• Alcatraz Custom Tours Specialist

  • Alcatraz and San Francisco Custom Tours Specialist
    A whole world on single island
  • VISITING ALCATRAZ TOUR SF- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

    Alcatraz Combo Tours Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

    Thank you for your interest in Alcatraz Tours Inc. We appreciateyour interest in our business. Please find more answers to frequent questions under each tour page you are interested in on our website. Below you find a brief sum up of only some of these top questions to keep things simpleand brief.

    Q. Do you provide a complimentary pick up at our hotel?

    A.Yes, we provide complimentary pickups in San Francisco and in Sausalito.

    Q. What’s is the best combination tour you recommend with Alcatraz Island?

    A-We recommend one of these three private custom combo tours with Alcatraz Island:

    Muir Woods redwoods and Alcatraz Island combo tour. Learn more>>

    San Francisco city private tour and Alcatraz prison combo tour. Learn more>>

    Silicon Valley and Alcatraz combo tour. Learn more>>

    Seaplane and Alcatraz combo adventure. Learn more>>

    Horseback ride and Alcatraz combo tour. . Learn more>>

    UC Berkley campus walking tour and Alcatraz. Learn more>>

    and Alcatraz combo tour. Learn more>>

    Napa Valley Wine Country and Alcatraz combo tour. Learn more>>

    Alcatraz combined with a tour of the JellyBelly Factory or with Budweiser Brewery Experience. Learn more>>

    Alcatraz Night Tour Learn more>>

    Ferry Cruise tourS around Alcatraz. Learn more>>

    We may offer Silicon Valley and Alcatraz combo tours in the future as well.

    Q. Do you offer half-day and full day trips?

    Yes, we do offer both half-day and full day private custom tours. Our San Francisco full day tour is very popular. Yes, we do. Learn more>>

    Q. What is your reservation and cancellation policy

    A.Please click on this link to read more about our reservation, refund and cancellation policy. Learn more>>

    Q. Are you a pet-friendly tour company?

    A.Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in our vehicles out of respect for those who have allergies to pets. Smoking is not permitted in our vehicles either.

    Q. Do we have to book our Alcatraz tour in advance?

    Advance ticket sales are strongly recommended with 2 months booking in advance at least because Alcatraz tickets are always sold out in advance, the sooner your reserve your tour; the better to maximize your chances to visit Alcatraz Island and Prison, Learn more>>

    Q. What to wear during Alcatraz excursion?

    A.Please be prepared for cold weather, slippery roads and hiking trails, so have comfortable waterproof hiking shoes to walk on the snow, in winter and spring. This long day-tour can be challenging for kids and seniors in winter.

    Q. Do you offer guided tours in foreign languages?

    A.Guided tours in foreign languages are optional and can be subject to extra fees to cover tour guides or freelancers we may hire to honor your tour in the required language. All reservations are based on availability. However, we often offer complimentary guided tours in French, German and Spanish. Learn more>>

    Q. Is Alcatraz Cellhouse Audio tour is available in other languages?

    A- Alcatraz cellhouse audio self-guided is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Mandarin. It is also available in an English Braille version. It is included when you purchase your ferry tickets and our combo tours. Learn more>>

    Q. How long is the trip to Alcatraz?

    You can stay on Alcatraz as long as you like but allow at least 2 ½ to 3 hours for sailing to the island, taking the cellhouse audio tour, exploring the rest of the island and its historic exhibits, and returning to the mainland.Learn more>>

    Q. What is the gratuity chart for tipping in the United States?

    A.Gratuity: 15 to 20% gratuity is required and customary in the USA. Generally, a tip may vary between 15% to 20% of the total purchase amount, or it can be a flat amount that is near the appropriate percent. It really depends upon the situation.

