Is parking prices worth renting a car in San Francisco?

My wife and I are traveling to San Francisco for a conference and a short vacation. On Friday - Sunday we are staying at the Fisherman%26#39;s Warf Marriott on our dime and we will rent a car during this time. The parking for this hotel is $38 per day. Is there a cheaper alternative close by?

Is it worth renting a car for 3 days? The parking fees cost more than the rental car fees.

Is parking prices worth renting a car in San Francisco?

Where are you planning on going that you need a car? IF you are doing a day trip outside of the city, I%26#39;d get a car in the mornign and return it at night. On days you are staying within the city you don%26#39;t really need one.

Is parking prices worth renting a car in San Francisco?

On Sunday, I plan on taking her to Napa Valley to tour a winery. I suppose I could just rent a car for Sunday only. Thanks.

Why not rent the car at an agency near Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf on Sunday as you stated and at the end of the day, return it to the airport. Make sure you state your intention when you reserve the car.

On Sunday, we are checking out of the Marriott and into the Hopkins Intercontinental on Nob Hill.

I suppose I can rent a car after we chek out of the Marriott on Sunday, drive to Napa Valley, check into the Intercontinental, then return the rental car.

Thanks.

Is there some specific reason why you are changing hotels during your stay?

San Francisco is very compact, and you will gain little in time or convenience. A cable car, which is one of the slowest forms of public transit in the industrialized world, only takes about 15 minutes from Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf to Nob Hill.

Unless you are doing this for the experience of staying at one of the City%26#39;s prestigious luxury older hotels, moving will take up time that you could be spending doing something more enjoyable.

1) If you plan to see San Francisco only - it is not worth renting a car as you can get to your places on public transporation. Many people in San Francisco who live there use public transporation and opt not to even buy a car (but to rent one when they want one.)

2) If howver, you plan to take days trip each day .....drive to Sonoma/Napa, drivre to Pt. reyes, drive to Santa Cruz/Monterey,

have dinner in Half Moon Bay; go to Great America in Santa Clara, etc.;

its worth renting a car.

3) Best option is to rent a car for only the days that you need one.

I am changing hotels because I have to pay for our stay Friday and Saturday night, which is why I chose the Marriott Fisherman%26#39;s warf.

Monday - Thursday, we are attending a conference and the company is picking up the tab as long as we stay at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins.

Just completed a four day weekend in SF after New Years.

If you like the Marriott (style, class hotel, accomm., etc.) then it is a good hotel for you but I would not rent a car and keep it there due to parking and tips fees. There is a Hertz and another rental car company (Avis?) side-by-side within about two blocks of the Marriott.

We rented from Hertz (Taurus for about $27/day) at the airport, stayed near the Wharf, then turned the car in down there after we concluded our two days worth of ';day trips';. You can easily go from SF via I80 over to Route 29 and casually drive from Napa to Calistoga and back. But, leave early a.m. as there is much to enjoy up there. An alternative return route would be the back road from Calistoga to US-101 and then south to the city via the GG Bridge ($5). The city is a pretty sight from there even after dark. You might even choose to dine along the water in Tiburon or Sausalito enroute. If not, late dining in the Wharf area is the norm.

Our hotel arranged a local airport shuttle service to get us back to SFO. Cost $24 for two. Stopped at 3 other hotels enroute and still only took about 35 minutes. Much more relaxing than the hassle of returning the rental car.

In case you are interested, we stay at the Columbus Inn. It is about 2 blocks south of the Marriott. It is not in the same class but is not bad either. We have stayed many times. We paid $72/night for weeknights and $86 for weekend nights. I would be surprised if you were not paying lots more. Plus....they have free!!! parking. It is an older motel that has been renovated. We had a King room that was larger than average. All was clean and wll kept. We checked in a bit early and asked for a room with a view - none clean yet but they held one for us. I think AAA rates it 3-star. Marriott is likely 4-star. Like the Marriott, the Wharf %26amp; Ghiardelli Square are within walking distance. The #30 city bus runs up and down Columbus all day and night and will take you to China Town or onto Union Square.

If you end up in Union Square take the Market-Hyde cable car back to Ghiardelli Sq. It will take you right down Hyde with a clear view of Alcatraz and also Lombard Street.

You will not starve in this city of restaurants. We offer a few we have enjoyed:

- Caesar%26#39;s - a couple blocks east of the Marriott on Bay Street(I think). Great Italian food, superb service, ...real Italian. Get hungry and buy the 7 course meal....they will not rush you.

- The Stinking Rose - I think it is about the 400 block on Columbus - an absolute must for anybody who likes GARLIC. Have the roasted garlic appetizer. It is a bit of a different place - you will remember it for awhile.

- Have lunch anywhere in China Town - just for the experience. The more Chinese people you see inside - the better.

- Lunch at the Wharf - the fishy/restaurant area not one of the ';name piers';. Eat stone crabs or something else from the sea right off the street (so to speak). A SF cultural experience. Great for lunch.

- For breakfast one morning - walk down Columbus to about the 100 block and have breakfast at the restaurant which advertises itself as ';world famous';. Cannot remember the name of the restaurant but think it begins with a P. I do not know how the word gets around but we always bump into internationals there. May even see a ';personality';. Certainly will see a few ';characters'; - not the seedy type. Great food. Coffee is great - self serve - lots of variety.

A great city for your weekend. Enjoy.

I am using a Government rate so just about any hotel we stay in will cost $140 per night. Should I choose a hotel other than the Marriott fisherman warf for Friday - Sunday?

On Sunday I HAVE to check into the The InterContinental Mark Hopkins because of the conference.

The Argonaut, Hyatt, Sheraton, Hilton, and this Marriott are the better hotels along the Wharf area. We do not prefer to hang out around Pier 39 as many travellers do. We may visit it briefly each time but we prefer to stay closer to Columbus Avenue and the attractions and restaurants nearby. It also seems less crowded and touristy.

The Marriott you have chosen should serve you well. It is not as ';classy/upscale'; as the one ';downtown'; SF but nonetheless, should be very nice. Go ahead and keep your reservation there. The motel is not the key thing when in SF. Sleep there then get out and enjoy the city, etc. Try to enjoy the local flavor vs the tourist flavor.

Another suggestion - if, during the conference, you folks get time off and somebody has a car, go out to The Cliff House for a meal. Historical place with great food. Get a reservation if possible. Sits right on the Pacific at the end of Geary Ave/Street. Many restaurant seats offer good views.

Have fun.