Hotel near SF with BART access and free parking

You might look in Emeryville at the Woodfin Suites. Since you will have a car it is a short drive to a variety of BART stations and you can then park and ride away!!

Also google emerygoround which is a free shuttle to and from the MacArthur BART station. It may be a ten minute BART ride into SF from there.

I would check the many hotels near SFO .keep in mind tho that BART from the airport is now $7+ per person each way....

There are motels with free parking in the city, good public transport access, though not BART. Would you consider this? If yes, check out hotels on Van Ness @ Lombard (approximate area)

Type "san francisco free parking" in the search window here on Fodor's.

So with $42 in BART tix per day just to get to and from wouldn't staying in the city pay off? You can park in the lot at Mason & Ofarrell near union square for $29 per day. It's clean and easy to get into and out of. You can usually get the Hilton across the street from th parking agarage for pretty good prices too.

Then you're only 1 block off Powell. Near the Cable Car, Union Square and you can actaully walk to China town as well.

Are you planning to drive from San Jose to San Francisco, and then you want to keep your car (I'm just not sure what your plan is)? You could give up the car altogether in San Francisco -- then if you're leaving from SFO just take BART to the airport on departure day. Or do you need the car in San Francisco?

We do need more info to give the best advice. But in general both Dayenu's and Suzie's suggestions make more sense than staying outside of SF.

If you need a car, there are decent motels in SF that have free parking - or - paying for parking could be cheaper than commuting back and forth on BART.

Lots of hotels have specials including parking, for example, The Palace Hotel, which is where I might want to stay if I were a seven year old girl.

http://specialoffers.starwoodhotels.com/palace/local.htm

The Kimpton Hotels have a lot of charm, and many have free parking offers. They also will lend you a goldfish during your stay.

For just a couple of days, I think staying in San Francisco would be a lot more fun than outside the city.

Although you don't need a car in the city, there are places that are easier to get to with a car, including the Exploratorium and the zoo, the Legion of Honor museum (in a beautiful area), and Golden Gate Park.

You could even totally skip the car by taking CalTrain from San Jose to SF. There's a short, free shuttle from the airport to the CalTrain station. When you get off the train in SF you can take public transportation or a taxi to your hotel.

I think Dayenu is talking about the Cow Hollow Motor Inn and its sister properties. I stayed there several years ago and there is free parking, walking distance to many restaurants and access to public transporation. You are not far from the marina area and it is safe. My biggest peeve was the early trash pick up and hearing the large vehicles.

http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com/

If I were doing this, I'd wait and rent a car on the way out of SF, and you'll likely be able to drop off at the airport without a fee and won't have to worry about it in the city. But there are quite a few places in SF that offer free or inexpensive parking (not hotels around Union Square or Nob Hill, but in relatively convenient locations).

Thanks for everyone's help! We are flying into San Jose (long story) and renting a car at the airport which must be returned to that airport - quote doubled to return it anywhere else, including the San Francisco airport!

I had assumed it would be cheaper to stay outside of SF and travel in via public transportation - cheaper hotel, no parking fee, would offset the cost of public transport. But I will definitely look into hotels with free or inexpensive parking in the city. We don't necessarily need the car in the city. We are heading south after SF, down the coast and ending up in OC to visit my parents.

OK, now this makes sense! I would definitely look at the motels in the Lombard/Marina area that offer free parking. When you're in the city, if you're going somewhere that would be easier by car, you can use it (that would not include dinner in North Beach ), but generally you won't need it while in SF. Plan to drive south after 9:30 a.m. or you'll hit MAJOR traffic.

Try the Columbus Motor Inn - www.columbusmotorinn.com - or the Marina Motel - www.marinamotel.com Both have free parking.

We stayed in a family room at the Marina Motel a couple of years ago; we had one queen bed in one room and another in a slightly smaller bedroom. These rooms face Lombard, so there is some traffic noise, but it wasn't too bad.

Lee Ann

BTW, the motels that have been mentioned are all in walking distance of both Union Street (a couple of blocks south) and Chestnut Street (a block north) both of which have great strolling, dining and shopping options.

I now agree with all those recommending you stay near the Marina.

I think you can visit a lot of neat stuff by car.

