SFO's Rental Car Center is reached by AirTrain, so decide whether to eat or stay near the terminal before transferring. Confirm the current Blue Line and terminal path on travel day rather than relying on an old map.
Airport-area lodging and hotel-shuttle arrangements are separate from the Rental Car Center transfer. A downtown-only stay may be easier without a car once garage cost and steep streets are considered.
Peninsula, Silicon Valley, Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, and coastal drives justify different vehicle classes. Match the vehicle to the first route and keep a Bay Area toll and return plan.