Keys to the City

Facts & Fundamentals

The 3rd largest city in the state and the 10th largest in the nation, San Jose is a dynamic and tech-savvy area that has a population slightly shy of one million.

San Jose and the surrounding Silicon Valley area boast a high concentration of technology and engineering companies. In fact, estimates place the count at about 6000 technology companies employing about 254,000 people. Among US cities of more than 300,000 residents, San Jose has the highest median household income. The down side is that the area's cost of living is also one of the highest in the nation. Major employers include Adobe Systems, Cisco, eBay, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Hitachi and Lockheed Martin. City and county governments as well as San José State University are also sizable employers.

Sales tax is 8.25%.

Weather

Due to the sheltering nature of the surrounding mountains and its inland location, San Jose temperatures vary from winter to summer. Winter temperatures average in the low 50s and summer temperatures average in the low 70s. The area experiences plenty of sunshine, with records indicating approximately 300 sunny days per year on average. Rainfall is minimal, with about 14.4 inches per year, with much of that falling during October-May.

Holidays & Business Hours

On federal and state holidays, many offices and businesses close or have truncated hours. Naturally, policies vary, but in general, the following holidays are broadly observed:

Coming & Going

The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) serves the greater San Jose area from a locattion three miles north of downtown. Twelve major airlines provide service to both domestic and international destinations. Complimentary inter-terminal shuttles run regularly.

Both short and long term parking are readily available at the airport. The daily maximum for long term parking is $15.

If you plan on renting a car, the following companies are located at the airport:
Alamo 800-327-9633
Avis 800-831-2847
Dollar 800-800-4000

Taxi service is readily available from the airport to downtown or surrounding areas. Taxis are accessible via Terminals A and C. Taxi companies operating at the airport include:
American Cab 408-988-3300
City Cab Company 408-998-3333
Golden Star Cab 408-573-7777

The following companies provide area shuttle service:
AAA Super Airport Shuttle 408-438-7716
ABC Airport Service 800-840-0522

Public transportation is offered in the way of Valley Transportation Authority buses making frequent stops between the airport and the Metro Light Rail Station (VTA 408-321-2300). Caltrain buses make frequent stops between the airport and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station.

Travelers can connect to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) by way of the Airport Flyer (VTA #10) at the airport.

Travelers can connect to and from the airport (and to San Francisco International Airport as well) via the Monterey/Salinas Airbus (831-373-7777) or the Santa Cruz Airporter (800-497-4997). Depending on the trip, adult one-way fares can range from $15-$40.

If you need to access Amtrak or Greyhound transportation, both stations are a located a little over 3 miles from the airport.
Amtrak: 800-872-7245 or amtrak.com
Greyhound: 800-231-2222; 408-295-4151 or www.greyhound.com

Making Your Way

You can opt to rent a car while in San Jose (see Coming and Going section for car rental contact information), or you can use public transportation. VTA buses regularly service local routes, or you can take advantage of the area's Light Rail service (contact VTA at 408-321-2300 for both bus and train info). Fares are reasonable, and light rail routes include over 42 miles of rail and stops at popular tourist destinations. If you need to connect to Santa Cruz from San Jose, the Highway 17 Express bus runs regularly.

Major interstates in and around San Jose include I-280, I-880 and I-690 as well as major US Highways US 101, CA-85, CA-87, CA-17 and CA-237.

News & Views

To stay abreast of what's going on during your visit to San Jose, pick up a copy of the San Jose Mercury News. To read about business happenings, read the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. The San Jose Magazine provides readers general news and arts and entertainment information. Metro Silicon Valley is a weekly paper that provides news and information on music, movies and restaurants.

Some area radio station choices include:
KEZER 106.5 FM Variety
KLIV 1590 AM News
KSJO 92.3 FM Spanish
KSJS 90.5 FM Variety
KUFX 98.5 Classic Rock

Quirks & Curiosities

San Jose is known for its outstanding economy, boasting the highest average income in the nation due to the focus on technology, as well as the fact that approximately 35% of all venture capital funds are invested in the area.

It's also known for its stellar safety record, with the nation's most outstanding public safety record among large metropolitan areas.

Getting Your Bearings

If you have questions, need directions or simply want more help in planning your stay in San Jose, contact the Visitor's Information Center located at:
San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
408 Almaden Blvd
San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: 408-792-4173
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5:30pm

Information booths are also located in all of the airport's terminals. Visitors can ask questions and receive complimentary literature.

Mayor's Office
200 East Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: 408-535-4800
Fax: 408-292-6422
E-mail: mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov
www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor/

Necessities - Post Offices

Although post offices are located throughout the area, one conveniently located option is at:

1750 Lundy Ave
San Jose, CA 95131
Phone: 800-275-8777

Common Courtesies

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. Taxi drivers usually fit into similar guidelines by receiving a tip equivalent to 15% of the tab.

Often, a dollar tip covers many situations. The exception is a concierge, who generally receives $5-$10 for standard service (additional assistance suggests more).