SF On a Budget
- Sandra Romero
- Nov 20, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 25, 2019
Vacation trips are always fun. Last minute vacation trips are even more fun! What's not fun? Breaking the bank on these spur-of-the-moment adventures. I recently had the opportunity to travel to San Francisco with a dear friend of mine I had made in Los Angeles. I'll tell you we managed SF on a budget!
Cheap and Inexpensive Lodging
In high school, I traveled with my French club to Monterrey Bay, where I very French teacher got us lodging at a hostel. It was my first time staying in one and it was a great experience! You are assigned to a large room, mainly same sex, with lots of bunk beds. There is one communal kitchen, shared recreational space, and a shared bathroom for your floor. The overall atmosphere invites community and often you are able to meet travelers such as yourself from different parts of the world and from all walks of life. If you're a social butterfly, this could be an option for you.
If you want something more private, then you could also opt for an Airbnb. The price is cheaper if you split the cost among friends. SF is very popular and weekends fill fast, so be sure to snag your weekend trip while it's still available. Remember, these are people's homes so you you increase your chances of securing your spot by leaving a little message as to who you are and why you are visiting. Be sure to respect their home and tidy up after yourself when you check out.
Having you considered camping out in your van? I only suggest doing so if you feel safe and are in an area that it is allowed. It can get very cold at night being by the coast, so be sure to pack extra blankets, extra pillows, and extra jackets for makeshift insulation.
Public Transportation
Parking in SF outright stinks. You will grossly overpay in parking meters and public parking lots. Best to leave your car parked safe at your hotel or AirBnb. Figuring out SF's public transportation system is a little easier than you might anticipate and when you're not stuck in traffic, you're free to look out in the city. Not to mention you're allotted the freedom to hop off whenever and wherever you please with the worry of where you'll leave your car.
Start by downloading the Muni mobile app: iPhone or Android. $5, a great price since you'll be out all day exploring! You'll also have to have a maps app downloaded that will tell you which bus or light rail you'll need to take to get to where you are going. Once you have that figured out, you are all set! Simply hop on your bus. There is no need to show the driver your ticket on your phone. You are slowing everyone else down in addition to making a fool of yourself. This was our mistake. Don't get any sly ideas! It is important to have your pass purchased, however, or you could risk big fines if authorities happen to check.
Some routes require you to get there by train for which you will need a BART ticket. I recommend only purchasing the ticket one-way or else you might end up with unused BART credit. You'll find that you want to take a Lyft or Uber in a completely different direction, and you'll inevitably miss the convenience and privacy of a car-without worrying about parking! It is always a win-win for you, nomad.
Let's not forget the absolutely thrilling scooters! If you're a first timer on these, be sure to practice a very slow pace and preferably on a flat ground. The San Francisco hills are unforgiving and those bad boys go a lot faster than one might anticipate.
Eat out Once a Day
Buy one "fancy" meal a day. We had cereal and coffee for breakfast, eat a large and well deserved lunch, and a small inexpensive dinner. Save left overs. Always.
Stick to this rule and the savings get bigger. You'll more likely than not almost always have left overs. If your lodging allows you personal refrigerator space, you'll want to take advantage and save your leftovers for breakfast! Then you get to buy yourself a new large lunch again to keep you going on your outings. Keep dinner cheap. Stock up on convenient store goods like dried ramen or cereal. You can also allow yourself to buy something really inexpensive from a fast-food joint nearest you. You can switch these roles around as well. Maybe you want an elaborate breakfast and a small burrito for lunch! Your trip, your rules!
You can med the rules as well. We used our "fancy meal of the day" by buying lots of small bites in Chinatown.
Outings
Google is your best friend. Use keywords such as "free events", "low-budget", and "family-oriented". Even you're not traveling with your family as was our case, you'll discover that these often include free activities and sometimes even food!
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