GREAT SAFETY TIPS FOR ALL VISITORS TO SAN FRANCISCO! CLICK HERE
TRAVEL INFO: Good site for people coming from the SFO Airport: http://www.wikihow.com/Travel-from-the-San-Francisco-Airport-to-Downtown
GETTING AROUND TOWN:
The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Embarcadero station is directly in front of the Hyatt regency Hotel. www.BART.gov We recommend BART as the best way to get to the Hyatt Regency SF.
People around here swear by ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft. Set it up in your smartphone now, and you will be all set to use it at the event. Now is the time to put the local taxi cab number in your phone. Yellow Cab is (415) 333-3333 and Desoto is (877) 691-2170.
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO THE HYATT REGENCY SAN FRANCISCO EMBARCADERO HOTEL:
It’s never been easier to get to our conference. You can drive or take a bus, ferry, BART, cable car, or taxi. If you have any questions or get lost, please call the Hyatt Regency at: 415-788-1234.
Driving: From the Bay Bridge / Highway #80 / Oakland Airport * Follow signs to San Francisco / Bay Bridge * Here is a link to driving directions from Oakland International Airport. From San Francisco Airport / The Peninsula * Here is link to driving directions from SFO.
PARKING OPTIONS*: The Hyatt Hotel garage in Embarcadero 4 is $35.00 for 24-hours of self-parking (no in/out privileges), and $80 if you Valet park at the hotel, which includes in/out privileges.
*OTHER NEARBY GARAGES: 175 Drumm St. about .1 miles away. 3 Embarcadero Center at 266 Davis St. also .1 miles away. 2 Embarcadero Center at 291 Davis St. *Google parking in the area or use Spothero for other options.
Airport Taxi – Taxis are available from the lower level of each terminal at SFO. Travel time is generally 30 minutes. Cost is around $85-$110.
Airport Bus – Shared-ride shuttle vans are available from the upper level of each terminal at SFO. Transportation time is generally 30 to 45 minutes. Cost is $5 and up.
Airport Uber/Lyft – Uber and Lyft may make you share your ride with other people at the airport going to downtown San Francisco, but you’ll save money. The cost is approximately $10.
BART – Take BART to the Embarcadero station. It is best to use the Drumm Street exit once you exit the station, but all exits are close to the hotel. Walk up the steps or take the escalator to the entrance to The Hyatt Regency Hotel. For schedules and station information, visit www.bart.gov. Prices vary, but, for example, a one-way ticket from the San Francisco International Airport to the Embarcadero Station is $11.
Cal Train – Take #30 or #45 bus on 4th St. to Market St. from the train station. Transfer to any bus going down (right) on Market St. to the hotel.
Ferry – From the Ferry Building, walk across the Embarcadero, then cross the street to the foot of Market Street to the Hyatt Hotel entrance.
Cable Car- The California line stops in front of the hotel.
Muni Bus – All underground vehicles stop at Embarcadero. Most buses on the street stop within walking distance of hotel. Fare is $3 Adult, Seniors $1.50. You can ride muni the entire day for a $5 single fare. This does not include the cable cars. Get this on your phone using the Muni Mobile App. You can also purchase passports 1 Day ($12), 3 Days ($29), and 7 Days ($39) onto your Clipper Card at the ticket machines only. The passports are in effect the day of purchase. Passports can also be purchased at the SF Visitors Information Center, the Public Transit Kiosk located at Powell & Market St. and at all Walgreens. Passports are good for MUNI transportation only: buses, cable cars, streetcars, and the underground metro. They are not valid on BART, other transit systems, tour buses, or transportation to and from the San Francisco International Airport. For further information about schedules and fares visit http://www.sfmta.com.
