SERVICES/FAQS TRIP IDEAS NEIGHBORHOODS Overlooking Sutro Baths at Point Lobos SAN FRANCISCO FAQS YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO. ANSWERED. HOW BIG IS SAN FRANCISCO? Surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, San Francisco’s compact 49 square miles (127 sq. km) crowd the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The hub of the Bay Area, San Francisco has a population of nearly 900,000 and welcomes millions of annual visitors, conventioneers and business travelers. WHAT PHONE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT TO HAVE ON HAND? Emergency Service (for police, fire, ambulance; no area code required) .......................................... 911 California Road Conditions ...................... 800-427-7623 (U.S. only) San Francisco International Airport Ground Transportation .. 800-435-9736 (U.S. only) Transit Service Information ...........511 (Bay Area) or ............................................888-500-INFO (4636) City Services ......................................311 (Bay Area) or...............................................................415-701-2311 or .................................................415-701-2323 (TTY) City Services numbers connect customers with highly trained customer service representatives ready to help with non-emergency matters, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. WHAT’S EXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO TIPPING/GRATUITIES? DOES SAN FRANCISCO EVER HAVE SHORTS-AND-T-SHIRT WEATHER? Restaurant service is not included in restaurant checks, although some are adopting this custom. The average tip is 18–20% 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% of the fare. Airport and hotel baggage handlers’ average tip is $1 per bag, one-way. San Francisco is blessed with a temperate marine climate and enjoys mild weather year-round. Temperatures seldom rise above 70° F (21° C) or fall below 40° F (5° C). San Francisco weather can change by the hour, so the best things visitors can do are to pack layers and have a light jacket or coat handy for cool evenings. 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. WHAT ARE THE TAX RATES? Sales tax is 8.625%. Hotel fees in San Francisco include 14% occupancy tax and a 2–2.25% Tourism Improvement District (TID) and Moscone Expansion District (MED) assessment (depending on the location of the property). San Francisco Travel Association
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 26/27 TPG: Page 8