    Q. Why my reservation was declined and what to happens next?

    A.When a reservation is declined by client’s own bank, this is often due to a mismatch between customer’s bank information (such as the name on the credit card, card number, expiration date, CVV, zip/postal code or billing address). If any one of these verification factors don’t match the information you provided on our website, comparing to the bank information when placed your order, your transaction is automatically declined by your own bank to protect your bank information from fraud. Sometimes, transactions are also declined due to insufficient funds as well. Your tour(s) will not be confirmed until your new transaction is approved by your own bank. We apologize for the inconvenience, but your own bank did so to prevent fraud and protect your credit card information. Learn more>>

    Q. Do you guarantee my tour of Alcatraz when my transaction is approved on your website?

    A- Approved transactions of Alcatraz tours on our website do no constitute a guarantee of Alcatraz tours and tickets until Alcatraz official tickets providers approve it, which takes several weeks due to the increasing popularity of Alcatraz. Learn more>>

    Q. How Alcatraz combo tours work?

    A.The first part consists of conducting private your guided and custom tour of the required destination you booked from our website; you can choose between our Muir Woods park of redwoods combined with Alcatraz, Napa Valley wine country combined with Alcatraz or San Francisco city tour combined with Alcatraz prison tour.

    The second part of your Alcatraz combo adventure will take you to legendary Island also known as the ‘The Rock’. Following your private tour, your personal tour guide will drive you to the Alcatraz Ferry building, a terminal for Alcatraz ferries that provide transfers from San Francisco Bay to Alcatraz and return. Learn more>>

    Q. Why should you know when you visit Alcatraz Island?

    A.-Alcatraz is a steep and hilly rock located in the heart of San Francisco Bay. You will have to walk uphill, downhill, upstairs and downstairs (no elevators available). The distance from Alcatraz Ferry dock to the prison is about a quarter mile each way.

    -No minors under the age of 18 are allowed to visit Alcatraz without the accompaniment of their parents or adults at all times.

    Carrying food and beverage: There is no food service available at Alcatraz. Eating is strictly prohibited on the dock area. You may enjoy a variety of snacks and foods on the ferries or simply have an early dinner

    -No food, luggage, coolers, over-sized backpacks or packages are allowed on Alcatraz

    Limited tickets available for visitors: Alcatraz tour tickets are sold out up to 10 weeks or more in advance during summers and holidays, but night tour tickets are extremely hard to get and are sold out as soon as they become available (in summer only). We recommend that you secure your Alcatraz tickets at your earliest by booking it on our website.

    Q. What’s the best time of year to visit the island?

    To avoid crowds, schedule your visit during the winter months of January through March. To experience the nicest weather, plan your Alcatraz visit for April-May or September-October. (Surprisingly, summer actually brings cold and foggy weather to the island.) Learn more>>

    Q. What months are best for viewing nesting seabirds?

    February through August. Nest building and egg laying occur in April and May, and chicks begin to hatch in mid-June. Learn more>>

    Q. What water birds can I see on the island?

    Western gulls are seen all over the island. Along the West Road, Brandt’s cormorants can easily be viewed. Snowy egrets and black crowned night herons can also be seen from the West Road. Pelagic Cormorants, pigeon guillemots, Canada geese, mallards and several species of songbirds are also seen on the island. Learn more>>

    Q. How accessible is Alcatraz?

    Much of Alcatraz is steep and hilly, so be prepared for walking long distances uphill. The distance from the dock to the prison at the top of the island is about 1/4 mile (.4 km) and the elevation change is 130 feet (40 meters). Visitors unable to make the climb up Alcatraz’s roads may take advantage of SEAT –Sustainable Easy Access Transport — an electric shuttle that meets each scheduled arrival at the Alcatraz dock and transports visitors requiring mobility assistance from the dock to the prison building. . Learn more>>

    Q. How are Alcatraz Island Day and Night Tours different?

    The day tours are more available as the night tours are extremely hard to get and not available in winter. Alcatraz night tour can be interesting for some visitors and too creepy for other tourists. Learn more>>

