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FanimeCon Events and Discussionmentarianism => Hotel and Facilities => Topic started by: echoshadow on February 11, 2012, 06:37:22 AM

Title: Over night parking?
Post by: echoshadow on February 11, 2012, 06:37:22 AM
I'm planing on my first 4 day stay at Fanime. I will be rooming with some other people at one of the hotels.
But as I learned for previous years, parking was always a hand full.

Which leaves me with the possible dilemma that the hotel parking space would be taken up by my other room mates.

So to drag out my question, where is the nearest safest place for one to leave their car over night for the 3 nights of Fanime?
I know of the parking structures around the convention center but do those offer over night parking?
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: M on February 11, 2012, 06:53:14 AM
Quote from: echoshadow on February 11, 2012, 06:37:22 AM
I'm planing on my first 4 day stay at Fanime. I will be rooming with some other people at one of the hotels.
But as I learned for previous years, parking was always a hand full.

Which leaves me with the possible dilemma that the hotel parking space would be taken up by my other room mates.

So to drag out my question, where is the nearest safest place for one to leave their car over night for the 3 nights of Fanime?
I know of the parking structures around the convention center but do those offer over night parking?
San Jose has a website for their downtown parking. It blew my mind when I found out that they had this. I don't know if they actually offer overnight parking for multiple days in a row.

http://www.sjdowntownparking.com
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: KyraEnsui on February 11, 2012, 02:48:14 PM
It's true that hotel parking are usually full, but they do reserve for the guests though. The sign may say full, but if you are their guest, then there will be parking. That's what happened with me with the Hilton. They had full parking and I was their guest so they told me to park in the valet part until there's free space and I won't get charged. If you asked, they will help you.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: Junon on February 11, 2012, 03:05:14 PM
Quote from: KyraEnsui on February 11, 2012, 02:48:14 PM
It's true that hotel parking are usually full, but they do reserve for the guests though. The sign may say full, but if you are their guest, then there will be parking. That's what happened with me with the Hilton. They had full parking and I was their guest so they told me to park in the valet part until there's free space and I won't get charged. If you asked, they will help you.

Lucky you. I was also a Hilton guest and was told to try again later. Didn't matter if I was a guest or not.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: M on February 11, 2012, 10:02:05 PM
Quote from: Junon on February 11, 2012, 03:05:14 PM
Quote from: KyraEnsui on February 11, 2012, 02:48:14 PM
It's true that hotel parking are usually full, but they do reserve for the guests though. The sign may say full, but if you are their guest, then there will be parking. That's what happened with me with the Hilton. They had full parking and I was their guest so they told me to park in the valet part until there's free space and I won't get charged. If you asked, they will help you.

Lucky you. I was also a Hilton guest and was told to try again later. Didn't matter if I was a guest or not.
This seems to depend on if there's parking *at all* as some times they were completely packed in their self-parking and valet area.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: SugarB on February 11, 2012, 10:36:03 PM
Normally if you can get there in the early evening (between 4 and 7 pm) on Thursday then you should get a parking space, just DONT USE your in and out privileges. Once you park your car, don't move it.

If you have an over-sized vehicle (last year I had to drive my 7' truck to the con and none of the hotels have a 7' garage), you can try and work it out with one of the out-door lots where you can run over in the morning and pay for another day in their lot instead of having to leave and find new parking. It's sort of a hassle and probably costs more (we paid $15 a day) in the long run, but at least we were able to park and didn't have to worry about the car post-morning.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: echoshadow on February 12, 2012, 12:49:34 AM
Awesome, thanks for that link. That should make things a bit more easier.
Lucky the last few years I always managed to park inside the convention center/marrirot parking garage. Any way now I'll have a good idea where to park, if needs be.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: c2chaos on April 28, 2012, 09:35:12 PM
After unloading stuff off at your hotel, you can park at the lot above Psycho Donuts for the duration of con and leave on Memorial Day, free. They leave that arm up so you can just drive right out without paying or inserting your ticket. That's how I've been doing it for my FanimeCons thus far.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: TheMusician on May 14, 2012, 03:53:59 AM
I generally park next to South Hall behind the main convention center. It's literally on the same block and is close to most of the centralized hotels. It's I think about $7 per day, you just need to renew your pass each morning so you don't get fined. It's pretty cheap, and it's a convenient location to boot.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: echoshadow on May 14, 2012, 05:40:56 AM
Cool, well thanks a bunch, I was able to do some recon a few weeks ago. I now have some good cheep spots to park at.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: Somethingducky on May 21, 2012, 11:21:15 PM
Does anyone recomend any specific lots for overnight parking? We never use the hotel parking, way too pricy, the Fairmont wants to charge $26 a day! Last year we parked at the convention center and just left the car there all week-end, if you say you lost your ticket the fee is only like $20 (sneaky I know). I'm very interesting in seeing if there are alternative lots, the one above Psycho Donuts might be and option this year if they always leave the arm up on memorial day...
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: llaaannniiii on May 22, 2012, 02:13:09 AM
i was trying to find that thread where someone was advertising like a special memorial weekend parking pass for the whole weekend with in and out privileges on 1st and 2nd street. does anyone know more about it?  :-\
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: royjovero on May 23, 2012, 07:02:19 PM
I think that was from a couple years ago.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: LinLinLucy on May 23, 2012, 07:17:00 PM
No it was from a few weeks ago, it was my moms post... they got deleted.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: royjovero on May 23, 2012, 07:34:22 PM
Oh, that one with the phone numbers and stuff? I remember seeing that one now.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: llaaannniiii on May 24, 2012, 01:22:39 AM
Quote from: LinLinLucy on May 23, 2012, 07:17:00 PM
No it was from a few weeks ago, it was my moms post... they got deleted.