- Golden Gate Park
- Crissy Field & Ft Point (we were there yesterday)
- Presidio
- Noe Valley
- Haight/Ashbury (but parking spaces are scarce)
- Ocean Beach
- Golden Gate Bridge/GGNRA viewpoints north of bridge, and Marin Headlands
- Lands End Trail
- Fillmore St Shops (bewteen Jackson & Bush)
- Postcard Row Victorians from Alamo Square
- Union St & Chestnut Street shops (unless you are staying on Lombard - where you can walk to these)

Just to name a few.

Note that all of these are west of Van Ness. East of Van Ness you'll fine the parking & driving more difficult.

My other suggestions:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1&tid=35129049

Stu Dudley

I live in SF right by those Motor Inns, they are not that nice and I rather be downtown.

I would actually use priceline and get a nice hotel downtown. To check out what you will get and what you should bid look at this site. http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/22/t/California-San-Francisco.html You can get a 4 star hotel for $80. I love that site.

If you want to park for free, you can park at the Marina Green. I never have seen a ticket there and I park there all the time late at night to go running. Otherwise, with a little googling, I bet you can find a place for 20 bucks a day downtown.

I you park your car at the Marina Green, it is pretty far away from downtown if you stay downtown.

galaxygrrl - does the Marina Green area have 2 hr sticker parking during work days??

Stu Dudley

galaxygrrl200: The OP can't use Priceline. There are three of them and PL only guarantees doubles in SF.

"I park there all the time late at night to go running" There is a LOT of difference between parking late at night for an hour or so and parking a car for 2 or 3 days.

Also, "I bet you can find a place for 20 bucks a day downtown" -- Do you have a suggestion where that might be? There are a few in the $27-$30 range, but I haven't seen $20 for several years.

"galaxygrrl - does the Marina Green area have 2 hr sticker parking during work days??"

No, it does not which is why I suggested it. It is park land and is not under the control of SF parking dept. The reason we have 2 hours stickers is the residents on a street need to petition the city for 2 hour parking limits. No residents, no 2 hours stickers.

"There is a LOT of difference between parking late at night for an hour or so and parking a car for 2 or 3 days."

OK, it is a public park with free parking and no 2 hour stickers needed. It closes at night, which is when there is a chance for tickets. My point in saying there are no tickets a night, is that is when the park police would ticket, but they don't.

Plus, people park there cars there all the times for a couple days when they go out on their boats. That is why I suggested it. It is a public park with public free parking.

"Also, "I bet you can find a place for 20 bucks a day downtown" -- Do you have a suggestion where that might be? There are a few in the $27-$30 range, but I haven't seen $20 for several years."

I know for sure there are lots on Minna between 1st and 2nd that are $17 a day, because I used to park there last year. I've even seen signs for $13 a day in that area.

Wow, guys, chill a bit, I was just offering a free place for them to park if they wanted.

I guess I don't get it. You actually think it is better for a family to park their car in a lot basically in an alley south of Mission and stay blocks away in a hotel, or leaving their car semi-illegally in a closed park and risk having it towed ---- than staying in a decent motel w/ free parking right on site near the Marina?

And if I was staying around Union Square or the Embarcadero, I personally wouldn't schlepp 8 blocks or more to save a few $ on the parking.

But that is just me . . . . .

OMG, Janis, chill out I just gave them options.

Personally, I would not stay in one of those motels on Lombard street.

I just gave them options.

I just gave them a free place to leave there car if they wanted.

And as for Minna street, it's 5 blocks from Union Square, it's 2 blocks from the palace hotel, the four seasons, etc. It's a perfectly fine place to park and there are huge parking lots there for communters.

Wow, take a chill pill.

We stayed at the Columbus Motor Inn a couple of years ago, there is nothing wrong with it. I know quite a few Fodors people have stayed there also.

Minna Street would not be my choice as a place to park and I lived in the city for two decades.

East of 5th on Minna would not bother me, but that's the entrance to the huge city owned & expensive parking garage - so there are probably no other parking lots on that section of Minna. West of 6th would be a lot more scary for non-city dwellers. Minna goes between 4th & 9th. Thurs night we had an event at the Old Mint on 5th & Mission st (1/2 block from Minna). There was quite an upscale crowd in the immediate neighborhood & east of the Old Mint. There are several nice restaurants in the area (Chez Papa, Tropisueño). This section of SOMA is improving - but it isn't quite there yet.

Stu Dudley

Stu - "Minna goes between 4th & 9th"

The lot galaxygrrl is talking about is on the other section of Minna between 1st and 3rd.

Thanks janisj - that is a safe area.

