Pacific Heights & The Marina.
The Mission.
Haight.
The Castro.
Civic Center, Hayes Valley & Japantown.
Cafes.
5 Why You’re Here: San Francisco’s Great Attractions.
Making the Most of Your Time.
Iconic Attractions.
Sights by Area.
The Presidio & the Marina.
West & East San Francisco.
Bus Tours.
Guided Tours.
Theme Parks (near San Francisco).
6 The “Other” San Francisco.
How Locals Play.
How Locals Work.
How Locals Learn.
How Locals Worship.
How Locals Help.
A Stroll Through Japantown.
7 Walkabouts.
8 Attention, Shoppers!
Department Stores.
Individual Stores You’ll Want to Visit.
9 San Francisco Nightlife.
Theater.
Comedy.
Opera.
General Interest.
Dance.
Film Revival Houses.
Live Music.
Cabaret.
Dance Clubs.
Good Drinkin’.
Gay & Lesbian Nightlife.
10 The Wine Country.
A Quick Lay of the Land.
When to Go.
Where to Stay.
Dining for All Tastes.
Why You’re Here: Wineries.
What to See Beyond the Wineries.
The “Other” Wine Country.
11 The Essentials of Planning.
When to visit.
Entry Requirements for Non-American Citizens.
Customs Regulations for International Visitors.
Getting to San Francisco.
Travel Insurance—Do You Need It?
Money Matters.
Health & Safety.
Packing.
Special Types of Travelers.
Staying Connected.
Recommended Books & Films.
12 The Wine Country: A Closer Look.
How Wine Is Made.
How to Taste Wine.
Grape Varietals in the Wine Country.
Index.