<p>My D needs to visit San Francisco in person to apply for a visa to study for two semesters in France. This means she has to fly to San Francisco.</p>
<p>She is looking for a low cost hotel near the French consulate at 540 Bush Street. She is also looking for transportation advice - any good taxi or driver recommendations. She absolutely hates taxis - has had many bad experiences with drivers being extremely late as well as overcharging her.</p>
<p>She is looking to fly in Friday night or Saturday morning. Her visa appointment is mid mornng on a Monday. She will most likely fly out Monday afternoon or evening.</p>
<p>Any advice appreciated!</p>
<p>She could just take take the train – BART links downtown SF and the airport and costs less than $11. A taxi would cost at least three times that amount. Inexpensive hotels are tough to find in SF, but you could try one of SF’s hostels. Here are some links that could help.
[BART</a> Arriving San Francisco International Airport (SFO)](<a href=“http://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/inbound_sfo.aspx]BART”>Airport Connections (SFO & OAK) | Bay Area Rapid Transit)</p>
<p>[San</a> Francisco Youth Hostels Book Youth Hostels in San Francisco Online](<a href=“http://www.hostelsweb.com/cities/sanfrancisco.html]San”>http://www.hostelsweb.com/cities/sanfrancisco.html)</p>
<p>She doesn’t want to just do a day trip for this (I don’t know where you’re located)? Is it required to apply in person for this?</p>
<p>When my son recently needed a visa for a trip to South America, we used a visa service in Newark that hand carried the papers to New York City and the necessary office. This was recommended by the Brazian embassy and was cheaper than an overnight in NYC.</p>
<p>She is required to appear in person to apply for her visa as she will be fingerprinted. The French are very strict about this. Believe me - I have investigated all the requirements!</p>
<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad - my D has to fly to San Francisco - we live too far away for her to drive there. If she misses her appointment she has to apply for another appointment through their website (phone calls not accepted) and fly back on another day. To be safe she wants to be there the night before. One can never tell with airline flights these days.</p>
<p>We used a visa service as well for our son’s trip to Brazil and our other son’s trip to Russia. Are you sure she needs to go in person?</p>
<p>Edit: I see your note about the fingerprinting.</p>
<p>When my choir goes to SF once a year, we always stay in a really nice hotel called The Handlery in Union Square. It’s a good central location, you can get almost anywhere in SF from Union Square.</p>
<p>I think it might be a little pricey though.</p>
<p>If your daughter won’t stay in a hostel – which sounds like the best idea to me – I would have her use [hotels.com</a> - WE KNOW HOTELS INSIDE AND OUT.®](<a href=“http://www.hotels.com%5Dhotels.com”>http://www.hotels.com) or search the internet for deals; San Francisco is full of mid- and low-range hotels. Even though at this time of year, one might be competing with a lot of tourists, I still be homework yields a good result, but don’t just look for brand name hotels 'cause SF has much, much more. Personally, if she’s going to be there for a couple of days, I might not want her in the Union Square or west of that area which is where the French consulate is only because that is a bit close to the Tenderloin (scuzzy neighborhood). Rather, I would suggest she might go instead to the Marina district and start from there. While it’s not as central, if she wants to get to other parts of the city she can bus or cab it.</p>