This thread is decaying. I'm outa here!

Well, now it's my turn. I'll be arriving in SF Nov. 3rd (a Monday) for three nights. I haven't started seriously bidding on Priceline yet but I noticed a $95 three-star hotel in the FW area on Hotwire.

I don't know SF very well and I'm not sure where to stay. I'll be driving there after a business trip in Sacramento. I plan on a tour of Alcatraz, and driving to Muir Woods; visiting friends who live near Golden Gate Park -- and a friend who's in San Rafael.

Any suggestions about which zones to bid on? The pros and cons of each?

And one more thing ... I read in a trip report that someone spent $57/night for parking!!! That's scary.

Songdoc, I may bid on Priceline a little closer to my October 20th arrival, but meanwhile I've booked Columbus Motor Inn direct -- at I think $120 a night AAA rate and it has FREE indoor parking.

With some of the Priceline hotels being hotels I specifically DON'T want and many of them charging huge rates for parking, I'm not sure that I won't just stick with what I have.

Hi, songdoc: If you're planning on going to Alcatraz, I'd suggest either Neopatrick's motel or else bidding for something at Fisherman's Wharf.

For the moment, I would suggest not going for the Hotwire 3* as that's only a 2 1/5 * on Priceline, probably the Holiday Inn Express.

FW on Priceline does not go above 3* and you can get a really nice 3* at FW for the same price or less than Hotwire's. A bid of less than $100 should get you a 3* at FW on Priceline.

If you go above $100, you can get a 4*, but then there will be the parking fees.

There is no need to go below a 3* in SF.

Good luck!

songdoc, according to the convention calendar posted above there's not a lot going on Nov 5 thru Nov 7, so you may not be able to bid less on Priceline than you would if there were a large convention.

10.31.08 - 11.04.08 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
2008 Annual Meeting
Friday, 10/31/2008 through Tuesday, 11/4/2008
Attendance: 5400
Peak Rooms: 3000

11.01.08 - 11.06.08 National College of District Attorneys
Prosecuting Homicide Cases
Saturday, 11/1/2008 through Thursday, 11/6/2008
Attendance: 130
Peak Rooms: 100

11.05.08 - 11.08.08 Craig Proctor Seminars, Inc.
Craig Proctor Seminar
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Saturday, 11/8/2008
Attendance: 1800
Peak Rooms: 650

11.05.08 - 11.07.08 CMP Media LLC
Web2.0 Conference 2008
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Friday, 11/7/2008
Attendance: 1200
Peak Rooms: 450

11.05.08 - 11.07.08 American Institute of Architects
AAJ/Knowledge Community Conference
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Friday, 11/7/2008
Attendance: 325
Peak Rooms: 175

You have time to study the PL bidding process at biddingfortravel.com. There's also a permanent post there about parking in SF. Is there any way you could visit Muir Woods and San Rafael before you get to SF and return your car before you come to SF?

Songdoc, according to the convention calendar posted above there's not a lot going on Nov 5 thru Nov 7, so you may be able to bid less on Priceline than you would if there were a large convention in town.

10.31.08 - 11.04.08 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD)
2008 Annual Meeting
Friday, 10/31/2008 through Tuesday, 11/4/2008
Attendance: 5400
Peak Rooms: 3000

11.01.08 - 11.06.08 National College of District Attorneys
Prosecuting Homicide Cases
Saturday, 11/1/2008 through Thursday, 11/6/2008
Attendance: 130
Peak Rooms: 100

11.05.08 - 11.08.08 Craig Proctor Seminars, Inc.
Craig Proctor Seminar
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Saturday, 11/8/2008
Attendance: 1800
Peak Rooms: 650

11.05.08 - 11.07.08 CMP Media LLC
Web2.0 Conference 2008
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Friday, 11/7/2008
Attendance: 1200
Peak Rooms: 450

11.05.08 - 11.07.08 American Institute of Architects
AAJ/Knowledge Community Conference
Wednesday, 11/5/2008 through Friday, 11/7/2008
Attendance: 325
Peak Rooms: 175

You have time to study the PL bidding process at biddingfortravel.com. There's also a permanent post there about parking in SF. Is there any way you could visit Muir Woods and San Rafael before you get to SF and return your rental car before you come into the city?

DH and I will be visiting your great city of Nashville (I read your trip reports) in late October. Sister and bro in-law live there.

Aaak! Sorry for the double post. Thought I'd hit the preview option the first time around, so I edited with abandon and thought I was posting only the revised version.

Thanks for your responses. I'll research that motel. Unfortunately, I'll need the car in SF to get to San Rafael throughout the visit.

I'll probably force myself to be patient and wait a bit to see if I can beat the current prices. But I'll be going to Ireland and won't return until twelve days before this trip -- and it would be nice to have everything settled.

And Betsy -- I hope you have a great time in Music City.

You could book the Columbus Motor Inn as a back up and bid on PL when you return from Ireland.

That's what I'd do. Oops. I should say, that's what I've done!!!!

The Columbus Motor Inn looks good -- but at $145/nt (for my dates) I'd rather go with the 3 star Hotwire in the Fisherman's Wharf area for $95/nt. Even if the parking is $45/nt -- I'd still be doing better.

Still ... it's not a bad idea to book it as a back-up while I decide. I'm not very fussy about hotels -- and will only be there to sleep.

I'm remembering my first trip to SF. I was eighteen and had arranged to stay with a friend. I showed up (by Greyhound) late at night, called the friend and was greeted by hysterical sobs. "I'm getting a divorce. You can't stay here!"

I had no credit cards and maybe $40 or $50. Wound up at a hostel nicknamed the "Hippie Hilton" where $6 a night included breakfast. The walls were teeming with cockroaches and deranged, psychotic laughter from next door pierced the night, making sleep impossible.

My cash lasted three or four nights -- and I had a great time!

But this time, I think I'd prefer something a little better ;-)

LOL, Songdoc. Maybe you could book the Hippie Hilton (wherever that is) as a backup for your later PL bid.

Don't knock the Columbus Motor Inn. We book there this August and really enjoyed it. When we first drove up I was leary, but once inside it was beautiful and spacious and parking was free.

And the rooms (especially the larger queen with sofa room) are about double the size of many more expensive places.

I looked at the list of FW Priceline 3stars and there are a couple of options I wouldn't want, even if they saved me money!

LOL, Songdoc! That's really funny!

If you really don't mind where you sleep, I'd recommend the Hostelling International hostel at Fort Mason. Believe they advertise it as "Fisherman's Wharf" but it's really a bit west of that in Fort Mason.

Terrific location, and some of these HI hostels have private rooms. Also I believe you can park for free in Fort Mason.

I walk by there sometimes on occasional hikes and always wondered what it would be like to stay there. Very peaceful and beautiful location. Just a skip and hop from the shores of the Bay. No tourists, haha!

TTT
great info, thanks to all

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