San Francisco’s world of tourism is constantly changing.  Hotels change owners; restaurants change names or close.  When we were notified earlier this week to update our Alcatraz tour pricing, we dutifully went to work making our updates for the new operator of the tours.  But wait - the prices went up - A LOT. 

Adults rose by 48% ($16.50 to $24.50); kids rose by 41% ($10.75 to $15.25); but the biggest price increases were reserved for senior citizens who rose by 58% ($14.75 to $23.25).  All of these Alcatraz Ticket price comparisons are from July 2006 to March 2008. 

We were doubly shocked to find almost no news coverage of these large price increases for San Francisco’s #1 tourist destination.  Has no-one noticed a 50% price increase to visit Alcatraz???

Now we understand supply & demand - and are also well aware that many tour operators buy up tickets in bulk to combine with add-on bus tours that drive up the true cost of visiting the island.  That said - these are hefty increases that threw us for a loop.  We hope that Alcatraz can remain affordable for visits by average families but the price increases have become significant.  Even a "family pack" for 2 adults and 2 kids saves a family only $5 from the prices shown above. 

The new tour pages note that the tours are "affiliated with" Hornblower Cruises.  We hope that the LLC set up to handle Alcatraz tours can maintain the fun and spirit of the cruises and keep prices reasonable for our visitors in the future.

There are two things we especially love in San Francisco:

1.)  The Presidio Park

2.)  Great restaurants.

The folks who started up the Presidio Social Club restaurant (they just call it a club) - combined both of our favorite things into one.  The restoration of the Presidio’s former military buildings now has added a great new restaurant in the classic style of the 1940’s period. 

The feel is design to evoke the feeling of the period - rest & relaxation with people returning from the war.  The "playful" cuisine offers comfort food with a twist, plus San Francisco classics like oyster stew.  Ask your server about the "secret" offmenu entrees like the huge bunker-buster burger and dirty dozen donut holes.  The bar includes the original mai tai recipe from Trader Vic’s. 

Located at 563 Ruger Street (yup - that Ruger) - the club features weeknight specials including whole roast pig; lobster pot pie; and rum & ginger spareribs.  It’s all yummy with a great drink menu too that includes the gunpowder cocktail gin gimlet - with spicy cayenne thrown in. 

Don’t miss the friendly social table made from the polished burled slab of a tree trunk.  The communal table is a great way to meet other diners and is one of the most popular tables at the restaurant.   You can wine and dine like the "greatest generation"…

Desserts include banana cream pie and s’mores.  Food at the Presidio was never so good as this.  Can’t recommend it enough to combine an amazing attraction with an excellent new restaurant concept - check out the Presidio Social Club and become a "member" today.   There are some opening "hot new restaurant" service hiccups reported, so don’t come in a hurry.

(415) 885-1888

If you’re planning a trip to the Bay Area, or live in the Bay Area an just love wine - plan for these upcoming food & wine festivals in 2008.  You can enjoy food and wine in a beautiful outdoor setting at some of the world’s finest wineries.  Throughout Napa, Sonoma, and the Russian River area - there are wine festivals almost every month of the year.  Here are some of our favorite wine country festivals in 2008:

It’s a fun, grass-roots, eco-event on April 20th, featuring a walk around tasting of spring wine releases from nearby Green Valley.  The festival features DeLoach Vineyards, Dutton-Goldfield, Freeman Family Winery, Hartford Court, Iron Horse Vineyards, Marimar Estate, Orogeny and Patz & Hall.

The day’s speaker will be Gil Grosvenor, Chairman of National Geographic.

The festival features interpretations of “world street food” - everything either grown on the Iron Horse estate or come from farms within a 100 mile radius.

Tickets will cost from $50 General Admission and $250 for the All Access Pass, which includes a private reception at the Victorian home of Iron Horse founders Audrey & Barry Sterling.

