Book cheap flights to San Francisco

The ideal time to visit this gorgeous city is during the autumn sweet spot, between September and November. The summer tourist buzz will have quietened and hotel rates will be more affordable. With warm, sunny skies and undisturbed beaches, you can explore the city sites at your leisure. Be sure to catch the San Francisco Fringe Festival and Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival in September. During July and August, summer travel is at its peak, so places can become crowded and rates inflated. If you don’t mind the winter chills and heavy rain, between December and February is the cheapest time to travel, when flights and hotel rates are drastically reduced.

A US tourist visa is required for South Africans travelling anywhere within the United States. You’ll need to ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months. Visa processing can take a few months, so leave plenty of time and ensure you have all the required documents.

For further information, see the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in South Africa website and this useful guide on how to apply for your USA visa.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulates are located in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

San Francisco is a very safe city, although incidents of petty crime do occur.

Pick-pocketing, and purse-snatching are common as in any other large city. Be careful on crowded Muni trains and buses, in heavily crowded areas such as Fisherman’s Wharf, and during the busy holiday season.

Some neighbourhoods to be cautious of include Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitacion Valley, Sunnydale, Potrero Hill, as well as the Tenderloin.

When hiking through the fields in the Bay Area, check for ticks as there is a high rate of Lyme disease, though it is treatable.