You may leave your heart in San Francisco, but you don’t have to leave your life savings here too. Here are some ideas to keep the cost of your San Francisco trip under control.

1. Shop Around for Airfare: Check fares for all three area airports: San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC). Oakland is closer to the city than San Jose, but you can get transportation into San Francisco from either one.

2. Don’t Rent a Car: San Francisco is a small city (49 square miles) and most of the tourist attractions are located in about a third of it.

Parking is hard to find and driving in the city traffic can ruin the best of moods. To make matters worse, many of the centrally located hotels charge for parking.

Use public transportation, walk and take taxis instead.

3. Stay at Cheap Hotels In San Francisco: I sometimes feel like finding good, nice Hotels In San Francisco for the lowest possible rate is more difficult than getting a Ph. D. in Chemistry. If you feel equally overwhelmed by the process, San Francisco Hotels.com can help you find a cheap hotel at the lowest possible rate.

San Francisco.com offers a wide selection of San Francisco Hotels ranging from 2 star to 5 star hotels, from luxury to budget, and from a chic boutique to a familiar chain at the lowest possible rate.

4. Get a Discount Admission Card: The CityPass includes a seven-day Muni Pass for unlimited rides on cable cars, light rail and city buses. You also get admission to various attractions, and a San Francisco Bay Cruise.

5. Free Attractions: You can’t get much cheaper than this. Some of the things you can see for free include Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Golden Gate Park. City Guides tours are always free.