I searched like crazy but cannot find a current recommendation for a hotel with parking at a reasonable rate. We would like to stay near Union square if at all possible, but if we need to move to another area, as long as we can get to the attractions readily we are good. Ideas?

http://www.cowhollowmotorinn.com/accomodations.html

Every time I go to San Francisco I stay at The Royal Pacific Motor Inn on Broadway.
The views from the balcony suites are good and the location is great for me.
Located in Chinatown with Italian Northbeach across the street, Vesuvio and Citylights around the corner.
Parking is included.

You should save time and money by using the BART system. I remember driving around for nearly an hour looking for a parking spot on the street in Chinatown.
Stay somewhere near a BART station even if it is in Oakland or out near SFO.

Normally NO hotels near Union Square will have reasonable parking. You either want one of the motels along Lombard Street or scattered in a few other areas, or find a hotel offering a 'sleep/park' special promotion (does happen sometimes but mostly around the Christmas holidays)

Free parking also at Columbus Motor Inn, which is half way between Cow Hollow and Union Square on a bus line that also goes through North Beach, Chinatown, and passes Fisherman's Wharf. I've stayed at Cow Hollow many times (usually Cow Hollow Suites) and like that area, but this place is a lot closer to Union Square. I'd leave the car in the garage there!

http://www.columbusmotorinn.com

"Stay somewhere near a BART station even if it is in Oakland or out near SFO."

BAD suggestion! Time consuming to stay in either Oakland or SFO and BART fares are expensive.

By the way, sorry your other thread went off topic!

Ditto Deb's "BAD suggestion" comment.

Stu Dudley

Ditto Ditto (tom just wants people on trains, even BART trains )

I usually recommend Colombus Motor Inn to people who want a hotel with parking who are coming to the City for the first time. It is near the popular tourist destinations, i.e. cable cars, Wharf, North Beach, without being in the Wharf. In fact it is easier to get to those destinations than it is from Union Square, which is not my favorite location to begin with.

I know there are lots of big hotels around Union Square, which makes it seem like it is the best tourist location, but in my opinion it is not. It's a great location for shoppers and convention goers, but it is not that central to the typical tourist destinations (other than cable cars).

If you want Union Square, the Hotel Rex, a Joie de Vivre property, is very close to a public parking garage that was reasonable. That was years ago, so things could have changed. Contact the hotel. (Garage may be on Sutton.)

It seems to run around $34-36 in Union Sq area public parking. That is NOT valet parking, just public garages.

http://www.unionsquareshop.com/parkingComparison.html

The garage to which Tabernash refers is the Sutter-Stockton garage.

Thanks, sf. That's it. Is it still a decent price? And allows overnight parking?

As of a few day's before Christmas, the Union Square area was/is really "dug up" with "long term" construction. Several streets are closed to traffic.

When we dine in the Union Sq area, prior to about mid 2013 we would drive downtown and park in the Union Square garage. Since mid 2013, we've been taking BART into The City to dine in that area. A "first-timer" who is not familiar with the one-way streets near Union Sq, and doesn't know the streets to take to cross Market St, might have some problems.

We were there last night (dinner at Sams) and took BART in.

Stu Dudley

Tabernash, see my link; it's listed.

We stayed at the Lombard Motor Inn in November. Free parking and a good room. Reasonably priced for San Francisco, too. Close to bus stops, easy walk down to the marina and along to Fisherman's Wharf. The best coffee we had in 5 weeks was at the little cafe next door.
We also ate at the Korean fusion restaurant next door to that. I think it was called Aato.

There is very reasonable parking near Union square. I always park my car at the garage at garage at the corner of Mason and Post. The cost from what I recall is 28$ a day and you have in and out privileges....no hotel stay is required and the owners are really great. You can usually call them to have your car ready for you so its waiting when you walk over.