Priceline Hotel: Help Planning 4-night stay, with car...

[prea]

It's going to be the end of our (me and my wife) 2-week trip thru California, by car.

As we're going to be with a car, it would be interesting to have parking facilities wherever we stay (free, or low cost, if possible). I've heard this could be a problem in San Francisco.

But we'd like to be in a nice neighbourhood, with easy access to the areas of interest of the city, even if by public transportation, not necessarily walking distance.

Any thoughts/suggestions are greatly apreciated, as I really have no clue from where to begin looking at...

Thanks and regards

[thereuare]

The Downtown areas (USE, USW, Moscone, and Embarcadero) are the most popular, followed by Fisherman's Wharf... but parking is expensive in these areas.

Assuming you don't need your car during the stay, you could check-in to the hotel, drop off your bags, then move the car to an area with cheaper parking (by the airport?) and take mass transit back to the hotel... then just repeat the process in reverse on check-out date.

Others on the board are more local to the area than i am so hopefully they'll add their own throughts regarding parking and zones, then once you decide which area(s) you're willing to accept, let us know your budget and we'll advise accordingly.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[prea]

Thanks.

I'll surely do.

As usual, using PRICELINE and howire links to begin my research and purchase process.

Hope to hear some thoughts of a more local member...

rgds, Luis

[Gallus50]

I'm not local, but I used to live there and visit often for work.

The savings you receive in the USE, USW, SOMA, EMB and FW areas may be negated by having to pay for parking. There's the off chance you could find street parking, but it's a crap shoot. Also there is sometimes street cleaning.

You could try parking at a SFO lot and taking BART in. You could stay in a popular area and pay. Or you might be able to get free hotel parking in the Marina/Lombard zone. Don't think you can guarantee the free parking through PL, though. You might be able to try Hotwire and ID the hotel, then check on its parking situation. You could also try booking conventionally - Orbitz and Expedia were running sales in SF recently.

Cathedral Hill Hotel was running a special with free parking through Travelzoo or Hotwire Travel ticker - it's on Van Ness somewhat near Lombard.

Without the car issue, I'd recommend USE, USW/Nob Hill or Embarcadero, with FW being a more touristy option. With the car, you have some decisions to make. Hope this helps and good luck.

[Gallus50]

Just checked HOTWIRE. Rates are fantastic for your dates, so once you decide about the car, you'll do well.

Two HOTWIRE hotels in the Marina/Cow Hollow district appear to be the Days Inn and possibly the Heritage Marina. If these are the proper IDs, both hotels have free parking. The area is OK - not fantastic - but you can take a bus or walk to the California cable car to get more central.

That's all I've got. Hope it helps.

[Colfax]

Will you be driving the car at all during those four days? Four nights parking at a Downtown 4* will run you over $200 with tax. And if you drive around town (as oppposed to just parking the car and leaving it) you'll pay for parking again at your various destinations. You could take cabs almost everywhere for less than that.

Are you looking for a 4* hotel (they have the most expensive parking) or a lower grade hotel with less expensive parking?

[Gallus50]

OK, I have one more suggestion. The Chancellor on Union Square has $99 a night with parking included. It's either on Travelzoo or HOTWIRE Travel Ticker. If it's available, it's a great location and a very good deal.

Now I'm done, I think.

[Colfax]

$99 is a great price for the Chancellor's central location with parking included.

Now I'm done, I think.

You're NEVER done, Gallus50.

:)

[thereuare]

What are your new dates for this stay? (since i see you won something on Priceline in Monterey for part of the dates above)

[prea]

What are your new dates for this stay? (since i see you won something on Priceline in Monterey for part of the dates above)

Hi all... first of all, thanks for all the great ideas! I'll start working on them right now.

You're right thereuare, I've changed my schedule... Now I'll be in San Francisco for 3 nights, May/23-26, and now I don't have the option of returning the car, because I'

[prea]

Just got the $99 deal on Chancellor Hotel. It seems to be a good renovated property in a great location.

Thanks a lot for the hint, Gallus50!

Used the HOTWIRE link to acess travel-ticker.

Now, I am done....

[Gallus50]

Cool. It's a fantastic location, right on Union Square. Gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor. People also love Sears Fine Foods for breakfast below the hotel.

Congrats and have a great time in SF!

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your success!

Always nice when all the planning stages are done!

Thank you for sharing your results with the board and using our HOTWIRE link to begin your purchase.

Have a great trip.

[Colfax]

The Chancellor's $99 special on HOTWIRE Travel Ticker also includes a $25/day food and beverage credit, in addition to free parking.

The deal is available 7 days a week through July 10.