San Francisco proper occupies 47 square miles, including the offshore Farallon Islands. The city population is just shy of 800,000 residents, while the metropolitan area reaches 7 million. San Francisco is the West Coast's center of banking and finance. It features a branch of the US Mint and the Federal Reserve. Its hometown companies include Levi Strauss & Co., Wells Fargo and The Gap. The computer industry is also prominent in the area, and Silicon Valley, just 40 miles south of San Francisco, hosts some of the world's largest computer-affiliated corporations. San Francisco's sales tax is calculated at 8.5%. The lodging tax is 14%.

The city's primary airport, serviced by major carriers, is San Francisco International (SFO), located about a half-hour from the city center. Oakland International (OAK), also about thirty minutes away, handles discount carriers. Transportation to the city from the airport varies, depending on your needs. Taxis are great for expense-account trips since fares from the airport to downtown range from $40-45. Vans and shuttles make the same journey for about $12-15. Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), the regional subway system, is accessible at the airport's International terminal. Trains require use of BART cards, which function like debit cards, subtracting fares as they're used. They can be purchased at BART stations. Although affordable, BART commutes often involve transfers and can be time consuming.

The city's main section is relatively compact, and if you don't mind braving a few hills, walking is a great way to immerse yourself in local ambience. Otherwise, the San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni, handles public transportation in the city itself. It includes a light rail component, standard buses, trolley buses and cable cars. The latter, a San Francisco signature, costs $5 per one-way trip. Bus fares are $1.50, and if you know you'll have a transfer, buy that ticket when you purchase the one for your initial leg (you may be asked to show it). Muni passes ­ which allow unlimited travel for a set fee for 1, 3, or 7 days ­ are a great deal for quick-moving tourists and visitors. Taxis can be hard to locate and are not always reliable, so use them sparingly. And if you're not venturing beyond the city proper, avoid renting or driving a car. Parking is expensive and difficult to find; the trouble of having an automobile often outweighs the benefit.

If you're trying to keep abreast of local and national news while in the Bay area, look for San Francisco's two established newspapers: the Chronicle and the Examiner. If you're interested in more independent views, two alternative publications that prove especially good for arts and nightlife include the San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly. They're also conveniently free. Where San Francisco, a magazine that caters to tourists, covers upscale dining, galleries, nightlife and shopping.

As much as you plan a trip, you can never hope to know a city like locals do. That's why visitors centers are such a great resource. Check them out for recommendations on lodging, dining, and local attractions. Their collection of resources is sure to give you a leg up on everything you need to do and see. Contact the main branch at: San Francisco Visitor Information Center 900 Market Street Hallidie Plaza, lower level 415-391-2000 ­ phone 415-283-0177 ­ phone 415-362-7323 ­ fax www.sfvisitor.org Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm; Sat-Sun 9am-3pm

Although tipping is generally a personal matter, there are some guidelines that prove helpful to travelers. At restaurants, servers typically get 15% of the bill, although 10% acknowledges basic assistance, and 20% awards exceptional service. It is also common now for some restaurants to charge an automatic gratuity of 18% for groups. You should be aware of this possibility before providing an additional tip. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab. Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. Bartenders are customarily given $1 per cocktail, hotel maids are provided $1-2 for each day of a stay, bellhops get about $1 per bag, and a coat-check clerk typically receives $1 as well. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).