Planes

If you are flying in for the tournament, there are 3 airports in the San Francisco area.  By far the most convenient is San Francisco International (SFO).  Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC) are also reasonably close, but use SFO if you can.

The host hotel, the Marriott, is about 13 miles from SFO.  It is located at Mission St. and Fourth St. in downtown San Francisco.  Getting there:

Taxi - the fare is about $37; up to 5 can share a taxi.  It is 20 minutes to the hotel with light traffic; 30 minutes or more in heavy traffic.

Van Shuttle (go to the upper roadway for departures) - typically $17 per person. Expect to wait many minutes while the van goes around the airport picking up other riders.

BART from the Airport - the BART train station at SFO is located in the International terminal, departure level.  You can walk there in 10 minutes from terminal 1 or 3.  You can also take the free airport AirTrain to the International terminal.  The trip into the city takes 30 minutes and cost about $8. Buy your ticket at the station and keep it with you; you need it when you get off.

Exit at Powell St. station.  If you can negotiate stairs, walk toward the front of the platform, up and to the right until you get to the street level.  Turn around - you are at Market St. and Fourth St.  Walk one block down Fourth and you are at the Marriott. 

Trains

Caltrain runs from San Jose to San Francisco, ending at 4th and King, near AT&T Park.  It is about a 2/3 mile walk to the hotel, or you can take a bus on 3rd St. to Mission St.  There is only one train leaving San Francisco after 10:40 pm - it leaves at midnight. There is no train after 10:40pm on Sunday evening. 

See www.caltrain.com for details.

Automobiles

San Francisco is not a car friendly town. Take public transportation if you can.

Expect that on Nov 23 (Black Friday) all parking lots will fill up early due to holiday shoppers. You will likely not find a parking space in the downtown area that day after 9am.

City Transportation

San Francisco is a good walking town.  The downtown area just north of the Marriott is relatively flat.  But this is San Francisco and you will encounter its famous hills if you venture beyond downtown.  Many restaurants are close by; the Westfield Mall is across 4th St. and has fine dining plus a food court.   Even Chinatown is just one mile from the Marriott.

The extensive city Muni system combines buses and light rail.   Fares are $2 regular, $0.75 for seniors over 65, and for disabled.  Ask for a transfer when you board, which is good for 90 minutes. There are also 1, 3, and 7 day "Visitor Passports" available at the Market and Powell Muni Sales location.  But seniors can buy a monthly pass for $21, the price of a regular 3 day visitor passport.

The world-famous cable cars have a separate fare: $6 one-way (no senior discounts during the day)  Ride one for the experience - the closest is at Market and Powell, just 2 blocks from the Marriott.  Cable cars are free with the Visitor Passport or monthly pass.

For routes, schedules, and other details, see: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/home/sfmta.php

BART

BART connects many East Bay areas, and Peninsula areas from Millbrae north, to downtown.  Exit Powell St. Station  Walk toward the front of the platform if coming from the Peninsula, or toward to rear of the platform if coming from the East Bay.  Then go up the stairs and bear right until you get to the street level.  Turn around and walk one block down 4th St.

If you are not familiar with parking at outlying BART lots, be aware of your parking slot number.  You will pay the $1 parking fee after you enter the BART platform.   Many BART parking lots fill up early.  On the Peninsula, Millbrae Station has the biggest lot and is the best chance of finding a spot.  You can also purchase a reserved parking sticker for $6 per day by going online.  This is also useful for overnight or multiday parking.  It may be purdent to have a reserved spot for Nov 23 (Black Friday), as unreserved BART parking spots will fill up early.

See www.bart.gov for details.

Taxis

Taxis are readily available in front of the Marriott.  The current rate is $2.25 per mile plus a $3.10 flag drop (including the first 1/5 mile).   The rate is fixed by the city.  If you have a foursome going out to dinner or on the town, this may be the best and cheapest way to travel.  Most of the city sights and dining venues are within 3 miles of the Marriott. The Golden Gate bridge and some museums are a little further than 3 miles. San Francisco itself is only 7 miles by 7 miles, so nothing inside the city is very far away.  

Parking

Parking at the Marriott is $61 per day.  That’s Sixty-one Dollars & 00/100 cents.  No discount for hotel guests or bridge players.

The closest city-owned parking garage is at 5th and Mission; $28 to $32 per day.  It is 1/2 to 1 block from the Marriott, depending on which end you park at. 

There are private parking lots near Bryant and Harrison that are much cheaper.  The rate may be as low as $10 per day depending on local events.  It is a walk to the Marriott from these lots, and through a less desirable area of town, although many areas are becoming gentrified.  Make sure the lot stays open late if you are playing an evening session; most private lots close between 7pm and 9pm.   The best bet for late night is AMPCO Parking or Liberty Parking, both at 3rd and Harrison.  They are open 24 hours.

See  http://sanfrancisco.bestparking.com/index.php#1 for a map and rates.
Click on 'daily', then 'by neighborhood', then 'SoMa (east)'