    Q. Are minors under the age of 18 allowed to tour Alcatraz Island without the accompaniment of an adult?

    No minors under the age of 18 are allowed to tour Alcatraz Island without the accompaniment of an adult. An adult must be with them at all times while on their tour of Alcatraz Island. Learn more>>

    Q. Can I bring luggage/coolers/oversized backpacks or packages to Alcatraz Island?

    No. Luggage, coolers, oversized backpacks or packages are not allowed on Alcatraz Island due to safety concerns. Learn more>>

     

    Q. Why don’t you visit Lombard Street?

    A.Yes, we do, unlike all large van and large commercialvehicles like bus tours, we are allowed to drive you on Lombard street as we operate by luxury 4×4 SUVs adopted to all San Francisco steep hills and narrow streets. Learn more>>

    How safe is the seaplane or helicopter flight? Helicopter and Seaplane Adventures maintains one of the highest standards of safety in this industry and has a pristine safety record. Seaplanes themselves are extremely safe – as we like to say, “We have millions of square feet of runway everywhere in the San Francisco Bay!”

    There is a patchy fog /clouds over the Golden Gate Bridge, will we still fly? Yes, fog is unpredictable and can be very tricky as it can come and go at any time in just minutes. We will try our very best to fly you over the bridge or alternate the flight route so that you can get the best view of the bridge possible.

    Under what weather circumstances will my flight be canceled? All flights are subject to cancelation for severe weather conditions. This determination is made by the pilot up to 30 minutes prior the scheduled flight, but the portion and cost of this flight is refundable when it is cancelled by the pilot due to unforeseen weather conditions or reasons.<./p>

    Why do you need the age and weight of each participant? All passenger weights are required as we do have a maximum weight limit based on the total weight of all participants for safety considerations. Pilots are also trained to load the aircraft safely based on weight distribution, so please be patient with where the pilot asks you to sit. Besides – everyone gets a window seat! For all misleading information regarding age and weight, the flight may be canceled and not refundable.

    What age is considered a child? Anyone under the age of 12. Price for a child will only apply for children aged 3-11 years. Children under two years of age may sit in a parent’s lap and are free of charge. The pilot will provide noise cancelation headsets or earplugs but if you have your own, feel free to bring them on board.

    Why do I need to sign a release waiver before boarding my flight? All passengers are required to sign a waiver before boarding their flight, this is the standard operating procedure as everywhere else.

    Have a Question ?

    Call : (415) 429-4947

    ALCATRAZ TICKETS RESERVATIONSF

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  • Authentic Alcatraz and San Francisco Tour Reviews

    • "Awesome bay cruise around Alcatraz Island"

      This is great alternative tour experience when Alcatraz tickets are sold out. We were happy with this trip, it combined our city private tour, and the ferry cruise around Alcatraz island, that was perfect as it was our last day in California.The cruise ship trip was over an hour, a ferry trip that took us around SF bay, around Alcatraz Island, and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

    • The Beautiful Island of Alcatraz and criminology

      From the city tour to Alcatraz Island, we and our kids had an amazing adventure, a bit cold in San Francisco Bay in summer ironically, but were very interested in the criminology and forensics stories of Alcatraz and San Quintin prison like Charles Manson, the Zodiac, Fong “Little Pete” Ching, Zebra killers, Felix Mitchell, the Unabomber, Scott Peterson, and Clarence and John Anglin and Frank Morris and their famous ‘Escape from Alcatraz’. Wow! the feeling visitors get when you are stepping onto Alcatraz island.

    • Muir Woods & Alcatraz combo tour

      Our Muir Woods & Alcatraz combo tour was exactly what we needed as we only had one day in SF. The tour is Well Worth the money that you spend. The big redwoods in muirwoods forest are impressive but the forest was crowded, and Alcatraz tour must be on everyone’s bucket-list, these sights and attractions in SF are amazing places to visit and see when you visit san fran.

    • "Why everybody is so crazy about Alcatraz?"

