A Business Travel Guide to San Jose

Staying in San Jose, USA

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose is a picturesque city in the Bay Area of California. Home to influential tech companies like Adobe, it’s a diverse city known for nurturing start-up businesses. It is a popular destination for corporate travellers to visit as San Jose is an innovative city with a thriving financial industry that embraces its technological prowess. There’s plenty to see and do in San Jose, including visiting public gardens, entertainment centres, and museums such as the popular Rosicrucian Eqyptian Museum great if you’re relocating with family. San Jose also boasts some amazing views of the distant hills and Californian landscape, meaning it’s got the best of both urban and rural worlds. 

To make sure you get the most of your business trip to San Jose, be sure to read on and check out this travel guide packed with useful information to get you settled in.  

Visiting San Jose, USA - Key Information

Weather in San Jose

Very similar to other cities in Northern California, San Jose has mainly mild winters with the average temperature sitting at around 10°C in January. Summers can get very hot and there is occasional rainfall year-round. December, January, and February see the highest levels of rainfall whilst in the summer months the city can experience no rain at all. We recommend business travellers in San Jose pack appropriately depending on the time of year, especially in the summer months when temperatures can exceed 30 °C.  

Currency in San Jose

US Dollar (USD $)

San Jose is a primarily cashless city, so stick to card payments when on a business trip to this bustling city. You might need the occasional cash for tips, in which case there are plenty of ATMs to withdraw some dollars. Tipping in California – like the rest of the US – is encouraged and expected when dining out. If you’re a business traveller in San Jose, the norm would be to leave a tip anywhere between 15% - 20% of the bill’s total depending on how you found the service. 

Health & Well-being in San Jose

With numerous health and fitness centres across the city, San Jose has plenty of health and wellness options to offer. It is classified as one of the most sustainable cities in the country as there are several lovely green spaces across the city great for leisure activities - places like Alum Rock Park are great for scenic walks and outdoor trails. If you’re bringing your dog on your business trip to San Jose, then open spaces like William Street Park and Muwekma Park are ideal to give them a run around.  

Check out serviced apartments in San Jose on the SilverDoor website and browse accommodation with on-site fitness centres or gym facilities.  

Data in San Jose

Staying connected with colleagues, friends, or family abroad is essential whilst on a business trip to San Jose which is why it is recommended that corporate travellers have a SIM. You pick up a temporary prepaid SIM card at local phone shops, San Jose Mineta International Airport, various supermarkets or online prior to the trip.  

Free Wi-Fi is usually available in stores, coffee shops, and libraries, but for reliable connection anywhere providers such as Verizon Wireless, and AT&T have fast data speed. Some companies such as T-Mobile also have tourist SIM plans at cheaper deals if you’re only staying in San Jose for a quick trip.  

Plug Type: A and B

Cuisine in San Jose

San Jose has a varied culinary scene which reflects the multicultural makeup of the city. All American and gastropub culture, Mexican, Vietnamese, and Indian cuisines are all popular due to the diverse population of the city.  

Whether you are looking for upscale dining options or budget-friendly eats on your business trip to San Jose, the city has got you covered. There is plenty of top-quality steakhouses in the city such as Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Morton’s The Steakhouse. Downtown areas like San Pedro Square Market offer a range of eateries. San Jose is also known for it's range of appetising street food, from Mexican tacos to syrup covered waffles. 

Speaking the Language in San Jose, USA

The most common first language in San Jose is English with over 60% of the city’s population speaking it. Spanish is the first language for approximately 25% of the population in San Jose, and other languages spoken in the multicultural city of San Jose include Vietnamese, Chinese, and Tagalog (Philippines).  

When on a business trip to San Jose you might encounter some locals using terms you haven’t heard before. Corporate travellers relocating to the city can add these common Californian phrases and slang to their vocab to speak like a local. 

Sketch: Suspicious or unsafe (That street is a bit sketch) 

Hella: Very or a lot (I’m hella hungry, shall we grab some lunch?) 

Fam: Close friends or family 

I’m stoked: Excited 

Yadadamean: You know what I mean?

Finna: Going to or planning to (I’m finna get some coffees, do you want one?) 

SigAlert: Term used in California to refer to a ‘traffic alert or road closure’ 

Three commas club: Referring to someone who is a billionaire 

Unicorn: Startup valued over $1 billion

Transport in San Jose - Getting Around in San Jose, USA

San Jose has a range of public transport options, making it quick and easy to get around the city. Business travellers in San Jose can ride the bus, light rail, commuter trains and heavy rail and pay using the city’s Clipper card that gives you two hours of free transfers between services. 

The VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) provides buses on various routes throughout the city. You can buy single rides all the way up to a monthly pass if you know you’ll be using the bus during an extended stay. The VTA also provides three light rail routes: the Blue Line to Santa Teresa, the Green Line to Winchester and the Orange Line to Alum Rock. 

BART (The Bay Area Rapid Transit) Links Northern San Jose to the surrounding Bay area by train. BART trains run from 5am on weekdays, 6am on Saturdays and 8am on Sundays, and run until midnight all week.  

Greyhound is a popular regional bus service that does regional and national trips. Ubers, Bolts, and local taxis are also very popular in San Jose. The city has a very bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure offering an alternative way for business travellers in San Jose to get around.  

Conference Centres in San Jose

There is a wide range of conference facilities across San Jose ranging from larger event hall spaces to smaller meeting rooms, all suitable for corporate travellers with different business needs. The 550,00-square foot San Jose McEnery Convention Centre and the Rotary Summit Centre are two conference facilities situated in the centre of San Jose, great for hosting large-scale business events. There are multiple spaces across the city such as Pacific Workplaces, StageOne Creative Space, and McCarthy Business Centre. These are all good for business meetings and prices range anywhere from $30 to $300 a day. 

When exploring our selection of serviced apartments in San Jose, be sure to check out accommodation that have facilities such as private meeting rooms, a work desk, and business centres.

San Jose City Map

San Jose is an innovative hub for all things tech and entrepreneurship, making it a magnet for business travellers. Now that you’re clued up with the basics of the city, be sure to check out our range of corporate housing in San Jose and get your perfect accommodation booked! Feel free to contact us  if you have any queries about finding an apartment that matches your needs.