MORE ON TRANSPORTATION:
Clipper Card is a Smartcard for electronic fare payment throughout the Bay Area. It can be used on MUNI, BART, Cal Train, Sam Trans, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, and VTA. The Clipper card is very convenient. It is less expensive than paying cash. When paying cash, if you do not have the exact amount, the buses do not give you change. A Clipper card ($3 fee, waived if you use your mobile phone) can be purchased and reloaded at most ticket machines and at all Walgreen’s stores. Money can be added on to the Clipper card in the BART stations too. Clipper Card offers MAJOR DISCOUNTS for students and seniors, but these cards must be purchased in advance. For details on Clipper Cards, go to: https://www.bart.gov/tickets/sales
WHAT TO WEAR: Attire at the conference is business casual (if any of us knows what that means anymore! Just don’t wear pajamas.) with comfortable clothing for the late-night events. Please wear comfortable shoes. Also bring a sweater and a raincoat plus an umbrella, as it can get chilly and blustery outside in San Francisco this time of year. (In fact, bring a sweater for indoors too, as it might be chilly in some of the meeting rooms.) If it suits your fancy, you can bring something more dressy for the evening social gatherings or dinner out on the town.
WHAT TO BRING: Make sure you bring a pen and notebook (or tablet or laptop) for taking notes during the sessions. Business cards to share with agents, editors, and attendees are nice but definitely optional.
You can bring your nonfiction proposal or as much of your manuscript as you’re ready to share, a sample chapter, synopsis, outline or even your entire manuscript. BUT, a well-crafted pitch is much preferred. Agents and editors don’t usually read an author’s work on the spot or at an interview or take submissions home with them. But some might be willing to look at the first page of a proposal or novel. You will also have the chance to get feedback on your work from independent editors and perhaps other writers. And if an agent or editor gets excited enough about your work, he or she may want to read some of it immediately. Presenters don’t usually give writers feedback on their work at conferences, but there are opportunities to get feedback. You can share your work with other attendees and the independent editors, opt for a paid consultation with presenters who are offering them, and perhaps start a critique group with others you meet at the conference.
WHAT TO EAT: San Francisco is foody heaven. There are dozens of restaurants in and around the Embarcadero and Ferry Building from fast food to elegant waterfront spots (Slanted Door) to hidden gems you won’t forget (Boulevard). There is also great Thai (Osha Thai) and dim sum (Harborview) steps away from the hotel entrance. SFWC doesn’t want you to eat alone. So on Thursday and Friday nights there will be a Dinner with Harvey. Harvey Pawl is an SFWC friend of the conference, and attendees and presenters can go to a different restaurant for a true SF experience. Sign up at the event. Details will be on a flyer in your attendee bag.
SPECIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO: Stop by the Beat Museum on Broadway off Columbus. Check out this celebration of the Beat culture. Also visit the one-and-only City Lights Bookstore at Columbus and Broadway. Chinatown is amazing. And sip a latte at any of the wonderful places in North Beach. Of course there is also the Ferry Building, Oracle Park, Coit Tower, Fisherman’s Wharf, the waterfront, and other places that make San Francisco so special.
SAN FRANCISCO SAFETY TIPS:
- Always be alert to your surroundings.
- Whenever possible park and walk in well-lit areas.
- Stay alert when using electronic devices. Limit your distractions.
- Do not ever leave your personal belongings unattended.
- Place your valuables in your hotel room safe or the hotel’s security deposit box.
- Do not hang purses on back of chairs, especially in restaurants.
- Do not leave valuables in your car. If you have packages, put them in your trunk. There has been a spate of car break-ins this year.
- Do not leave anything visible in your car.
- Do not keep a wallet, credit cards, or cash in a backpack. If you are in a crowd, consider carrying the backpack in front of you, especially on crowded buses. Pickpockets can easily and quickly remove items from a backpack without being noticed by the owner.
SAN FRANCISCO VISITORS INFORMATION CENTER (SFTravel):
Located at 900 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 391‑2000
You get information about things to do and places to eat. They have a map with all the places to visit with a transportation guide on how to get there by public transportation. Their website is www.sftravel.com.