Local Information for UIST'98

Hotel update  NEW
Conference hotel, rates and reservations
Other hotel options NEW

Getting to and from the San Francisco Airport
Getting around the City  NEW

Foreign currency exchange
Weather  NEW

Hotel Update 10/8/98 

The Fairmont, UIST'98 Conference Hotel

The Fairmont Hotel is located on prestigious Nob Hill, 950 Mason Street at California Street.

To reserve a room for UIST, contact the Fairmont directly by October 5, 1998. Be sure to specify ACM UIST, as there are two ACM conferences going on at the same time.

Fairmont Hotel

950 Mason Street
San Francisco CA 94108
+1 (415) 772-5000
+1 (415) 772-5013 (fax)

North American Toll-free: 1-800-527-4727 

Room Rates                      Single/Double

Main Building Standard          $175/195  
Main Building Deluxe            $195/215 
Tower City View                 $215/235
Tower Bay View                  $265/285
Convention rates are available 3 days before and 3 days after the official conference dates on a space available basis.

Rates do not include the 14% San Francisco occupancy tax. Major credit cards are accepted.

Other hotel options

 The conference is close to Union Square, an area with many, many hotels in all price ranges.  The following recommendations are drawn from several reliable sources, and is by no means exhaustive.  All are within 4 blocks of the Fairmont.  Because the Fairmont is at the top of a steep hill, almost all the hotels are downhill.  For a more complete listing, see the San Francisco Visitors website.

Expensive (like the Fairmont or costlier) but really convenient--within a block

Within 2 blocks Within 4 blocks
  • Moderate cost ($120-180)  These are all reputed to be very well-appointed and fine places to stay.
    • Many hotels are available between 4 and 8 blocks from the Fairmont, including the modestly priced, recommended Commodore, Maxwell, Beresford Arms and Andrews.    There is also the moderately priced Holiday Inn Union Square .Try to stay near a cable car or bus line.

    Reservation services

    Getting to and from the airport

    San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 15 miles south of San Francisco.
    Taxi
    The fare is $30-35, and the ride will take about 30 minutes, longer at rush hour. Taxis leave from the airport's lower level, outside baggage claim.
    Shuttle van
    The fare is $10-15, and the ride can take somewhat longer than the taxi or the bus. There are multiple services available, such as SuperShuttle, Door-to-Door, and Quake City Shuttle.

    Shuttles leave from the center island, outside of the airport's upper level. SuperShuttle says, "Follow the Super Shuttle signs to our uniformed Airport Guest Coordinator. They will arrange SuperShuttle transportation to your destination."

    Bus
    The SFO Airporter bus ($10) leaves every 30 minutes, 6:30 am-midnight, and takes about 40 minutes. It doesn't go directly to the Fairmont, but you can take it to the Holiday Inn Union Square and walk two blocks up the hill on Powell, or take it to the Hyatt Regency and catch a California Street cable car.
    Public transportation
    This is possible, with a fare of $2-6, but not simple. It will involve multiple transfers and quite a bit more time.

    See SFO Ground Transportation for more details on this and other services.
    Rental car
    Parking at the Fairmont is $27/day (even for hotel guests). Hertz does have a desk at the hotel, open 7:30am - 3:30 pm.

    Driving directions: Take highway 101 North towards San Francisco. Follow it towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the Ninth Street/Civic Center exit. Stay in the two right-hand lanes on Ninth Street. Cross Market Street, where Ninth becomes Larkin. Take Larkin to California Street and turn right. Take California to Mason Street and turn left. The Fairmont is at 950 Mason Street.

    Getting Around

    The Fairmont is at the intersection of two cable cars, the Powell line that runs north and south from Market Street to Fisherman's Wharf and the California Street line that runs east and west from the Embarcadero to Van Ness.
  • Cable car fare:  $2.00 per ride;   Daily pass:  $6.00 3-day pass:  $10.00 Weekly pass: $15.00
  • San Francisco has an extensive public transit system, called Muni, that operates buses and streetcars all through the city.  There is also BART, the subway system, which runs down Market Street and across the bay to Berkeley.
  • Near the Fairmont, buses run north-south on Stockton Street, and east-west on most streets during rush hour, Sacramento street continuously.
  • Taxis are available at the Fairmont.  Distances are short within the downtown area, somewhat longer to the Wharf and Civic Center areas.

    • Foreign Currency Exchange

    There is a Foreign Currency Exchange at SFO in the Bank of America International Terminal branch every day from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m.

    The Fairmont front desk also exchanges currency.

    Weather

    In early November, daytime temperatures are likely to be in the 60s (16-19C), with nights around 50 (10C).  Rain is possible, and chill winds can be expected.  For forecasts, check  Intellicast or USA Today.


    By Debby Hindus, Local Arrangements.