Sonoma Wine Country Weekend 2008

During August 29-31, you can enjoy premier wine and food festival, combining the best of Sonoma’s wine and food and a Wine Auction. The festival features more than 200 wineries and chefs, plus winemaker lunches and dinners, a grand tasting.  A low-key and fun way to end the summer in Sonoma’s wine country.

 American Classic Wine Auction: Napa Valley

If you’re truly a high roller - this invitation only wine auction raises over $10 million over 4 days by auctioning Napa Valley’s best wines.  Packages include luxury cars; celebrity experiences, and other amazing items.  Lifestyles of the rich and famous is here for you - with all you can eat and drink while you help a number of worthy Bay Area and national charities.  Request your invitation early - these folks are serious about wine and helping folks.  Pulling up to an event like this might best include a limousine - for both glamour and safety…

Whichever festival you choose - enjoy San Francisco’s neighboring wine valleys on a sunny day.

   If you’re headed to San Francisco for a vacation or "business trip" - one "don’t-miss" way to spend a few hours is to enjoy one of the bay cruises that go past Alcatraz and Golden Gate Bridge.  We highly recommend any opportunity to enjoy San Francisco from the water.

There are two main tour companies offering large group cruises - the Red and White Fleet and Blue and Gold Fleet.  We’ve reviewed both tours for your decision making pleasure.  See you in San Francisco!

Recent articles on travel trends indicate that travelers are looking for more personal customization in their room stays.   One company - Pure Rooms - is featuring rooms in specific major hotel chains - in specific cities - that are certified with the maximum cleanliness and allergy free state.  

Pure Rooms have the following special features:

• All surfaces are treated to avoid the allergy issues of conventional hotel rooms.
• Over 1,500 hotel rooms are currently available with the Pure Room system. 
• The company’s own techs handle the room cleaning and replacement of special filtration equipment for the air. 

It all sounds great - except in December 2007 - we were unable to find a single hotel room for San Francisco - or even anywhere in California. 

With our family’s allergies - this type of hotel room would be a welcome change - and we are hoping that it can be provided soon for the San Francisco area.  Kimpton Hotels operates many hotels around San Francisco - and does special cleaning after pets are in a room.  But this type of cleaning - post-pet - is a fraction of what Pure rooms would be. 

Consider this post to be an open invitation to the San Francisco hotel community to offer this level of allergy protection - for at least a fraction of rooms in San Francisco.  We’re sure it is coming soon, but we need it sooner.

San Francisco’s Crowne Plaza Hotel at Union Square is still there, but it is no longer a Crowne Plaza.  An investment firm  ("Felcor") has purchased the property and renamed it to Hotel 480.  There are future plans to improve the property - which at over 400 rooms is one of San Francisco’s biggest hotels and in a very convenient spot at Union Square. 

The location is great and although we liked Crowne Plaza - we applaud the upcoming improvements to the property.

Check out Hotel 480 - San Francisco’s "newest" (named) hotel at SFTravel.

Google is now offering a page that allows you to search all Microsoft websites using the Google search engine.  Not surprisingly - Google monetizes the page with Adwords advertising.  

http://www.google.com/microsoft.html

Search Microsoft with Google

What does this mean? 

1.)  There is demand to find information on Microsoft that people prefer the Google search engine to use.

2.)  Google can make money off various searches of the Microsoft sites.

3.)  Google is sending a "friendly message" to Redmond, Washington with its cheeky new page.

What’s your take? 

Recent incidents involving both San Francisco and Seattle ferries have raised some thought provoking questions on how safe ferry travel really may be.  Although the issues in the two West Coast cities were very different - your safety hung in the balance for both situations.  We’re going to take a close look at these two ferry issues and let you judge for yourself.

San Francisco:

An Alcatraz-bound ferry boat struck large rocks on December 6th.  The crew was tested for both drugs and alcohol, but tested negative for both. The "Royal Prince" hit the rocks around 3pm, and both passengers and crew were safely removed from the ferry after the incident.  The Coast Guard combed the area for environmental damage with both boats and helicopters, but found none.  The Royal Prince ferry (photo above) is operated by the Red and White ferry company - one of two major ferry companies serving San Francisco since 1892. 