Stu Dudley

Actually, if there are $17 a day lots on Minna between 1st and 3rd, I don't see what the big deal is -- it would be a perfectly acceptable place to park, especially if you're not wanting to go "in and out" -- if they're just going to park and leave the car there, or maybe take it out once a day, then it's fine. I think the motels on Lombard are also fine if that's the ambiance the OP wants (it's nice that they're close to Union Street and Chestnut Street, but they're still like suburban motels), but the option of staying downtown (understanding that Priceline won't work because of the "3rd person", but Hotwire will if you plug in 3 people in the initial inquiry) and parking on Minna sounds like a good one to me.

The Castle Inn located in the Russian Hill area has free indoor parking and is convenient to buses and cable cars. We rented a one bedroom suite that was quite nice, clean and roomy. The price at the time (about 3 years ago) was good - about 105/night. The ambiance is that of an urban motel.

You know Travelocity sometimes has deals at the Fairmount which is my favor hotel in town. It's soooooo pretty. You can talk DD to high tea there and the tonga room. She might be to young for the planter's punch, but not the virgin version.

I agree with galaxygrrl200, those motels on Lombard aren't the nicest. Just because they are recommended over and and over again by some Fodorites doesn't mean you can't find something better and nicer.

For your needs, a child plus a car (free parking), suggest trying the Hotel Del Sol:

http://www.jdvhotels.com/del_sol/

Castle Inn is a good recommendation also.

http://www.castleinnsf.com/

>>motels on Lombard aren't the nicest<<

Of course !!

I would stay there if:

1. You have a car and want to use it while in San Francisco. Driving to destinations north & south of Lombard and west of Van Ness is not that difficult.

2. You want to stay in a "neighborhood" (Cow Hollow & Marina) instead of downtown or the Wharf. The "ambience" is completly different between downtown and Union or Chestnut streets. I'll forgo commenting about ambience in the Wharf area.

3. You plan to make several day or half-day car trips over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Easy - last night we had 3 dungeness crabs from Marina Market on Hillsdale Ave in Foster City. $4.70/lb. Crabs were quite small, but very sweet. Car did not smell this time - I took precautions.

Stu Dudley

Stu:



This Friday is our seafood night. There is going to be crab done three ways along with all the rest of the seafood.

We should have a crabfest together someday!

Both the Hotel del Sol and the Castle Inn offer free parking. The del Sol is almost around the corner from the Cow Hollow motels.

Easytraveler, I thought the Hotel del Sol looked great if our family makes it to SF for a future trip. Do you know or have opinions about any of the others in this hotel chain? Several of the others also looked pretty nice at first glance.

5alive: I can't remember which of the other hotels are in this chain, but believe this is the only one that has free parking. Will have to research further.

No time today. It's 5:30am here on the West Coast and I've already put in a couple of hours of work. Just taking a break!

Happy Thanksgiving! And hope I'll remember to get back with you!

I've returned to my thread as I am getting ready to really do research on where to stay. The motor inns don't really look like what I'm looking for - something a little nicer perhaps. We usually stay at Doubletree or Embassy Suites type places. I've come across Americania Hotel, looks like it is part of the same group as Hotel del Sol. Anyone stayed there? Any other suggestions?

Ok never mind on the Americania - just saw on another thread that it's in a terrible location.

Iowamom, how much do you want to spend. Hotels are inexpensive this time of year in SF. You should be able to get a hilton for $99 downtown.

You want to say around Union Square of the Embarcadaro. I like classy older hotels, my favorite in the city are the Fairmount and the Palace. Both are a little pricey, but you can find deals. I just checked Travelocity and both are $129 for a double. This is about the same price as the hotel you were looking at.

I would suggest one other possibility. Don't get the car when you get into SJC. Take the free shuttle to the CalTrain. Take the CalTrain to SF and then a cab from the train station to your hotel. You will then have many more options of hotels since you won't need to pay for parking. And having a car is not that helpful in SF. Then, when you are done in the city, take the Train back to the Santa Clara station and the free bus to the SJC airport. You could get your car then for the rest of your trip.

Well we changed our plans slightly - decided SF would have to wait for another trip (my DH and I have been there many times but never with our daughter). Ended up planning to stay in Monterey for two nights (got a good rate at the Embassy Suites - $99 - in Seaside) and then in Santa Barbara for two nights. Decided we were better off spending two nights in both places than one in each (our original plan) on our way down the coast to the OC.