Getting to SES San Jose 2006

[evilgreenmonkey]

Hi Guys,

Would like to go to this SES although flights from London are either really expensive or have so many stop-overs you could end up in Beirut.

Anyone know a good way to get from London Heathrow to San Jose? My current thinking is that if I can fly into one of the big US hubs and then get a short-haul flight, it may give me better options then the usual Travelocity and Expedia offers.


Thanks,

Rob

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

You should be able to get a direct fligt from London. Coming from Denmark I usually transit through Amsterdam - direct to SF.

I will not reccomend doing a transit with a US city as you have to do all customs and immigration at first entry point and those guys DO NOT care if you make your connecting flight

[evilgreenmonkey]

Hi Mikkel,

I liked your orange suite at SES London this year ;)

You should be able to get a direct fligt from London. Coming from Denmark I usually transit through Amsterdam - direct to SF.


I didn't realise that San Francisco was so close to San Jose. I gather there's an easy bus/train service between the 2 places?

Thanks,

Rob

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

I believe there is a train but I always just rent a car when am there so I am not 100% sure if bus or train is fastest/easiest

[Elisabeth]

Heathrow to Las Vegas to San Jose is probably a good choice. or just straight into San Francisco, as mikkel says, is probably the best idea.

There is a train from SF to San Jose - the BART line - http://www.transitinfo.org/

[dannysullivan]

Don't try to fly direct to San Jose from the UK. You'll break your single flight up into an unneeded two to four hour layover.

Fly direct to San Francisco -- BA, Virgin (my favourite) and many other airlines go direct out of London to SF.

From San Francisco, Bart will shoot you to a train down to San Jose, or you can rent a car, get a cab or take a shuttle van. Check the SFO web site, and I'm sure they have transport tips. I always rent a car, myself.

[evilgreenmonkey]

I always rent a car, myself.

I haven't driven for about a year (live in London) so don't think I'd trust myself with going in a hired car straight onto one of those 5 lane motorways they have over the pond.

:o

Rob

[Hawaii SEO]

You should book your hotel ASAP.

I just got done booking my hotel. Both the Marriot & Hilton, which are connected to the convention center are completely booked! I got a room at the Sainte Claire, a Larkspur Hotel which is right across the street.

This hotel wasn’t listed on the SES event page as a hotel giving a group or event discount but I asked for the group rate anyway and they gave it to me for the $149.00 + Tax rate that the other two hotels had posted.

I don’t remember the Marriot & Hilton being sold out this far in advance last year. I’m sure it will be a much bigger event this year than last.

Aloha,
Dave.

[Robert_Charlton]

There is a train from SF to San Jose - the BART line - http://www.transitinfo.org/

There is a train from SF to San Jose, but it's not BART... it's Caltrain (http://www.caltrain.com/). I believe that the taxes needed to support BART to San Jose have been voted down twice.

More about SF transit here (it's almost more helpful than the Caltrain site)...
http://wikitravel.org/en/San_Francisco

Be aware that public transportation within the South bay is not as developed as around San Francisco.

And be aware that public transportation around San Francisco is not very good either.

[evilgreenmonkey]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Unfortunately I may not be able to attend now - my governor has taken the same holiday time off and I don't know if I can be off at the same time as him.

I know this place is a wee bit biased, but would you recommend SES San Jose or WMW Pubcon in Las Vegas more? It's a shame that I'm too late to submit a speaking proposal at either event as well.

:eek:

Rob

[da95649]

hi guys,

I have also booked at the Sainte Clare Hotel at $149 plus the tax, however need some info on the flight.

I either have London to San Francisco (11 hours)at £836 with Virgin, or a London to LA then to San Jose (14 hours) at £768 with AA.

So do I go with the £68 pound saving and a stop over, or direct to SA with the train in mind? Im coming for a week so dont really want to have to hire a car for the whole 7 days.

Any advice would be great.
Darren

[shor]

Whoa, Marriot and Hilton already sold out? :mad:
I'm still in the midst of a SES pitch to senior management. The price of an airfare from Sydney to SF isn't helping! :P

[evilgreenmonkey]

I either have London to San Francisco (11 hours)at £836 with Virgin, or a London to LA then to San Jose (14 hours) at £768 with AA.


I'm sure that Mikkel has made the journey more then most of us - so if he thinks it's worth paying extra to fly direct, it's probably worth treating yourself.

We've just hired another guy for my SEO team at work, so I can probably get the time off. After paying out for flights and hotels, not sure if I can afford the £917.72 exhibition pass though. :(


Rob

[Mikkel deMib Svendsen]

You should definately go direct! :)

The problem about going through LA (or any other US city) is that the first point of entry is where you have to do customs and immigration and those guys do not care if it takes too much time for you to catch your next flight.

Personallky, I alwasy go direct and most often business class :)

[Chris Boggs]

Whoa, Marriot and Hilton already sold out? :mad:
I'm still in the midst of a SES pitch to senior management. The price of an airfare from Sydney to SF isn't helping! :P
I would reserve a room at the St.Claire, just in case. Literally across the street and actually closer to the conference than the Hilton, which I believe is the one all the way at the other end of the convention center. :p

[evilgreenmonkey]

Oh dear, the St Claire is now fully booked :(

Anyone know of a good hotel in close proximity to the Marriott?

:eek:

[andrewgoodman]

The Fairmont would be one.

[evilgreenmonkey]

I know that I get paid a lot less then most people here (spare me your pity ;)), although $299 a night for a week is a little steep for me :(