Santa Clara/San Jose AT'ers - travel question for you

[syee]

My Google skills have failed to find me an answer so I'm turning to the wise folks of AT.

My brother is heading down to Santa Clara (staying at the Hyatt in Santa Clara for a conference). We're trying to find a tour company that does day trips/tours out to San Francisco and would pick up from a Santa Clara hotel. (since he's not driving)

Does anyone from around that area know (or seen any tour buses driving around the area) of any companies that do tours with hotel pickup from Santa Clara?

All the tours I've found all start and end in San Francisco which means 2 hours or more of tackling transit to get out to San Francisco which while isn't the favored option, he could do if it's the only option.

 

[IAteYourMother]

If driving to SF takes 2 hours, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

No idea of any tours from Santa Clara.

You can take Cal-Train to the city or just rent a car. Cal-Train is not that far away as the Hyatt is near Light Rail if IIRC.

 

[BD231]

Major city's in the bay area are really easy to get to and from with a car.

Just rent a car with GPS for a day or two (hertz rental will pick him up from the hotel) and it shouldn't cost you more than sixty to eighty bucks. Santa Clara is only 45 minutes away from SF on highway 101.

 

[syee]

Well, that's the thing - he doesn't have a drivers license so renting a car is out of the question.

The 2 hours is taking transit - not driving.

It's looking more like he's going to have to take a train out there. Greyhound also seems to be a pretty cheap option as well. (Greyhound from San Jose) I guess I was just hoping that there would be the off chance a tour bus would leave from Santa Clara (or even San Jose for that matter) and go into SF to reduce the hassle of waiting for transit, transfers, etc.

 

[guyver01]

http://www.friscolimo.com/sanfranciscotour.html

4-HOUR SAN FRANCISCO TOUR

Rates are based on pick up location. Tip, license and fuel fees are not included:

$260.00 - Pick up from SF, San Mateo, Alameda + Santa Clara Counties

 

[zoiks]

No idea of any tours from Santa Clara.

You can take Cal-Train to the city or just rent a car. Cal-Train is not that far away as the Hyatt is near Light Rail if IIRC.

Yep. Caltrain is very convenient. I live in Sunnyvale (next to santa clara) and commute to SF every day on it.
http://www.caltrain.org/timetable.html

 

[zoiks]

Well, that's the thing - he doesn't have a drivers license so renting a car is out of the question.

The 2 hours is taking transit - not driving.

It's looking more like he's going to have to take a train out there. Greyhound also seems to be a pretty cheap option as well. (Greyhound from San Jose) I guess I was just hoping that there would be the off chance a tour bus would leave from Santa Clara (or even San Jose for that matter) and go into SF to reduce the hassle of waiting for transit, transfers, etc.

You don't need greyhound.

 

[syee]

You don't need greyhound.

Well, right now it seems to be the cheapest option. $18 and change return trip, and $2 each way for transit from Santa Clara to San Jose.

I'll check out the Cal-Train. I think what he was looking for was something with perhaps a little more flexible hours. With all the transit options, he'd have to leave SF at around 7:30pm because of transit restrictions. (i.e. last bus or last train of the day)