Whether you’re in town for just a couple nights or you’re planning a long holiday, staying in San Francisco is always a fun experience. With so much to do in California’s cultural hub – from wandering around Pier 39 to taking in internationally-acclaimed art at the Museum of Modern Art – there’s never a dull moment. The one downside? Public transit in this hilly metropolis isn’t the greatest, car rentals can be a pain, and Ubers are expensive.
Our solution? Once you touch down at San Francisco International Airport, make sure that you have your ride all mapped out with a San Francisco charter bus rental.
Why rent a charter bus from San Francisco International Airport?
Let me lay it out for you. Your experienced bus driver will know the streets like the back of their hand, so there’s no chance of getting lost and frustrated when Google Maps inevitably fails you. Traveling by bus also allows you to keep your entire travel crew together on one vehicle, which is particularly handy if you’re flying in with colleagues for a corporate event.
With a bus rental, you can kiss parking hassles goodbye, and instead focus on making the most of your trip with the people you’re riding with. Whether you rent a coach bus (complete with A/C and other sweet amenities, like a DVD setup) or a minibus (best for smaller groups – they fit up to 21 people ), renting a charter bus to get around to your San Fran destinations is simply your best transportation option.
How far in advance should you book your bus from San Francisco International?
We recommend booking your bus rental as soon as you have all your dates and destinations finalized and confirmed. The sooner you book your transportation, the better; especially if you know you’ll require a bus with a few extra bells and whistles. Booking far in advance ensures that you’ll get the bus model you want/need.
If you’re looking for a specific time frame, we advise booking six months in advance.
How much should a San Francisco International charter bus cost?
Like all things in this world, the fancier or bigger the thing you want is, the more it’ll cost you. Depending on the seat capacity you need for your group and whether you’ll want to tack on some additional features to pimp your ride, the total end cost of your SF charter bus rental will vary. We’ve broken it down by bus model below.
Minibus
A minibus can seat up to 21 people, and is generally the perfect size for bachelor(ette) parties or family vacations. One of these models will cost approximately $98/hour, with available amenities like air conditioning and (sometimes) AV/DVD setups. Just make sure to talk to your booking specialist about your amenity preferences!
Mini Coach Bus
A mini coach bus is your luxury for less option. A more compact version of the sophisticated coach bus, a mini coach can seat up to 32 passengers and costs $475–$900 daily. Mini coach buses also offer additional amenities if you require them – hello, onboard wifi!
School Bus
School buses are great for larger, carefree groups who don’t need anything fancy to get around. If you’re looking for a simple ride to get from Point A to B seamlessly, rent yourself a big yellow bus. These nostalgic bad boys can seat up to 47 passengers and cost around $81/hour. Split between all passengers, that comes to $1.72 per person per hour. Affordable convenience at its finest.
Coach Bus
The mother of all buses, the coach bus is your best option for transporting large groups for long distances. Equipped with reclining seats, air conditioning, onboard wifi, undercarriage storage, and more, one of these models can accommodate up to 55 people. It’ll cost you $115/hour to rent a coach, but trust us: you’ll get the ultimate in comfy transportation which more than makes up for its higher price tag.
Sprinter Van
If you want the ride home from the airport to be as comfortable as possible for you and your group, then it might be in your best interest to rent a sprinter van. A sprinter van is a type of passenger vehicle that can fit up to 15 travelers. Bus.com offers sprinter van rentals in San Francisco.
When is the best time of year to visit San Francisco?
San Francisco is picturesque year round, so unless you’re planning your trip around a particular festival when parking may be scarce and traffic will be more congested than usual (San Francisco Pride, for example), any time of year is a good time to pay a visit to SF.
Add these iconic SF sites to your travel itinerary
Golden Gate Bridge
Is there anything more iconic to San Francisco than the Golden Gate Bridge? Didn’t think so. This feat of engineering has been around since 1933, and is one of the most famous suspension bridges in the world. This is a must-see site to check off your bucket list while you’re visiting San Francisco.
Museum of Modern Art
Feel like paying a visit to works from Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and more? Look no further than the MoMA San Francisco. This institution houses both contemporary and modern artwork and welcomes over half a million visitors annually.
Pier 39
No visit to San Francisco is complete without a trip to Pier 39. It’s a hangout hotspot for tourists and locals alike, and with an endless amount of things to do, it’s really no wonder why it’s so popular. Whether you spend an afternoon shopping along the pier or watching sea lions sunbathing along the docks, there’s always something to see and do at the Pier. If you have a few hours to spare, consider renting a boat or going for a boat ride around the harbour.
Chinatown
San Francisco is actually home to four Chinatowns, but the largest of the four is the oldest Chinatown in all of the USA. It’s been a SF attraction since 1848, when there was an influx of Chinese immigrants who took up residence in that area of town. Today, it’s a bustling cultural quarter, and spans 24 city blocks. Pay a visit to the incredible Dragon’s Gate at the Southern entrance of Chinatown, and make sure that you give yourselves enough time to meander through the local markets with mazes of herbal teas.
Alcatraz
If you’re into true crime, this is the one for you. Alcatraz is one of the most famous sites in San Fran, having once been the nation’s highest-intensity prison and held some of the most dangerous criminals in the world. Today, the former prison now stands as a National Historic Landmark. Choose to either take a tour weaving through the jail’s walls and cells or, if you’re not into that, you can learn about the nesting patterns of the seabirds on “The Rock.”
Fisherman’s Wharf
The Fisherman’s Wharf as it stands today is built upon the rubble of the surrounding buildings that crumbled in the great fire and earthquake of 1906. These days, it is still home to some of the best fishing in all of California, however there are plenty of activities to entertain you and your travel group with, as well. From Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum to excellent shopping and dining options, great experiences await all at Fisherman’s Wharf.
