US help.

[califonia]

haha..i can't help but yawn each time i step into a mall
I will usually head to the coffee house while they shop.

Frankly, i think most if not all brands are available here in SG. Shipping from oversea are now made so easy too. Maybe I'll grab a luggage from the States, i think Samsonite is cheaper there.

But, i see you mention Tumi. Yes, this is something i will check out.

It's in a men's blood, how many men like shopping? Lol
Most men are in and out ver focus, women are bargain hunters.
U wouldn't understand.

Very touristy, cannot find good deals IMHO.
I was out in PA and I was able to find Johnson Murphy dress shirts going for usd$15! Usual over usd$80. As a shoe brand shirts are not specially for outlet. Johnson Murphy usually has buy 3 get 1 free deals. But I rather shop online via allen edmonds.

Guys only buy essential items, shoes and maybe shirts or polo tee or a tumi bag, into shaving products can get cheap stuff at Crabtree. Wanted good shoes shop allen edmond order it and get it ship to your hotel. Enjoy the free shipping. Guys on fashion sub forums are into shoes, watches the usual guy stuff.

These guys super into shoes
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/fashion-grooming-235/working-shoe-young-exec-2696469-426.html

Outside LA go desert hills if u into lux brands
Else go Carlsbad closer to sd
Carlsbad Premium Outlets - Designer Outlet Stores & Map
Closer to La go this
Camarillo Premium Outlets - Designer Outlet Stores & Map

Big shoppers just bring 1 suitcase and go buy new cheap tumi or samsonite to carry things back. Some buy and wear as they traveling out here.

My family love cooking utensils, this time here bought pots and pans. I bought stuff from all clad in PA outlet. A nice pot only usd$20 regular over usd$80.

 

[swordspirit]

haha..i can't help but yawn each time i step into a mall
I will usually head to the coffee house while they shop.

Frankly, i think most if not all brands are available here in SG. Shipping from oversea are now made so easy too. Maybe I'll grab a luggage from the States, i think Samsonite is cheaper there.

But, i see you mention Tumi. Yes, this is something i will check out.

samsonite is over-rated and their warranty only apply for manufacturing defects.

 

[swordspirit]

Car rental traps

Five holiday car rental rip-offs | Moneywise

Read the traps before doing your car rental (1st 4 most important). 4th trap can be the most costly as the rest are mainly fixed rates. Also, Upgrades can be very costly, especially where you have a very good deal upfront.

 

[patryn33]

haha..i can't help but yawn each time i step into a mall
I will usually head to the coffee house while they shop.

Frankly, i think most if not all brands are available here in SG. Shipping from oversea are now made so easy too. Maybe I'll grab a luggage from the States, i think Samsonite is cheaper there.

But, i see you mention Tumi. Yes, this is something i will check out.

The joy for them is touching the items, u can't get outlet prices online. Ask your spouse why she wanna go into mall when u can buy things at her fingertips on her phone. It can be a big waste of time to accompany her to mall then again happy wife happy life! lol most men just don't go telling her I not go I have better things to do. Hehe

Samsonite cheap, tumi just name. Quality get briggs and riley

 

[aizutto]

I don't think there are any. Just use the official ESTA website (http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov) and a prepaid MC or Visa.

Oh okay. Thanks.

 

[Human A]

3 passengers + 1 driver. Anyone knows the optimal price for buf to sfo / oak one way? JetBlue and southwest have risen from 180 to 192 at the same tine. Wondering if it will drop again.. looking at mid Oct weekday.

how many passenger?

 

[Shiny Things]

3 passengers + 1 driver. Anyone knows the optimal price for buf to sfo / oak one way? JetBlue and southwest have risen from 180 to 192 at the same tine. Wondering if it will drop again.. looking at mid Oct weekday.

I'd just book it - it's going to get more expensive the closer you get to the time. If you're really trying to chisel it, Google Flight Search tells me that you can save about $20 by taking Delta from Rochester, but that means a two-stop flight that takes nearly 10 hours (compared to a 7-hour one-stop if you fly JetBlue from Buffalo).

I'd just book that price. And JetBlue's pretty good, you'll like it.

 

[swordspirit]

3 passengers + 1 driver. Anyone knows the optimal price for buf to sfo / oak one way? JetBlue and southwest have risen from 180 to 192 at the same tine. Wondering if it will drop again.. looking at mid Oct weekday.