      Why everybody is so crazy about Alcatraz? Alcatraz Island is dim, cold, morbid, and crowded. We felt nothing, seen nothing, heard nothing that made it so appealing, a bit overrated in our opinion. Why criminals have become victims? They deserved to incarcerated in Alcatraz prison! Some visitors were even asking for autographs from a former inmate of Alcatraz, this makes no sense to me.

    • Alcatraz Island is Outstanding, book your tickets very early

      This is an incredible tourist attraction of San Francisco bay area, if you plan on visiting San Francisco you got to add Alcatraz to your bucket-list, more than Muir Woods or Napa. Alcatraz Island history itself is a very interesting story, before it even was used as a federal prison. How anyone could even escape from this remote Island? The audio headphone guided tour is informative and the stories and sounds of prison officers makes the guided tour so real. I am taking back amazing pictures to show my friends in Japan.

    • Alcatraz-SF: Worry-free vacation package

      Worry-free vacation package, we were lucky to find and book this all-inclusive SF Alcatraz tour package, it was a worry-free reservation all included, the perfect way to indulge in San Francisco if you have no time. It was convenient, affordable, and fulfilling combo trip of SF city attractions and Alcatraz tour, a must-do when visiting the city by the bay, and worth every penny you spent.

    • Fascinating combo tour of SF & Alcatraz

      Reserve Alcatraz tickets in advance, the tour was So much better than I was expecting. You get a ferry ride from San Francisco pier to the Alcatraz island. It was rainy, and foggy that day, but still well worth the trip. The trip was very well run, we were welcomed in the dock by a ranger who let us know some key information and rules before visiting the prison.

    • Alcatraz worth a visit & above expectation

      Alcatraz prison is just as portrayed as in the Hollywood films about Frank Morris (with Clint Eastwood) in this maximum-security prison Alcatraz, the cell still preserved as seen in the Clint Eastwood’s movie “Escape from Alcatraz”. No trip to San Francisco is complete without visiting Alcatraz Island. It took me 2 tours in Alcatraz before I felt the strong atmosphere and energy you get after stepping off Alcatraz cruises ferry and onto the dock. This city private tour and Alcatraz is an exceptional combo trip I recommend for all visitors (worry- free).

    • Alcatraz Island is Outstanding, book your tickets very early

      Alcatraz Island tour is outstanding and a stunning sight and my favorite attractions in California, but you got to book your Alcatraz tickets very early. We booked our Alcatraz tickets 2 months in advance as a tour combined with the city tour, but the next day, Alcatraz park service got sold out. The energy and the impression you get when vising Alcatraz is something you need to experience for yourself. We loved our city tour as well with Jonathan, the tour guide was amazing and fun.

    • San Francisco Alcatraz combo tour

      Book your Alcatraz tickets immediately when you plan your trip to san fran, we had initially planned to book Alcatraz Island night tour but it’s 100% impossible to get. The day tour was not bad at all apart from the fascinating story of Alcatraz, the trip to the island is phenomenal, and the city tour completed the package trip and appeal to all ages. That’s was a good company to work with.

    • Reserve Alcatraz tickets in advance when visiting SF

      Book your Alcatraz tickets months in advance before you travel to San Francisco, this is a must-see attraction when visiting San Francisco and Northern part of California. A police officer from South Africa who traveled with us on the ferry had a stop over in SFO, just to visit Alcatraz. Dress in layers, ironically summer is not warm, weather is cool and gets foggy in the SF Bay. The views of Alcatraz from San Francisco are better than the views of SF from the island, but this combo tour is a must do and saved us time and money.

    • Alcatraz & SF-Best part of our trip to California

      This is an incredible tourist attraction. We did the tour with our kids, and they loved it too. The audio tour was well done, we took tons of pictures, hanged out and enjoyed the views of the city from Alcatraz Island. The views are spectacular from Alcatraz, go to the officers’ gardens’ side that overlooks the golden gate bridge, but watch out for the steps, they are very steep. Army officers and their wives who stationed on the Island in the early 1900s, planted all kind of vegetables there (The beauty on the beast).