Never the same. Always San Francisco. | TRAVEL TRADE . 7 WHAT’S EXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO TIPPING/GRATUITIES? Restaurant service is not included in restaurant checks, although some are adopting this custom. The average tip is 15–18 percent of the total check. A standard tip is sometimes included for groups of six or more. A San Francisco health initiative has impacted costs at local restaurants and diners may encounter an additional charge related to this. Taxis average tip is 15 percent of the fare. Airport and Hotel Baggage Handlers average tip for porters is $1 per bag, one-way. A Paratransit Taxi Service ( sfparatransit.com ) provides door-to-door service to qualified persons with disabilities unable to use public fixed route transportation (Muni); a certificate form may be requested from the San Francisco Paratransit Broker at 415-351-7000, 415-351-3942 (TTY). Golden Gate Transit operates bus and ferry service between San Francisco and Marin County. For information call 415-923-2000 or 711 (TTY). Access information is available at goldengatetransit.org/accessibility . Handicapped parking zones are clearly marked with signage and blue curbs. Visitors with disabilities may use their own state/country-issued disabled parking permit or may apply for a visitor permit at any Department of Motor Vehicles. Visitor permits require a doctor’s verification of disability. Temporary placards are issued for up to three months. PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS JUST CLICK TO ORDER OR DOWNLOAD Many of the promotional items San Francisco Travel offers are available online in the Travel Trade section of the website at sftravel.com/travel-trade : WHAT ARE THE TAX RATES? Sales tax is 8.75 percent; hotel fees in San Francisco include 14 percent occupancy tax and and 1.0625–2.25 percent Tourism Improvement District (TID) and Moscone Expansion District (MED) assessment (depending on the location of the property). CAN MY CLIENTS SMOKE IN PUBLIC PLACES? In the state of California, it is illegal to smoke tobacco products in any public gathering space including parks, restaurants and bars, stores and office buildings. Please observe designated smoking areas. HOW CAN VISITORS ENSURE THEY HAVE A SAFER EXPERIENCE? San Francisco is a very walkable, approachable and safe city. While visiting any city, follow these suggestions: On the Street: Walk on well-lit busy streets facing traffic. Travel with another person while sightseeing or shopping. Be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Plan your itinerary, and know where you are going. Carry only the money or credit cards you need, and if you must carry a purse, secure it under your arm. In the Car: When driving, keep the doors locked. Never leave packages or personal items in open view. At night, park in well-lit areas or attended lots. If you must leave a key with the attendant, leave only the ignition key. Always check your car before getting in. In the Hotel: Ask the check-in clerk to write down your room number, not announce it to you. Keep your door locked with the chain on whenever you are in. Always check to see who is at the door before you open it. If necessary, verify the identity of hotel personnel with the front desk. More safety tips are posted at sftravel.com . WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GETTING MARRIED IN SAN FRANCISCO? The minimum age for a marriage license in California is 18; individuals under 18 must have written consent from at least one parent (or legal guardian) and permission from a California Juvenile Court judge to marry. Blood tests are not required. Both partners must be present when filing for application to marry. A legal photo ID is required from each partner. The license is valid for 90 days from date of issuance. Wedding ceremonies are performed by appointment only. For more detailed information, visit the website or call the County Clerk’s office. San Francisco County Clerk’s Office City Hall, Room 168 One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl. 415-554-4950 sfgov.org/countyclerk THE VISITORS PLANNING GUIDE The San Francisco Visitors Planning Guide is our exclusive guide to San Francisco and the Bay Area. The guide features “what’s fresh” in San Francisco, a calendar of events, neighborhood coverage, maps and more. Also available online. SAN FRANCISCO CITY BROCHURE Get a snapshot of the City by the Bay in this 4x9-inch brochure that includes a simple neighborhood map, neighborhood descriptions, transit tips, and some ideas on what to do any time of year. This brochure is ideal for attendance promotion and hospitality/information centers. Also available online. SAN FRANCISCO VISITOR MAP Points of interest along the 49-Mile Scenic Drive as well as citywide, downtown, regional and state maps are tucked into this 4x9-inch guide/map to help delegates get oriented; also available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. A DAY IN THE LIFE: SAN FRANCISCO VIDEO A number of promotional videos are available through San Francisco Travel including the award-winning film, A Day in the Life: San Francisco which takes the viewer through a day and night in the City by the Bay. The running time is slightly over two minutes. “Never the same. Always San Francisco,” (1:32), neighborhood pieces on Chinatown and the Mission District, video visits to three classic restaurants as well as short 49-second videos on a variety of locations are also available. IMAGES AND B-ROLL San Francisco Travel can also provide high-resolution images and b-roll footage of San Francisco for immediate download from San Francisco Travel’s website. Information is available in the media section of sftravel.com . MEDIA RESOURCES Fact sheets and background stories on San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area are available in the Media section of sftravel.com . WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON ACCESSIBILITY IN THE CITY? For information about disabled access in the Bay Area, contact Access Northern California at accessnca.org , or request a copy of the brochure San Francisco Access from the San Francisco Travel Association. When using public transit, request a copy of the Muni Access Guide. WHERE DO I FIND MORE VISITOR INFORMATION? San Francisco Travel has two official Visitor Information Centers. The Hallidie Plaza location is open daily except Sunday from Nov.–April and Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Located at 900 Market St., it is on the lower level of Hallidie at the corner of Powell. They may be reached at 415-391-2000 or vic1@sftravel.com . A second location is on the Cellar level of Macy’s Union Square, 170 O’Farrell St., visitsanfrancisco@macys.com . Hours are the same as store hours. A variety of services is available at both locations including multilingual assistance. MUNI ACCESSIBLE SERVICES PROGRAM One S. Van Ness Ave., 94103. 311 (within San Francisco), 415-701-2311 (outside Bay Area) or 415-701-4485, 415-701-2323 (TTY) All Muni bus lines are accessible. Muni Metro Underground stations are accessible; for elevators or wayside lifter information, call Muni or visit sfmta.com. sftravel.com
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 2017: Page 7
