Economical San Fran. parking/lodging strategies for 2 college girls w/CAR?
 

Two early 20's women, by themselves... so safety is a priority...

What would YOU advise them to do for San Francisco lodging for a couple of nights this week. (might turn into Saturday night and Sunday night)

Guessing they'd want to be as central as possible, and that the roll-the-dice-on-Priceline-and-get-hit-with-$40-nightly-parking-charge strategy is NOT agreeable to them.

They are on a DRIVING vacation, and a long way from home, so they must accommodate a vehicle.

Even an idea which might have them at a reliable motel that is a train ride from central San Fran, and a stop from which they could strategically see plenty during their small window of time there, would help.

Thanks to anyone who can provide deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetailed suggestions to pass along.

I've suggested that they drive in via San Jose, so they'll likely be on the peninsula vs. across the bay.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

This specific Travelodge (not others which are not always so nice. It is next door to the Presidio, near the Marina Green, Union Street (NOT Union Square), Golden Gate Bridge, etc. Free parking, typical travelodge rooms, but w/ nicely upgraded bathrooms, free continental breakfast.

But it does book up so good luck.

http://www.travelodgepresidio.com/

I can't get janis' link to open ( my computer) but if that doesn't work, there are a number of other motels in the same general area that offer free parking. Look for motels on Lombard Street. If THAT doesn't work out, search on Kayak for motels in Millbrae, CA, which is the town on the Peninsula closest to the airport. There are some motels that are close to the BART station, which is about a 30 minute ride (and about $4.50 per ride each way) into the city. If they choose something, post it here, and I can give you specifics as to location, quality etc..

They could stay in Emeryville, which is just across the bay bridge. There are nice shops there, a Trader Joes, etc. A couple of hotels there, including a Sheraton. We have stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Emeryville twice, and we liked it a lot. We had a free breakfast and free wi-fi in our room. Self-parking was $5/day.

Columbus Motor or Cow Hollow:

http://www.columbusmotorinn.com/

http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com/index.htm

DebitNM: Those are nice but quite a bit more expensive than the Presidio TL.

sf7307: Yes - there are lots of motels along Lombard, including another (nastier) TL. But this one is nicer and in a nicer location right at the end of the street outside the Presidio Lombard gate.

I'm not usually a huge TL fan, but this one is a find in SF.

Via the link, clearly the TL is booked-up solid this week.

It was a great idea though, and exactly the kind of assistance I am seeking.

How about they park their car at a BART station and take BART into the city?

The Daily Parking fee at Daly City and at Colma is $2.00. The Daily Parking Fee at Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco and Union City is $1.00.

Extended Weekend Parking
At all parking lots, there is Extended Weekend parking and the 24 hour rule is waived at the start of train service on Friday through 2 a.m. Monday.

If they do as Suzie suggests, then they could Priceline a hotel in the city.

Lombard Motor Inn has free parking & is a clean budget option in a good location. Downside, its on a busy street

http://www.lombardmotorinn.com/

I have stayed at the Chelsea Motor Motor in twice (sister property of Cow Hollow Motor Inn & Columbus Motor Inn). Free parking, OK rooms and close to (2 blocks) restaurants and shops. Local bus stop is near by.

http://www.chelseamotorinn.com/

Whoa, wow...

Suzie (/anybody)

Does that mean that, saaaaaaaaaaay, they could park at the Millbrae BART station (surely AFTER securing downtown SF digs via PRICELINE) at some point on Friday... and not be required to scoop up their car until 2am MONDAY?

(allowing them to book 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) before treking back to Millbrae on BART to fetch the car)

And is that all at $1 per day???

Please clarify.

Daily parking fees are required Monday through Friday from 4:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. BART customers using the disabled person parking spaces at stations with daily parking fees are required to pay the established parking fees at times when those fees are in effect.


PS I would NOT stay on lombard except for the hotels noted here.

I don't think they would necessarily have to retrieve the car at 2 am I believe the 24 hour clock starts again at 2 am.

And yes, that is the fee for parking.

You can review the parking rules here:

http://www.bart.gov/guide/parking/index.aspx

You can contact BART directly also:

650 992-2278

Let me clarify - if they park before 3:00 on Friday they would pay the parking fee for Friday but there is no parking fee on weekends.

<<<Let me clarify - if they park before 3:00 on Friday they would pay the parking fee for Friday but there is no parking fee on weekends.>>>

Which is only $1.00, so I would imagine that's doable! Just so they're aware how it works, you park your car in a numbered spot, enter the terminal, buy your BART ticket (in their case, they should just double the one-way fare, and add the amount due for parking, so Millbrae-Powell Street (for ex.)-Millbrae plus parking, $4.50X2=$9.00 plus $1.00 (for one of them) for parking = $9.00 for one of them, $10.00 for the other. Enter through the turnstile, and proceed to the pay-for-parking machine. Put in the BART ticket and enter the number of the parking space. Retrieve the BART ticket. Proceed downstairs (to the left) to the track.

Sorry, it's $4.25 one-way, so change those number to $8.50 for one and $9.50 for the other.

I think those kind of step by step instructions are so helpful. I know when I use a new/different transit system I feel so inept it's nice to have some idea of how the machine/process works.

The girls should not feel odd carting their suitcases either. You'll see lots of people in the vacinity of any BART station rolling suitcases along.

Suzie, I'm sometimes flummoxed by the BART fare machines and I live here!

We stayed at one of the Holiday Inns at Fishermans Wharf a few years ago. I don't remember if parking was free or not, but if they charged, I did not cry about it. VEry convienient to the wharf area and close to the trolley turnaround

It is a good plan, unless they need the car it would be a pain.