any chance i can get the info plsss? :)
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: hikanteki on May 24, 2012, 08:52:42 AM
If you don't mind walking about 20-30 min (or taking light rail to your car) parking is unmetered north of Julian or St. John streets.  This area is pretty safe but if walking back after dark normal precautions apply.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: royjovero on May 29, 2012, 10:10:05 PM
Just a heads up for those con-goers who plan on leaving Monday...

The parking garage above Psycho Donuts leaves their gates open until 11PM on Monday because of Memorial Day. I parked my car there Thursday afternoon and left Monday morning without having to pay anything. I stayed at the Fairmont and only had to walk 2 blocks to get to the hotel. If you're staying at the Marriott, it's about the same amount of walking. Just pull up to the hotel, have a friend watch your stuff, park and return to check in.

I know that someone posted this same tip before, but I thought I'd give it a shot myself before proving or disproving their post.

So in a nutshell, free parking in the garage above Psycho Donuts!
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: mdarkpoet on May 30, 2012, 11:13:59 AM
Quote from: c2chaos on April 28, 2012, 09:35:12 PM
After unloading stuff off at your hotel, you can park at the lot above Psycho Donuts for the duration of con and leave on Memorial Day, free. They leave that arm up so you can just drive right out without paying or inserting your ticket. That's how I've been doing it for my FanimeCons thus far.
That wasn't the case this con, you had to pay to exit and few places validated
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: royjovero on May 30, 2012, 01:21:16 PM
Quote from: mdarkpoet on May 30, 2012, 11:13:59 AM
Quote from: c2chaos on April 28, 2012, 09:35:12 PM
After unloading stuff off at your hotel, you can park at the lot above Psycho Donuts for the duration of con and leave on Memorial Day, free. They leave that arm up so you can just drive right out without paying or inserting your ticket. That's how I've been doing it for my FanimeCons thus far.
That wasn't the case this con, you had to pay to exit and few places validated
Actually, this was the case this year. I can personally vouch for it, and I have a picture of the gates being up on Monday on my Facebook. I've attempted to post the pic at the end of this post.

If you wanted to leave the garage prior to Monday, that's when you have to pay. If you park whenever you get there and don't leave the garage until Monday, you'll be able to leave free.

(https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/564334_4155766972204_790010006_n.jpg)
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: MonadoLink on May 15, 2017, 09:38:10 PM
Does anyone know if this still works? I need overnight parking for the whole 5 days (Staffing, don't want to pay $100 at Fairmont, and roomates have a car too). I don't mind if it ends up free, but cheap is good too. Previously I have just parked at Holiday Inn when they gave us free parking. I also don't want to have to run to my car and renew every morning
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: echoshadow on May 23, 2017, 11:06:11 AM
As far as I know the parking garage next to Vons still does the free parking on Memorial Day. So you can leave your car Thursday and drive off Scott free Monday.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: MonadoLink on May 23, 2017, 12:39:35 PM
Where and what is Vons?
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: HunterZero on May 23, 2017, 01:35:46 PM
Quote from: MonadoLink on May 23, 2017, 12:39:35 PM
Where and what is Vons?

He means Safeway. They are part of the same chain, just different names. I think it's a NorCal/SoCal thing.

There is a Safeway in walking distance from the convention center, between South 2nd and 3rd streets, along E San Fernando.

I assume the parking garage he is referring to is the one also between South 2nd and 3rd streets, along W San Carlos. It sits above the Psycho Donuts and the theater. I used to use this parking garage for the weekend, but be aware that it tends to fill up very quickly on Friday and tends to remain full through the weekend. Don't plan on leaving and returning.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: InsaneDavid on May 23, 2017, 02:54:48 PM
Quote from: echoshadow on May 23, 2017, 11:06:11 AM
As far as I know the parking garage next to Vons

Ahahaha, SoCal, SoCal, SoCal! *points* Just kidding - I do that whenever my wife says the same.
Title: Re: Over night parking?
Post by: echoshadow on May 23, 2017, 07:52:20 PM
Lol oh you guys.
;D
Yes I mean Safeway. And actually there are both Vons and Safeways in so cal.
Yes thanks for clearing up the location. The donut place is where it's at.
You may get lucky sometimes not. I had a buddy of mine had to pay for 2 nights of hotel parking then found a spot at the parking garage for the rest of the con.

I'll see you people at Fanime, if my boss decides not to work overtime. Well'll see, fingers crossed