Buffalo to san francisco? Do you have any miles for redemption? Emirates miles can be used to redeem jetblue tickets. If not, better book early. Jetblue is good. Room leg wise is close to extra roomleg in SG budget planes. Free drinks and snack on board. 1 lugguage each 23kg and 1 carry-on lugguage (which is not weight restricted)

How come u going from Buffalo to San Francisco?

One last thing. How are you flying to USA? SQ or other airline. SQ has codeshare agreement with jetblue. Thus, you may consider making a booking which allow is as such SG - Frankfurt - NY - Buffalo- NY - SFO - HK - SG.

Edit: Maybe codeshare has not commenced yet. If so, u can consider emirates?

 

[Human A]

Will be in the east for a week before sf. Alr gotten JFK-BUF for 89 on JetBlue, so I'm looking out for another good deal for the next leg.

I have 30k miles left on my citi card.. Not sure if it is enough or eligible, but that's an option to check out. Thanks!

Booked open jaw on sq last month. Inbound JFK, sfo outbound.

Buffalo to san francisco? Do you have any miles for redemption? Emirates miles can be used to redeem jetblue tickets. If not, better book early. Jetblue is good. Room leg wise is close toomleg in SG budget planes. Free drinks and snack on board. 1 lugguage each 23kg and 1 carry-on lugguage (which is not weight restricted)

How come u going from Buffalo to San Francisco?

One last thing. How are you flying to USA? SQ or other airline. SQ has codeshare agreement with jetblue. Thus, you may consider making a booking which allow is as such SG - Frankfurt - NY - Buffalo- NY - SFO - HK - SG.

Edit: Maybe codeshare has not commenced yet. If so, u can consider emirates?

 

[swordspirit]

Will be in the east for a week before sf. Alr gotten JFK-BUF for 89 on JetBlue, so I'm looking out for another good deal for the next leg.

I have 30k miles left on my citi card.. Not sure if it is enough or eligible, but that's an option to check out. Thanks!

Booked open jaw on sq last month. Inbound JFK, sfo outbound.

are you renting car at buffalo? if not, can consider other airport in the region which may have direct flight to SFO. For Jetblue redemption, you would need around 22500 emirates points, which can be quite high. worst case just buy the cheapest, u can do free standby at airport

 

[stanknight]

I read from google that parking in SFO and LA can be quite expensive. Can you guys share how and where you guys park for cheaper alternative?

 

[winorlose]

I see some parking along the roads which have free parking for 1 or 2hrs till 6pm. These are nearer to houses along the street. However you will need to move your car at least 150 ft away from original parking lot once the time expires. The parking attendant is very on and they move around in a buggy.

I almost got fined in Monterey Bay..parked for 3hrs when it's free parking for 2hrs. Out whale watching..so can't control the time.. heng..i caught the parking attendant in the nick of time. Sprinted towards my car when i saw her in her buggy.

 

[swordspirit]

I see some parking along the roads which have free parking for 1 or 2hrs till 6pm. These are nearer to houses along the street. However you will need to move your car at least 150 ft away from original parking lot once the time expires. The parking attendant is very on and they move around in a buggy.

I almost got fined in Monterey Bay..parked for 3hrs when it's free parking for 2hrs. Out whale watching..so can't control the time.. heng..i caught the parking attendant in the nick of time. Sprinted towards my car when i saw her in her buggy.

Save the trouble and take public transport in the city. Unless your hotel provide free parking. If noy rental + parking 100+ a day

 

[califonia]

Do they sell all-day bus ticket for tourist? Other than Pier 39, i think Alcatraz, GG Bridge, Lombard, Chinatown need to take public transport. Where to get such tickets?

Save the trouble and take public transport in the city. Unless your hotel provide free parking. If noy rental + parking 100+ a day

 

[swordspirit]

Do they sell all-day bus ticket for tourist? Other than Pier 39, i think Alcatraz, GG Bridge, Lombard, Chinatown need to take public transport. Where to get such tickets?

Muni & Cable Car 7-Day Passport | San Francisco CityPASS® Attraction

Cable Car Tickets and Visitor Day Passes | SFMTA

Depends how many day you going. Are they all ok with bus? if you going only 3 days, better off with paying by per trip. The muni tickets are valid for "90" minutes. However, they typically issue the tickets for up to 3 hours instead (on any bus/tram). At times, u may end up taking taxi. But if you going 5 days, the muni pass or the city pass will be good. But the attractions for the city pass - did not visit it. so no comments.

