Planning a trip to San Jose? Here’s a super simple guide to getting your plans in place so you can start relaxing and looking forward to your vacation. Online tools make it easy to ensure you’re getting the best deals on your San Jose hotel, flight, and more.
Step 1: Book Your Flight
Explore the available flights to the San Jose Airport. If your dates are flexible, be sure to check different days of the week. Often the best deals are on Tuesday or Thursday flights, but sometimes a Sunday flight will surprise you. If the cheapest flight includes a layover, opt for a stop that lasts 1 to 2 hours. That way, you won’t have to stress about finding your next gate even if your flight is a few minutes late, but you won’t spend all day in airports, either.
Step 2: Plan Your Transportation
Decide whether you’ll rent a car or take public transportation. If you stay in the highly walkable downtown area, you can get around town and back and forth to San Francisco without a car. Check to see if your hotel has a shuttle, or take the VTA #10 bus into town. For public transport outside downtown, use the 511 website to coordinate VTA buses and light rail trains.
The VTA website also has a map of the city’s bikeways. The city is surprisingly bikeable, with wide shoulders or bike lanes on many roads.
Step 3: Choose Your Lodging
If you’d like to stay in a romantic, 100-year-old mansion, Dolce Hayes Mansion is perfect for you. The elegant hotel is very popular with bridal parties and honeymooners who are exploring the wineries.
For a dynamic hotel with lots of personality, choose Hotel Valencia in the Santana Row area. The neighborhood bustles with shops, cafes, and nightlife. The hotel has buckets of charm and a pool for lounging.
Want more luxury? The Fairmont has a great downtown location, a sushi restaurant, a lively bar, and a stunning rooftop pool. Request a room on a higher floor for a gorgeous mountain view and a quiet night’s sleep.
Need to conserve your cash? The Fontaine Inn has a good downtown location and amenities like free Wi-Fi and a small pool for a great price. The Super 8 Motel is closer to the airport, with clean rooms, a pool, and an affordable rate.
Step 4: Choose Your Adventures
You’ll find lots to do in the San Jose area. The Tech Museum of Innovation and the San Jose Museum of Art are the city’s largest museums. For outdoor adventures, visit the Guadalupe River Trail, Alum Rock Park, and the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Golfers will enjoy the Cinnabar Hills, Coyote Creek, and Los Lagos courses. Visit area wineries or take the CalTrain into San Francisco for the day, or check out the Great America or Raging Waters amusement parks. For nightlife, visit the SoFA (South First Area) District downtown.
Have you planned a great Bay Area vacation? Tell us about it in the comments section!
Author bio: Lauren Haas is a freelance writer and world nomad. She travels the world and writes content for Hipmunk, CBS, Time Warner, and other websites. Follow her blog at www.TheSoulOfAJourney.com.