BlogHer08 conference hotel reservation and parking tip

Here's some tips from a local (moi) about hotels & parking for BlogHer08 in SF.

For those of you attending the Blogher 08 conference in July,  and have not booked your hotel room yet, the Westin St. Francis BlogHer block is practically sold out. I hear they are are trying to get more rooms. You can book at the Westin through their online site, but the BlogHer rate includes Internet access which if you book outside the block costs an additional $15/ 24-hour use. BlogHer also has offered a hostel option which is pretty cheap at $29/night for a "dorm" room or $90/night for your own.

Nice hotel option besides Westin St. Francis

If you're not a hostel person, or would like a cheaper hotel rate at a nice hotel near the Westin (because you're picky like me ;-), the Parc 55 hotel is a short walk, .4 miles, from the Westin where the conference is being held, and the cheapest rooms as of today are $139/night for one room with a King bed, or $159 for one room with two double beds. The Westin is $199/night.

I'm staying at the Parc55 Friday night (7/18). I've stayed at the Parc 55 several times, and it is a nice hotel, not classic SF style like the Westin, but nice like a Hyatt or Marriott. I checked at other hotels within walking distance of the Westin that are "Steph" nice, and you are going to pay in the same range or more as the Westin. The Parc 55 is the best option, in my opinion.

Parking will cost you about a pair of Old Navy jeans

Heads up too, parking in downtown SF is pricey. You can end up paying more than the hostel/night. Overnight parking in the hotels near the Westin and including the Westin will put a dent in your pocket anywhere between $30-$45/night plus tipping the valet. No joke. That's like buying a pair of jeans at Old Navy with a t-shirt on sale.

For day only parking during the event, in parking garages not in hotels but stand alone parking garages can be in the $25-$30 range for 7 or more hours. Here are the four big parking garages near the Westin. The Union Square Garage is directly across the street from the Westin and is the closest of all the garages but it's pricey at $31 over 7 hours. There are also some smaller garages that will have an early in special for all day parking if you get there before 9am, but usually, you have to look around for those. I'll see what I can find before hand and give you all a heads up.

My parking recommendation

If you're cost conscious and don't mind a little stroll, I recommend parking in the 5th & Mission garage because 7-12 hours is $25, the cheapest of all 4 garages and is the easiest to get in and out of (this is a big deal for me, ease of in-n-out.) The garage though is about 1/2 a mile away but does go past the Westfield Shopping mall which is a FABULOUS shopping time. I love my Bloomingdales!

The Ellis O'Farrell garage is closer to the Westin and is only a few bucks more than the 5th & Mission, but if you get there when it's busy, they sometimes make you valet which means giving them your car keys, and I don't know about you, but I like having my keys. Also, if you have an SUV or large vehicle, the garage is very tight. I get clausti in that garage, but I'm an odd bird that way. Whenever I visit downtown SF, I almost always park in the 5th & Mission garage because it is just the best overall experience, and the walk is nice almost anywhere you need to go. Walking is good for you ;-)

So, as you can see parking in downtown SF is kinda ridiculous not to mention our gas is currently about $4.25/ gallon for 87 (basic unleaded) gas. If you can seek other alternatives to get to the BlogHer 08 conference or car pool, I would seriously look into it.

The conference is going to be fun. I'm sooo looking forward to it. And remember, I am speaking on Day #2 at the panel "Coming Out via Blog" about my bulimia relapse confession this past New Year's, and will be offering my tips and insights on making your own confessions about a deeply personal issue on your blog.