Travel Tips

Getting Around
  • The BART train (Bay Area Rapid Transport) runs from San Francisco airport (SFO) through the centre of San Francisco (SF) and out to Berkeley and Oakland in the "East Bay". 
  • In addition to the BART, SF has a metro, trolleybuses, cable cars and regular buses - check out the MTA website for details.
  • As well as licensed taxi cabs (the equivalent of London's black cabs) and town car services (pre-booked cars, like London's minicabs), there are lots of Uber and Lyft drivers in San Francisco.
  • The CalTrain links San Francisco with Silicon Valley (or "South Bay", as the locals often call it). If you're planning on using the CalTrain to get to a meeting, check the distance from the station to your destination in advance. Taxi cabs are few and far between outside San Francisco because most people drive cars but Uber is available throughout the Bay Area (although long journeys will obviously end up being quite expensive).
  • If you're staying somewhere outside of central San Francisco, make sure you're aware of what time the last train/bus is.

Renting A Car
  • Remember to bring both parts of your driving licence. 
  • Renting from the airport can be more expensive than renting from another location, so shop around. Sites like ebookers and carhire3000 cover most of the major rental firms but also check Enterprise.com. 
  • Don't forget that you can use the BART to get from the airport to a car rental office located in the city. 
  • Check out the different models that are available for a given agency. For example, Enterprise's pick-up trucks are often the same price as their cheapest economy-class car but are much more comfortable.
  • Make sure you're aware of what is and isn't included. For example, in the UK, insurance and roadside assistance typically come as standard. This is not always the case in California. 
  • Buying insurance from the agency when you pick up your car can be surprisingly expensive. Consider buying cover in advance from someone like insurance4carhire. If you do this, make sure you print out and bring a copy of your insurance policy with you.
  • If you're staying in San Francisco and don't plan on leaving the city, be aware that parking in central SF can be expensive. Most hotels have no parking (or charge for parking), most parking garages charge, and there are parking meters (or "residents' parking only" restrictions) on most streets. The parking charges can quickly rack up. One option is to find unrestricted on-street parking outside central SF (e.g. around Noe Valley
  • As well as being automatic transmission, instead of manual (or "stick-shift"), many cars in the US have weird parking brakes. Make sure you figure out how it works before you leave the rental place. Don't be ashamed to ask for help if necessary!
  • In California, you normally pre-pay for your "gas". Most people pay by credit card at the pump but, if you're from outside the US, you probably won't be able to do that because you have to enter the Zip code of the address the card is registered to. To pre-pay with cash, simple park your car next to a free pump, note it's number, then go inside and say to the attendant, for example, "Can I get 20 bucks on number four, please?". You pay him and he enables the pump to dispense exactly that amount of gas (i.e. you con't have to worry about hitting $20.00 exactly). If you've overestimated how much gas you need and find that you've filled up the tank before you've used up the full amount (easy to do in the US, because gas is significantly cheaper than in Europe), you can go back in to get a refund (if you've paid by credit card, the refund often happens automatically). 
  • If you're planning on travelling outside the Bay Area to do some sight-seeing, be aware that gas stations can be few and far between outside of densely-populated areas.
  • If you're driving in the Bay Area, be aware that Highway 101 (the main route between San Francisco and South Bay) in particular - and roads in general - can get very congested at rush hour. Plan your travel times accordingly.
  • It's easy to miss freeway exits. Get in the correct lane early!
  • If you're used to driving in the UK, be careful not to drive on the wrong side. This sounds obvious but it can be easy to forget when looking for somewhere to park; trying to figure out where you are on a map whilst driving; coming off the freeway; at T-junctions where you're turning out of a one-way street onto a two-way street; and turning into deserted side streets. Be aware of where your hazard warning lights switch is and hit it immediately if you do find yourself on the wrong side of the street.

General Accommodation & Travel Advice
  • There are lots of AirBnb hosts in San Francisco and the Bay Area and staying in someone's house instead of in a hotel can be a good way of making new friends and kick-starting your network. 
  • Also check out Couchsurfing.org and StartupStay. 
  • You'll need an electrical converter to charge your phone, tablet or laptop. These are typically a lot more expensive to buy at the airport than if you order them in advance from Amazon or similar. If you expect to visit the US frequently, consider buying a charger locally, particularly for Apple products and other devices charged via a USB cable). If you're renting a car, consider getting a cigarette lighter USB adapter.
  • San Francisco has it's own microclimate and is often covered with cloud or fog, which can make it surprisingly chilly, especially in the evenings. Bring a warm jacket!
  • Make sure you bring your passport with you if you plan on drinking alcohol, as some places automatically "card" everyone to make sure they're over 21.
  • Getting money out of an ATM using your credit card is usually a better deal than exchanging cash. However, most card issuers apply charges for both cash advances and transactions carried out in a foreign currency, so find out what these are in advance.
  • US banks normally charge a fee to non-customers using their ATMs to withdraw cash using a credit card. As of February 2014, Wells Fargo were the most expensive ($5), while Bank of America, First Republic and Chase all charged $3. 
  • As in the UK, many places (e.g. Starbucks, McDonalds) offer free Wifi.
  • Check in advance whether your UK mobile phone provider offers any roaming deals (e.g. 3's 'Feel At Home' service includes the USA). You can buy prepaid mobile broadband SIM cards for your phone/tablet locally (e.g. from T-Mobile USA). Familiarise yourself with the packages in advance, as the shop staff will make a concerted effort to "up-sell" you the more expensive packages. 
Shopping
  • Sales tax in California is significantly lower than VAT in the UK, ranging between 8% and 10%. However, be aware that most shops do not include the sales tax in the sticker price of items, so you can pick up something priced at 99c and find that the cashier asks you for $1.09
  • Be aware that if you buy expensive items in the US and bring them back to the UK, you run the risk of being stopped by customs at the airport and, if the value of the items being brought into the UK is above a certain amount, you may be charged customs duty and import VAT. However, this has never happened to me.
  • Big supermarkets like Safeway, Target and Walmart sell pretty much everything - similar to Asda, Tesco or Sainsbury's in the UK. However, be aware that Walmart's "Sam's Club" stores are for members only - i.e. you need to show a membership card at the checkout.
  • Walgreens and CVS are similar to the UK's Boots and Superdrug but sell more than just pharmacy and toiletries products (e.g. beer).
  • If you forget to pack something, inexpensive clothes can be found at Ross and TJ Maxx (the US equivalent of TK Maxx in the UK). DSW is like TJ Maxx but specialising in shoes. 
  • REI is a chain of stores specialising in outdoor gear (similar to Cotswolds or Blacks). It operates as a co-operative. It you sign up as a member (which is open to non-US residents), you receive 10% of what you spend as a "dividend" at the end of the year. 

Networking & Socialising

Finally, check out this blog post by Louis Dorard, in which he gives different perspective on how to prepare for a trip to Silicon Valley.