Does anyone have any recommendations for a noob? I was looking at TS Kyla Snow's website, who has plenty of good reviews, but sometimes it can be valuable to get personal recommendations from experienced hobbyists, especially where this is something i've never done.

Shy Lin aka Ginger Lin.  Very nice girl.  She is mostly a top.  Check out her reviews...

I second the recommendation of Ginger Lin...beautiful, smart, passionate and very versatile. Can't go wrong with her

Agree

Unfortunately for you Owen; but fortunate for us on the east coast, Ginger Lin is currently in Philly.
Back to the drawing board...
   

END OF MESSAGE

Unfortunately, there is plenty of choice in the San Francisco Bay Area but a lot of bad ones to.

Kyla Snow is a beautiful girl but, like many others, her service is very mechanical. You get the feeling that she wants you gone as quickly as possible.

My favorite girl is San Francisco is TS Katherine (TER ID: 207224), in Nob Hill. She is bottom-only but she is awesome. She kisses like no one ... very passionate. Totally not a clock-watcher. You feel like you are making love with that high-school girlfriend of your teens. It may be YMMV, though.

When I'm not looking to "make love" but to really fuck, and get fucked, I look for TS Kimberly Kills (TER ID: 225153) in Oakland. She is an amazing fuck, just like in her movies. She will fuck you until you can't take it anymore, and do whatever else you want.

My third recommendation, also on the east bay is TV Jackie (TER ID: 249249). She is not as passable as the other two, but she provides a great massage, and loves sucking cock while delivering a great prostate massage.  

Let me know whether I can help with anything else. Also, do report on your experiences

Is that the online ads are few and far between, maybe 1/3 what is posted in LA.  But what I have encountered when I lived there was a steady stream of Latina TS girls coming up from Mexico and S. America.  They typically can not speak English, but hang on the corners around Divas and the general area after midnight.  They are not robs but you have to be willing to possibly meet up in a seedy hotel.    

Consistent with today, Eros SF may have 30 ads, part of the girls are visiting, part are long term residents.  On a side note, I have seen 30+ girls walking around the same evening I was scanning Eros.

Exercise caution.  You are safe walking around Divas if you are not drunk or doing anything stupid.  Its worth a stroll to window shop.

Good luck!

Listen to the Dog....the man is a SAGE! When I visited SF earlier this year he gave me the same advice. I had an unreal visit. The corner of Post and Larkin... I was there EVERY night I visited! There were so many hot tgirls on the street that I almost lost my mind. I mean some were REALLY hot. And cheap. Don't miss it.

Awesome advice.  Thanks.

Been to divas twice when in SF for work. The place is tranny heaven. I went once in the a.m and hooked up with a Mexican tranny, went 2 blocks up the street to an apt, her eyes lit up when I said I had $160. I thought everything was more expensive in CA? She said "podemos hacer todo por eso" and we did it all what a freak. 1st time I've ever had a girl bust out a pipe and start smoking dust, but it made her freaky horny, she licked my ass, which was a 1st for me.  
The 2nd time was prime time on a thurs night. Got out of cab and TS everywhere outside and inside, everything from unbelievably hot TS to CD.i wasn't inside 2 minutes before I had girl rubbing on my cock and telling the bartender how big it was. I was molested in there the whole night lol. Great lapdance on 3rd floor by a hot TS, we got pretty freaky. Girls will hustle you there for drinks, dances etc, not any more than regular strip club. As other guy said, tenderloin is pretty sketchy but block in front of divas seemed ok. Chances of hookup are extremely high, but you might have to deal with hourly motel and freebasing TS.