travel by joseph schmitt
San FranciSco
- A CHAmPAGNe HolIdAy
on a Beer and red CaBBage Budget
While it seems everyone has been touched by the
global economic downturn, it’s important to remember
the medicinal benefits of travel. The euphoria and excite-
ment that travel can bring often begins before we even
leave home, and lasts for years to come through memo-
ries and photographs. luckily for us, one of the most
progressive, beautiful and romantic cities in the world
is easily within our reach, even in tight economic times.
you don’t have to spend a small fortune to experience a
luxury escape to the City by the Bay. With a little advance The 2.5-acre living roof Photos © Tim Griffith
Rainforest interior
planning and research, you can easily create a custom
Tim Griffith
two-night San Francisco itinerary for around $800 per
couple including airfare, hotel, public transportation, a
theatrical production, visit to a museum, dinners out and
even cocktails (depending on how much you drink).
Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com) has web-
only “Wanna Get Away” one-way fares starting at $49,
from San diego. As a little added bonus, San Francisco
International Airport has been named the “Best Airport
in North America” by Skytrax, the aviation industry’s lead-
ing independent quality research organization. you can
access the Bay Area Rapid Transit (www.bart.gov), also
known as BART, inside SFo International Airport on level
3 of the International Terminal. The San Francisco mu-
nicipal Transportation Agency (www.sfmta.com) is also
there to help you navigate your way with details on bus
and cable car service. Be sure to check out their website
for details on the newly-launched 74X-CultureBus, pro-
viding express service from downtown to Golden Gate
Park with limited stops at cultural institutions along the
route. The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
is also there to help, with tons of information for the gay
traveler at
www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/gaytravel. Golden Gate Bridge
Planetarium and coral reef
Where to stay:
The Good Hotel (www.somahotels.com. Tel: 415.621.7001) is a quaint
property of 117 rooms with a philanthropic slant. Not to be confused with
“green” or “sustainable,” this unique property goes even deeper by con-
tributing dollars to local organizations and allocating monthly employee
hours for charities of choice. Additionally, guests will be able to participate
in regularly recommended philanthropic activities. The newly renovated
guestrooms feature sustainable products, flat screen TVs, complimentary
high-speed Internet and iPod docking stations. Weekend rates are as low as
$69. It’s nice to see a hotel forging a connection between visitors and local
charities through volunteer-tourism, because making a difference not only
feels good, it’s also a great way to experience a city through one’s heart.
You can find Joseph Schmitt’s travel and lifestyle blog at
www.vonschmitt.com.
80 RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2009
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