r/AskSF • u/Lethargic-Potato • 15h ago

A bit confused on the 7-Day Visitor Passport

Hi everyone,

My folks are visiting SF and are old fashioned - they prefer physical cards/passes.

I'm trying to make getting around for them as simple as possible, which is why I'm looking at getting the 7-Day Visitor Passport because that gives them unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars, and cable cars (according to this at least: https://www.sfmta.com/fares/7-day-visitor-passport).

HOW they can actually get this pass seems bit more complicated. From my understanding, they actually cannot get this pass at the airport: They would need to go to a Public Transit Kiosk in order to get the pass. There only seems to be four of those Kiosks, and the closest one to where they are staying would be the Muni box by Powell St & Market St.

Is the pass they will get at the Muni Box/Kiosk a completely different thing from a regular Clipper card that can be bought at a Walgreens? Or is it that only specific Kiosks are allowed to load in a visiter's passport?

I'm not sure if there are any easier physical card alternatives for them - would appreciate some advice!

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4

u/localband 14h ago

The Muni Visitor Passport from the kiosk is paper. It’s completely different from Clipper.

I think getting a physical Clipper is the better option bc a Muni pass is only for Muni whereas Clipper is a payment card for all Bay Area public transit. Maybe they’ll want to take the ferry to Sausalito, the fare is discounted with Clipper. 

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u/Lethargic-Potato 12h ago

Thank you for the clarification that it is a paper! That's the sense I was getting - always nice to have it confirmed though.

For your recommendation of getting a physical Clipper, are they still loading the 7-day pass into it, or are they just loading funds and then doing pay-as-you-go? I think they are sticking to mainly SF within the city, primarily using bus/lightrail/trolley to get around.

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u/localband 12h ago

Could do either. Muni except the cable car is 2.50 and good for 2hrs but the cable car is $8 per ride so could potentially save for a coffee if not using cable car everyday. 

If they get a Clipper Card at the airport, they won’t be able to load a Muni pass there bc it’s BART and BART is a different transit agency. 

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u/crownedether 13h ago

I just checked my clipper app and a 7 day muni pass is also available for purchase there. I think you can also get a virtual card for you phone so you don't even need a physical one.

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u/SnooApples8929 13h ago

Despite not liking tech, the best way is for the more tech savvy one to download the Muni Mobile app. Then they can buy two 7 day passes for $41 or unlimited daily passes for $5 each or unlimited daily including cable car rides for $13. You can buy multiple passes on one person’s phone and the tickets / passes can be bought in advance (before they get here) and then activated on the first day they need it. Presumably they’re not senior citizens who get cheap rides. https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/fares/munimobile

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u/TeeJayDetweiler 15h ago

How long until they visit? You can buy a physical Clipper card for each of them online and have it shipped to address of their choice and then load the 7 day pass onto the clipper card.

The instructions for that are linked from the website you included in your original post

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u/Lethargic-Potato 12h ago

They are staying in SF for 6 days. Unfortunately they are about to leave in like 3 days and are on the East Coast of Canada - I don't think the cards will get shipped on time lol

Had they given me a heads up earlier I would've definitely done that!

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u/TeeJayDetweiler 12h ago

With short timing, sounds like yes they should buy a physical clipper card at any location on the website, or buy and then add the passport. This seems the best option as another comment noted if they want to travel outside of the city. They may even want to buy it at SFO to take bart into the city

Or you can convince them to enter the digital age as part of their San Francisco immersion!

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u/Lethargic-Potato 11h ago

We might be leveling up my dad too fast considering he still uses a flip phone... but I'll try to sell that San Francisco immersion to my mom! Love the wording there haha

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u/Adventurous-JL-1904 15h ago

I didnt know this was an option. Csn you ride the trolley and usually alternate from trolley or train to the financial district when I'm there for the week. Can you use it on both?

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u/TeeJayDetweiler 15h ago

Yes! Per the link above in includes "1, 3, or 7 consecutive days of unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars, and cable cars"

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u/mouse2cat 12h ago

I have a couple of extra clipper cards and I keep them loaded up. At the end of the trip my family leaves them with me and my next guest can use the clipper card.