Nervous about San Francisco parking rates
 

We are going to be in San Francisco for two nights (weekend) and I am planning on using Priceline. We would like to stay in the city as we will be there such a limited time. I am concerned about hotel parking rates as I read a post on Fodors that indicated a rate of $38 - I thought that seemed really high. Can anyone provide any guidance here? Thanks. (I am planning on bidding in SOMA or USE districts)

Pam

Soma, does that mean South of Market?
I would stay away from that area!

Check out the rates at columbusmotorinn.com....good location and free parking...and no surprises as to where you're staying

There is absolutely no reason to avoid SOMA hotels (unless they are on 6th Street or higher numbered streets). Moscone Convention Center where 10s of thousands conventioneers meet, is South of Market and there are numerous hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues there. And it's a very short walk to Union Square, Financial District and Embarcadero areas. There is a large municipal garage at 5th and Mission Streets -- just bite the bullet and pay for the 48 hours parking. Have a great time in this lovely city. You might find less expensive parking near the airport, and you could take BART to downtown and back to your car, but that would be a pain.

Over the years, I have learned to be very grateful for a legal place to park my car and be sure it will still be there when I return. Parking has always been a major problem, but getting towed or not finding a spot for miles is far worst. You are so correct, it is expensive, so is valet in many places, but you will be happy to know your car is as safe as you could offer and available when you want it.

you should be nervous, it is very, very expensive to park in SanFran. Parking in limited too, unless you really know where to go.

We stayed at the Chelsea Motor Inn on Lombard St. a couple of years ago... $85/night included covered parking. It was a small, clean place - not fancy, but adequate. The owners were pleasant and were very helpful in helping us find our way around the city. We left our vehicle there and took public transportation around the city...

I recently stay at the Hyatt Regency which I got through priceline as a 4* hotel in the USE district. Parking there was indeed $38 a night, but considering that I got the room for $50 a night, I would still consider it quite a bargain to get this level of a hotel in San Francisco for $88 a night.

I'm a native Californian. I have been to San Francisco probably a thousand times. I am familiar with the cutesy term SOMA, but USE is new to me.

Can some kind person please enlighten me to the newest cute little acronym, USE?

Curious

That is a term used on Priceline for Union Sqaure East. There is also USW for Union Square West.

David, if you don't avoid south of market totally when using Priceline and Hotwire, how are you gonna be assured that you're not on 6th Street or higher?

Pam, explain why you're bringing a car at all. SF is one of the few places in the U.S. where you don't need one.

Pam- are you driving in or flying?
If you are flying, you do NOT need a car in SFO...

That said,if you are driving,YES,it is expensive to park your car--at least $25 per day...parking garages are hard to find.....

Forget Cow Hollow or Marina district and stay with the Union Sq area as that is where all the great restaurants and shopping are located. Plus you are close to Chinatown...

I totally agree with calitravel! When I drive to S.F. I stay in the Marina/Lombard St. area and get free parking. The area is very trendy, plus you can easily walk over to the Wharf and get the cable car over to Union Square.
Driving in S.F. isn't that easy (even with a brand new powerful car) so there's no need to put yourself through the hazzle of driving around the Union Square area.

Thanks for all your replies. We will have a car because we are flying into Reno, visiting Lake Tahoe for three days and then driving to SF for two nights (the nights we need hotel for) and then down to San Simeon area for three nights. Will be back in San Francisco area for six more nights but are staying at Residence Inn in San Ramon (free due to Marriott points). We got a really good rate on the car and we don't want to hassle with turning it in on Friday and then picking up a new one on Sunday. My son just moved to San Francisco but lives in the Mission District where there is little parking according to him. I did check Chelsea Motor Lodge - they currently have an internet rate of $79 but it expires before we get there. I am hoping it will be renewed for beginning of August - if so we will definitely stay there.

Pam

Pam:

I just posted this and thought I'd send it along. We also stayted in SOMA (on Steuart Street). We rented a car for a day to see Berkeley and go to Chez Panisse. Budget had an arrangement with the hotel, dropped it off first thing in the AM. Great convenience. We were also gunshy about parking rates. But we noted that since Embarcadero is in Financial District, it clears out in weekends and parking rates really drop. Some places had 10-12/day! Not too bad but the rental thing was great too. Would also reccomend the "49 mile scenic drive around SF". Outlined in the map the hotel gave us. Really hit the highlights.

What a glorious city. We also researched hotels and in the end, decided to wing it and tried Priceline. We chose Embarcadero area & boutique hotel (hoping for W) but got Harbour Court Hotel for $65/night. What a surprize. A great great hotel. Highly reccomended, great staff, clean, modern rooms and beer/wine served at 5:00 every evening in the lobby. It's right on the Embarcadero, so you can walk at the water, lots of restaurants nearby and it's very central. For us it was ideal, within easy access to street and cable cars but enough out of the hustle. We were on the F line so Fishermans Wharf was easy and 2 blocks to central Market line as well. We did it all so easily and since the Financial District clears out on weekends, it was calm & quiet. We also loved the 3 block walk to the Saturday farmers market at the ferry building. Wow! While there we ate at Zuni Cafe, the Slanted Door, Chez Panisse Cafe and explored chinatown twice for lunch.

Highly reccomend the Harbour Court. We saw the "W" hotel but I thought the SOMA area was sketchy (I know it's only a few blocks away), Union Square was also very touristy and I thought yucky to stay in. Thought about Monaco, Nikko and all but in the end we were delighted and would absolutely stay there again!!!! Steph.

Pam:

Do not worry just expect to pay AND tip for parking should you have hotel parking.

Once you park the car leave it. The in and out will run you MORE money and time WAITING for "them" to get your car.

You can pay more than $38.00 believe me!
We dash to SF for fundraisers at hotels and some times the parking is FULL so be very careful on the weekends.

One note about San Ramon...use BART to go into SF. The traffic on HWY's 24/680/80 to the Bay Bridge is HORRIFIC in the morning, evening, weekends and so on. AND...you have to deal with parking...

Happy Travels

Hi there,

I'll be staying at the Metropolis from Sept. 29 till Oct. 02.

My travel agent tells me to take the car at the airport upon arrival, and use it to go around.

However, I don't really feel comfortable driving from the Airport to the hotel after the (long) fly from Europe, neither driving around the city and looking for parkings.

I will need the car from Oct 2 onwards though, since we're leaving SF for a 1750 miles trip to various national parks. But if I only have to drive in the city to go out of it, I'll survive ;-)

What would youre advice be?

Barthox, It's usually cheaper to rent a car at a major airport rather than satellite city locations. Since you evidently have a very long rental plan, it may be worth it to go back to the airport and pick the car up later. You could go alone on the morning of checkout, then drive back to your hotel to pickup your luggage.

I live in SF and I have always (even before moving here) had a stronger preference for the local flavor of all the neighborhoods than the tourist sections. The Marina is an upscale, trendy neighborhood that does offer a handful of Motor Inns (free parking). It is a bit quieter than the vibrant Mission district and a short walk to the beautiful Bay. It is an extremely clean and well maintained area, too.

I agree with chuckles. The best way to get the flavor of SF is to stay in the neighborhoods where people live, suc as Marina or North Beach. That's where you'll find the local markets and restaurants. Also, as already stated, many inns there do have free parking which makes it even nicer.