If u going by per trip. Do note that there are 2 "bus" company. Muni and Bart. You can only use Muni tickets on Muni bus and vice versa

 

[califonia]

Thanks!!
4 days and we are fine with buses. Its 3D passport is $23/pax (irregardless of adults/children). Whereas bus ride is $2/trip free for children. So unless we take the cable car ($6/trip for both adult and children), we could be better of by per trip bus ride.

I am sure not sure if those places we are visiting is accessible by bus?

Oh, i also read that we should tip for taxi ride? what is the common rate?

Depends how many day you going. Are they all ok with bus? if you going only 3 days, better off with paying by per trip. The muni tickets are valid for "90" minutes. However, they typically issue the tickets for up to 3 hours instead (on any bus/tram). At times, u may end up taking taxi. But if you going 5 days, the muni pass or the city pass will be good. But the attractions for the city pass - did not visit it. so no comments.

If u going by per trip. Do note that there are 2 "bus" company. Muni and Bart. You can only use Muni tickets on Muni bus and vice versa

 

[Shiny Things]

I read from google that parking in SFO and LA can be quite expensive. Can you guys share how and where you guys park for cheaper alternative?

Can't speak for LA, but parking in SF is horrifically expensive. You're looking at $25-$30 a day for downtown parking. You should always, always use public transport if you're staying within the city.

Do they sell all-day bus ticket for tourist? Other than Pier 39, i think Alcatraz, GG Bridge, Lombard, Chinatown need to take public transport. Where to get such tickets?

You want the SFMTA 3- or 7-day passports - I don't know how to get these, though. Check the web link below. (I just hand out Clipper cards.)

Alcatraz isn't public transport - you need to buy a ticket from these guys.

Lombard Street and Chinatown are easy to get to via Muni. The GG Bridge is a little trickier, because it's a fair way out - but really, your best bet there is to rent a bike and ride! You can rent bikes at the Ferry Building, and then bike all the way around the Embarcadero, along the Marina and Crissy Field, and you'll get million-dollar views of the bridge almost the whole way.

Cable Car Tickets and Visitor Day Passes | SFMTA

If u going by per trip. Do note that there are 2 "bus" company. Muni and Bart. You can only use Muni tickets on Muni bus and vice versa

Um. BART only does trains. The buses (and the streetcars, and the cable cars) are all Muni.

So if you want to go over to Berkeley (and you do), you'll need to catch a BART train. But if you're staying within the city, you only need to care about Muni.

Oh, i also read that we should tip for taxi ride? what is the common rate?

10-15% of the fare on the meter is fine.

 

[stanknight]

One question guys.. I am going to Yosemite from SFO and will be staying overnight at Yosemite then back to SFO again. In this case, if I am staying at Sonora is it a good choice? Tried finding in Yosemite valley but out of my budget. Budget is arnd $150. Another option is at Mammoth Lakes but will pull me further away from SFO then.

 

[Shiny Things]

One question guys.. I am going to Yosemite from SFO and will be staying overnight at Yosemite then back to SFO again. In this case, if I am staying at Sonora is it a good choice? Tried finding in Yosemite valley but out of my budget. Budget is arnd $150. Another option is at Mammoth Lakes but will pull me further away from SFO then.

Sonora's fine, though you might find it's a little out of the way. Manteca's not bad either and it's even cheaper - I crashed in the Best Western there on the way to Yosemite once and got change from $100 (plus free hot breakfast and Wifi). Check Tripadvisor.

 

[swordspirit]

Can't speak for LA, but parking in SF is horrifically expensive. You're looking at $25-$30 a day for downtown parking. You should always, always use public transport if you're staying within the city.



You want the SFMTA 3- or 7-day passports - I don't know how to get these, though. Check the web link below. (I just hand out Clipper cards.)

Alcatraz isn't public transport - you need to buy a ticket from these guys.

Lombard Street and Chinatown are easy to get to via Muni. The GG Bridge is a little trickier, because it's a fair way out - but really, your best bet there is to rent a bike and ride! You can rent bikes at the Ferry Building, and then bike all the way around the Embarcadero, along the Marina and Crissy Field, and you'll get million-dollar views of the bridge almost the whole way.



Um. BART only does trains. The buses (and the streetcars, and the cable cars) are all Muni.

So if you want to go over to Berkeley (and you do), you'll need to catch a BART train. But if you're staying within the city, you only need to care about Muni.



10-15% of the fare on the meter is fine.

then shld be another company name, saw them when i was ard golden gate bridge area.