10 Top Travel Tips for San Francisco LGBT Pride 2009

San Francisco 2009 LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) Pride is the weekend of June 27^th and 28^th. Thousands of people will be heading to San Francisco to participate in this big celebration of diversity. Want to make your trip a smooth and fun one? Here are 20 Top Travel Tips when going to San Francisco LGBT Pride 2009.

#10 Plan your Vacation ahead of time

If this is your first time going to San Francisco for LGBT Pride, then you are in for a treat. However, always make sure you have the days off for LGBT Pride, and note it in your calendar. San Francisco LGBT Pride falls on June 27^th and 28^th for 2009. A weekend may not be enough when going to SF for LGBT Pride. Some people will choose to take Friday the 26^th or Monday the 29^th off. I definitely recommend at least planning to stay in SF three days during LGBT Pride weekend.

#9 Research the different Pride activities

There is so much happening during SF LGBT pride weekend that I recommend researching the different activities that are happening. Some major activities that happen during SF LGBT pride weekend include: Dyke March, Pink Party, SF LGBT Film Festival, Tranny March, SF Pride Parade, and SF Pride Festival. SF Transgender march usually happens the Friday night of SF LGBT Pride weekend. Dyke March happens the Saturday early afternoon. The Pink Party happens towards the end of Dyke March. The LGBT Pride Parade will happen on Sunday the 28^th. The SF LGBT Pride Festival will happen both Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.

#8 Don't Travel Alone, Bring Friends

Traveling to San Francisco for this year's LGBT pride is not a thing I recommend. It is more fun to travel with friends that you love and can trust. Never travel with strangers you do not know during pride. It is better to be walking around during San Francisco LGBT Pride with a big group then alone. This makes you have more safety especially if you plan on drinking.

#7 Reserve your Flight In advance

If you choose to fly to San Francisco for LGBT Pride I recommend booking your flight as soon as possible especially if you have not yet done so. Flights book fast for SF Pride Weekend, especially in June. The longer you wait to book a flight the more expensive it will be. I recommend Virgin America Airlines if you need to book a flight. Virgin America was one of the sponsors for SF LGBT Pride in the previous years, and they have great rates.

#6 Reserve your Hotel in Advance

If you have not booked your hotel for SF LGBT Pride then do it now. Hotels go quickly especially for SF LGBT Pride weekend. I recommend booking a hotel on Market near 8^th street. This location is near the Civic Center area where the SF Pride Parade happens, and the Pride Festival. Another great reason about having a hotel in this area is that transportation is easy to access. If you are still looking for a hotel, I recommend going to Hotels.com, they usually have great rates to compare.

#5 Plan a Budget

San Francisco LGBT Pride weekend can be pricey, so make sure you know how much money you will be needing, and spending.

#4 Plan a Driving Route

If you plan on driving to SF LGBT Pride make sure you have a driving route, maps, directions, or even GPS. I have traveled from Southern California to San Francisco and it can take between 8 to 12 hours depending on what freeways you take. I recommend making 2-4 pits stops in between for resting and getting gas. Usually there are many rest areas on the freeways when heading to SF. I also recommend having more than one driver to avoid sleeping on the wheel or tiredness

#3 Pack accordingly

Always pack accordingly depending on how you are going to be traveling. If you choose to fly I recommend traveling light with one carry on bag, and small travel bag . If you choose to drive, allot enough room in the trunk for each person that is going to be in the car. I recommend telling your carpool pals to bring one bag to make sure everything fits. If you are going to be driving, I recommend packing a small cooler and snacks because it is a very long drive. Don't forget to pack your rainbow flag!

# 2 Once you get to San Francisco, use the local transportation

Driving can be a hassle once you get into the city of SF for LGBT Pride. If you are driving, leave your car at your hotel and use public transportation. The transportation is very convenient in SF. You can use the BART from the airport to get to your hotel. There is also the MUNI that includes the subway, busses, and cable cars that are very inexpensive, just bring quarters. SF also has alot of cabs available, however, I recommend a private car service instead. You usually can find the number to a car service in the phone book or at your hotel. A private car has a flat rate that is usually $12-14 dollars. This can be useful especially if you get caught in traffic, since their is a flat rate no meter is running like it would in a cab.

#1 Celebrate your LGBT Pride and Be Safe!

The main travel tip to remember is to celebrate your pride during SF LGBT Pride! Be safe, and have fun! Remember if you are drinking, don't drive back to your hotel. Take a cab or better yet walk. Also bring a condom or dental dam, you never know who you will meet.