Boxer

We will be on the swing back home to Vancouver, BC from a road trip to Newport Beach (one night .. farthest point of trip) with stops in Beverly Hills (3 nights), Paso Robles (2 nights) and then S.F. for 2 nights and after that 3 or 4 nights to make it home.

We have a car (obviously) ... a low to the ground Corvette (brand new and thus husband will be quite concerned about it's relative safety). We totally "get" the "streets of San Francisco" and hope to just leave the car parked for two days and taxi and walk to what interests us.

Our last visit to San Francisco was horrible. I chose an awful place to stay (because of having a car). I believe the name was the Presidio Inn ... truly, truly awful ... so noisy and creepy to boot. I made us get up at 5:30 a.m. and just get the hell out of Dodge. I don't want that to be my memory of S.F.

So now, 3 years later I want to give S.F. another try for two nights on our way home. I'm loving the look and reviews of the Hotel Drisco but I see that there is no parking (valet or otherwise). As it is a residential area you can park on the street if you can find a spot but it appears you can't park on the street for the whole day (but you can over night?).

ANYWAY .. has anyone stayed at the Hotel Drisco and had a car to consider? I would like to hear first hand how it went viz a viz the parking.

My preference is the Hotel Drisco over the White Swan because of the Pacific Heights neighbourhood ... really enjoyed walking all around there 5 or so years ago.

We have been to S.F. perhaps 4 times and always with a car ('cause we're always on road trips from Vancouver ... husband loves to drive).

Look forward to any first hand advice on parking at or around Hotel Drisco.

Thanks in advance.

FainaAgain

About the parking in the street - the city is divided into sections, each section has a letter. If you don't have an appropriate letter, you can't leave your car in the street for long time.

Out of all hotels listed, I'm familiar with the Laurel Inn only, residential area, quiet and safe, many shops and restaurants around. Also it's on the corner of several MUNI bus lines: 1,2,3,4 and... is it 43 or 44?

tampatramp

Boxer, hotel Drisco sounds nice, but we always stay at the Cow Hollow since there are so many restaurants and good public transportation and plenty of places to walk to; and most of all safe, free parking. [We've stayed at the Ritz-Carlton but like this location better; and paying $50/night for the car just bothers me. ]

http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com/

(I'm not a travel agent and they don't give me a referral fee, but they should)

Boxer

Thanks for your reply. I was definitely considering The Laurel Inn as it has under the building parking for a very low rate (something like $15) ... although I read some reviews that said it was free.

I just REALLY liked the feel of the Hotel Drisco ... somewhere I read a review where the person said that the bellman would move your car around for you during the day if you left your keys. I guess I'll have to speak directly with the hotel.

Boxer

Tampatramp;

Thanks for your reply. We have stayed twice at The Chelsea Motor Inn which I believe is very near the Cow Hollow Inn. I just really want the "quiet" of the Pacific Heights area. I'm willing to walk quite a ways for my dinner (or take a taxi if I have to).

The picture on the Hotel Drisco webpage shows the outside of the building with the cars parked perpendicular to the building ... yikes. Hopefully our car would be able to get up a hill like that and then park ... all I know is, I WON'T be the driver.

FainaAgain

OK, I Googled Drisco. Broderick @ Pacific. Sorry, don't know this area.

I even checked Trip Advisor, only rave reviews and all give 5.0 - the highest score? Is this for real?

FainaAgain

I also did a Fodor's search, and Drisco is recommended by several posters, among them is RazzleDazzle. I know her personally and would absolutely trust her recomendations.

Boxer

FainaAgain;

I KNOW!! The reviews are all pretty much fabulous ... thus I'm kinda hooked on wanting to stay there (even have my husband asking "did you book yet??). Damn his dumb car!! I just don't want to have a huge issue with finding out too late that parking is impossible. Thus, I'll be calling tonight and hopefully can get someone actually at the hotel and not the central reservations.

frank_and_beans

Just put the car in a public garage. It will cost you about $20-25/day.

FainaAgain

Here is the local information (hey, I am not sitting in SF for nothing

Hotel Drisco
2901 Pacific Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94115
P: 415.346.2880 | F: 415.567.5537
Reservations: 800.634.7277
Email General Manager

and you can send an e-mail also

Boxer

FainaAgain:

Thank you! Have printed out your response and will be calling tonight.

I also did a Fodor's search and read someone's review that said there was not a problem with available street parking and that after 6:00 p.m. there was no parking time limit (before 6:00 p.m. there is a 2 hour limit). So somehow we just have to either be driving the car during the day (not really in the cards) or have a hotel employee move it around for us every couple of hours until 6:00 p.m. We'll see.