San Jose is located in the San Francisco Bay area, sheltered
from the Pacific Ocean by mountains, providing relief from the rest
of the area's typically high rainfall. It has a subtropical
Mediterranean climate, with temperatures varying from 43°F (6°C) to
82°F (28°C) year-round, and rarely dropping below 34°F (1°C) or
rising above 91°F (33°C). The warmest months fall between June and
September, which is a good time for summer holidaymakers to visit.
For the most part, temperatures in this season range between 56°F
(13°C) and 82°F (28°C), and the area receives minimal rain. Winter,
which falls between December and February, is colder and brings
with it more cloud cover and rain.
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International
Airport
Location: The airport is located four miles (6km) northwest of San
José.
Time: GMT -8 (GMT -7 from mid-March to the first Sunday
in November).
Transfer Between Terminals:
A courtesy shuttle connects Terminals A and B and the parkings
lots, running every 7 to 10 minutes from 2.30am to 1am.
Getting to the city:
The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates a special
Airport Flyer service that links the airport to the Metro Light
Rail Station and the Santa Clara Caltrain Station. It runs every
15-30 minutes between 5am and 11.30pm. There are also limousines
and taxis available, and several hotels offer door-to-door shuttles
for their guests.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies can be found at the Rental Car Centre,
which is serviced by a blue shuttle bus from Terminal A, and is
within short walking distance from Terminal B. Companies
represented at the airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar,
Enterprise, Hertz, Fox, National, Payless, Thrifty and Zipcar.
Airport Taxis:
Both on-demand and pre-arranged taxi services are available from
San Jose airport, from both terminals. Expect to pay a minimum fee
of $15, which includes the first three miles (5km) and the airport
surcharge of $1.50. Beyond that, the metered rate is $3 per
mile.
Facilities:
Facilities at the airport include several restaurants and cafés,
wifi access, a gift shop, ATMs, bureaux de change, lounges, and
massage chairs. Facilities for the disabled are good.
Parking
Short-term parking at San José International Airport starts at
$2 per 20 minutes and goes up to $30 per day. Daily parking has a
flat rate of $30 per 24 hours, and Economy Lot 1 has a flat daily
rate of $18.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) operates
an extensive local bus network covering San Jose and surrounding
areas, many of which connect to the VTA light rail or Caltrain
stations. Standard fare is $2.50 for regular buses. Rail service to
and from San Jose is provided by Amtrak, Caltrain (the best option
for getting to San Francisco), ACE, and a light-rail system
operated by the VTA. Bike and pedestrian routes are also available
throughout the city. Many visitors to San Jose find that the city's
sprawling layout is best explored by car, and hire vehicles from
one of the companies located in town and at the airport.
Ride-hailing taxi services, like Uber, are available.