San Francisco’s Coast Guard has been criticized for a November accident that spilled 58,000 gallons of fuel after a cargo boat accident.  The November 7th crash closed both beaches and impacted fishing in San Francisco Bay. 

Seattle:

Three Port Townsend bound ferries were removed from service in November due to severe pitting on the hulls.  Ferry service to Port Townsend (near Seattle) was severely curtailed during that period.  The boats were deemed so damaged that repairs were not viable.  Temporary ferry service is being provided by private contractors until replacement boats can be permanently put into service.  During the ferry service break - businesses in Port Townsend were devastated.  Originally, a newer 144 car boat was planned - but was shelved due to traffic concerns in earlier years.  Approximate cost will be close to $64 million to put the new boats into service. 

I’m in Las Vegas for a conference of web publishers.   Las Vegas has to be one of the driest; most barren; and sometimes smoggy places you can imagine.  With all the focus on money and greed - I thought I’d try to see just how little environmental impact my vacation in Las Vegas could have.  Here are 5 ways I "left no footprint" in Las Vegas…  These methods worked on this trip - but they could be applied to almost any city — including Seattle or San Francisco even more easily.

1.)  I used public transit constantly.  Las Vegas is actually a very compact city for most of the hotels, restaurants, and shows you will visit.  Even more importantly - the huge number of people who come for conferences and conventions end up at the massive Las Vegas Convention Center.  The Las Vegas Monorail is incredible.  It’s cheap, convenient, and fast.  The people waiting for cabs are wasting time and spewing smog the world just doesn’t need.  Use public transit and the Las Vegas Monorail is world-class in its speed, efficiency, cost, and cleanliness.

2.)  I stayed in a hotel near public transit.  My hotel - Bally’s — was chosen specifically for its convenience to public transit (Las Vegas Monorail).  I spent a lot of time picking the hotel - and transit convenience was a top priority.  Bally’s is a major stop on the Monorail route - and also in easy walking distance of a lot of other cool hotels (like Bellagio).

3.)  I shared a cab from the airport and back to the airport.  By a little friendly encouragement - several other travelers were going exactly where I was — the Las Vegas Convention Center.  With a little organization - we saved money and environmental impact - by ride sharing.  Not only that - it was a fun way to make friends. 

4.)  I hang up my towels in the hotel bathroom.  Remember all those signs about the cost and energy to wash sheets and towels?  The funny thing on this is that the maids ignore what the signs say.  Even when you hang them up - they wash them anyways.  I tried at least.

5.)  Dinner and Entertainment - I ate at the adjoining Paris hotel.  That way I didn’t use any carbon emitting transport — even the monorail. 

It was a great and educational trip to Las Vegas.  If you visit here - or anywhere else - these are some clever ways to have fun; save money; and help our earth.

New Las Vegas hotels from MGM Grand are planning for a green footprint from the ground up and Reno hotels are getting greener by the day.

San Francisco’s Hotel Drisco has been voted one of America’s Top 10 boutique hotels by Sunset Magazine.  While we love a good recommendation at SFTravel - we’ve been featuring Hotel Drisco (formerly the "El Drisco") since the 1990’s. 

It’s a hotel in the Pacific Heights neighborhood where the locals love to live.  The hotel comes in an unexpected area - near beautiful mansions; trendy apartments; and sweeping views.  Pacific Heights has been glamorized for centuries - but a hotel in the area is a true rarity. 

Sunset emphasizes our comments on the excellent neighborhood - with boutique shopping nearby.  The hotel is also near the hiking trails of the beautiful bay-front Presidio National Park (home of George Lucas animation and CGI studios!).

Our readers are a bit more specific - raving about the beautiful rooms; cool location; and abundance of seeming San Francisco "locals" staying overnight in the City.

The Hotel Drisco isn’t your normal San Francisco hotel - you need to be ready to enjoy the life of a true local in the City.