Cheapskate Parking Solution

[marko]

Why not park illegally nearby and get a $5-10 parking ticket? Next day, move around the block and repeat.

If it's a rental car, turn it in and re-rent.

[Dimsumkid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko Why not park illegally nearby and get a $5-10 parking ticket? Next day, move around the block and repeat. If it's a rental car, turn it in and re-rent.

Except the parking tickets are $39+ there. He's better off paying $22/day to park the car.

If it's a rental car, the rental company will turn around and charge it back to you too.

[Brat]

Actually you can park it on a residential street for a couple days without getting a ticket unless it is posted otherwise. My concern would be car prowls. If the Milwaukie Walmart has all those campers TromboneAl should be able to park among them with little chance of theft.

Another thought Al: last week a cyclist was killed when she pulled along side a semi turning right. The driver didn't (couldn't?) see her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MopBj9Qfd4

[homestead]

There is free parking at the Max Train stations and Park & Ride locations. (Beaverton)
Also at the zoo which is close to downtown and accessible by Max.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by marko Why not park illegally nearby and get a $5-10 parking ticket? Next day, move around the block and repeat. If it's a rental car, turn it in and re-rent.

There are places at Rice University where it's cheaper to park illegally (and pay the ticket) rather than to use the parking lot. The alternative is to park a half-mile away or to move your car every 20-30 minutes.

[Purron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl The downtown hotel in Portland where we will be staying in June charges $22 per night for parking. Since we won't be using the car while we are staying there, I'm considering some cheapskate alternatives: 1. Park in a residential suburban area on the outskirts and ride my bike back to the hotel. I'd be sure to leave nothing steal-able in the car. 2. Park at a Walmart that allows overnight parking (7 mile easy ride). 3. Park at the airport ($10/day). 4. Just eat the $22/day charge. What do you think?

What's the purpose of this trip? If it's a pleasure trip, I'd pay the $22 and spend the time and energy you'd devote to the other options on having a good time. Otherwise, I'd check out the lower cost but time consuming alternatives.

[Brat]

Don't park overnight at the Zoo. Washington Park, Zoo area and Arboretum are considered our 'living room'. It is closely patrolled.

Better to park in the Hillside neighborhood (up on the hill north of Burnside, west of NW 25th).

[powerplay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by homestead There is free parking at the Max Train stations and Park & Ride locations. (Beaverton) Also at the zoo which is close to downtown and accessible by Max.

Park and Ride locations say they are limited to 24 hour parking so if that is enforced this may not work.
TriMet: Park & Ride Locations

[Purron]

One more question: WDLT ("What does Lena think") ?

[TromboneAl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purron One more question: WDLT ("What does Lena think") ?

I just asked, and she doesn't feel strongly either way. Of course, I'd be the one to drive to Walmart and ride back -- possibly while she's still sleeping in the hotel room. Or we could all drop the car off, and start one of our bike rides from the Walmart.

I know that Jenny actually parked her car at Walmart when she flew somewhere to save on airport parking, so I'm sure she'd be on board.

For me, the only issue is whether I would be worried about the car. If it's nestled in with the RVers, and there's nothing inside to steal, I'll probably feel OK.

[audreyh1]

The thing is that the RVers usually park way over to the side to be out of the way of the shoppers, and are only staying overnight. They are usually gone with their RVs during the day.

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl The downtown hotel in Portland where we will be staying in June charges $22 per night for parking. Since we won't be using the car while we are staying there, I'm considering some cheapskate alternatives: 1. Park in a residential suburban area on the outskirts and ride my bike back to the hotel. I'd be sure to leave nothing steal-able in the car. 2. Park at a Walmart that allows overnight parking (7 mile easy ride). 3. Park at the airport ($10/day). 4. Just eat the $22/day charge. What do you think?

I'd think that if there isn't plenty of open spaces for option 1 (who wants to spend lots of time searching for a parking space while you could already gone miles on your bicycle), then option 2 (WallyWorld) is the way to go.

[nphx]

That is frustrating. I just decided to use a cab in downtown San Jose instead of a rental because of parking fees. If you are at the Hilton in downtown portland... there is a parking included room rate that will save u 25% (unless they jack the room rate to compensate).

[eridanus]

Yes to north of Burnside and west of 25th. Nice neighborhood and close to the park trails. It's an easy ride into downtown from there, too (slightly downhill).

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl The downtown hotel in Portland where we will be staying in June charges $22 per night for parking. Since we won't be using the car while we are staying there, I'm considering some cheapskate alternatives: 1. Park in a residential suburban area on the outskirts and ride my bike back to the hotel. I'd be sure to leave nothing steal-able in the car. 2. Park at a Walmart that allows overnight parking (7 mile easy ride). 3. Park at the airport ($10/day). 4. Just eat the $22/day charge. What do you think?

My vote is for #4. After all, time on a vacation costs a lot more money than time at home. No sense in wasting any money on a false economy, so to speak, IMO. Consider the price of parking to be part of the overall price of the hotel and then re-examine your choice of hotels.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R My vote is for #4. After all, time on a vacation costs a lot more money than time at home. No sense in wasting any money on a false economy, so to speak, IMO. Consider the price of parking to be part of the overall price of the hotel and then re-examine your choice of hotels.

I think Al feels that this is catnip to a cheapskate... sort of a vacation with a little extra challenge thrown in for recreation.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords I think Al feels that this is catnip to a cheapskate... sort of a vacation with a little extra challenge thrown in for recreation.

That's our T-Al - - - you're probably right, and we certainly wouldn't change him for all the tea in China! And if he wants challenge, he should enjoy the puzzle of figuring out where to park.

I'll amend my recommendation to say that if it was me, I'd just go ahead and pay for the parking, and cut back somewhere else. But then that's me.

[Lsbcal]

Maybe you could do a private wink-wink deal with the hotel check-in guy?

Alternative - drive to close, nice home suburb area. Pull out cell phone, call taxi.

[TromboneAl]

Using Cute Fuzzy Bunny's metric: $66 = 1 free Lobster Dinner.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TromboneAl Using Cute Fuzzy Bunny's metric: $66 = 1 free Lobster Dinner.

Yes - - I guess what I'm saying is if it was ME (not you), I'd rather just skip the lobster dinner for one, and instead spend the $66 on parking, thus gaining extra time to enjoy my vacation spot with less aggravation.