Where is the best/cheapest place to park downtown? A Question and a rant (San Antonio: credit card, how much)

[txbullsfan]

Hi all,
I just went downtown with my son to the Rivercenter mall (June 2012) to see a movie at the Imax theater. We went to the 9:30am showing to see "Born to be wild". When we got there we saw a group of about 50+ kids (no exaggeration) from some type of organization. They were all waiting in line (from the popcorn machine to out the entrance) to get their popcorn. It looked like a little assembly line as each one stepped up to grab their popcorn. Needless to say they were there to see the movie we wanted to see so we turned around right away and walked back to the car. I told my son we would see it another time. We parked at the Rivercenter parking garage. We couldn't have been any more than 10 minutes (probably less).

Despite leaving the mall right away and being there for such a short time, when we went to exit the garage I was shocked to find out it was $4. I actually hit the call button because I thought it was some kind of mistake. The lady came on over the speaker and I said we were there for only a couple of minutes and it is saying I owe $4. She said anything up to an hour is $4. I had no choice but to pay.

This was not always the case. It seems a new company is running the garage and some changes have been made:
1. Before if you shopped at the mall and got your ticket validated it was free. They no longer do that. I realize they stopped doing this years ago but still.
2. If you parked for 15 minutes or less they still charge. They did not used to do that. Not even the airport, doctors offices or other places I have been to do they charge you if you are there for only a few minutes. This is fairly new.
3. Each additional 20minutes is $1 up to $18! They used to charge per hour and the max fee was like $12 per day/8 hours. This is fairly new.
4. They no longer have attendants and it is an automated system. Despite these increased fees they are saving/making even more money. This is fairly new.

This was my long rant/frustration with the River center parking Center. Needless to say we will look for parking elsewhere. Where is a good/cheap/safe spot to park in downtown San Antonio?

[Chaka]

Yeah, the Rivercenter parking is kind of crazy now. It was always expensive but more flexible before.

A possibility is to park on Cesar Chavez (Durango) and walk across the park (the path along the river is especially nice). There's also street parking on N. Alamo, a few blocks away. There's also a garage on Commerce St near Losoya (catty-corner - kind of - from the mall).

[Newk]

Originally Posted by Chaka

Yeah, the Rivercenter parking is kind of crazy now. It was always expensive but more flexible before.

A possibility is to park on Cesar Chavez (Durango) and walk across the park (the path along the river is especially nice). There's also street parking on N. Alamo, a few blocks away. There's also a garage on Commerce St near Losoya (catty-corner - kind of - from the mall).

How much is the parking garage near Casa Rio, Shiloh's, and the USO? I always park there, did they increase their prices as well?

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by Newk

How much is the parking garage near Casa Rio, Shiloh's, and the USO? I always park there, did they increase their prices as well?

I haven't parked there in years, but I think it's a city lot so is free on Tuesday nights, and most of the city garages are fairly reasonable.

[OzzyRules]

The best advice I can give would be to just drive around looking when you are there. The further you get from the Alamo it's usually cheaper. But the prices can fluctuate depending on what time you go. I usually look for a $5 all day lot so that I don't have to keep a watch of the time. But I'm sure there are some a little cheaper than that.

I'm sure there is a good reason for the new charge. It probably cuts down a lot on people just "cruising" through the garage.

[gator24765]

You have to realize that in any downtown area there will be a premium to park.

The cheaper lots are on the outside of the main downtown area and it is worth spending the $8-$10 if you are planning on attending the populated areas..

[amybeccaz]

we were at the rivercenter mall a few months ago, and we got our ticket validated at the movie (or maybe it was the store by the movie??) -- so our parking ended up being free.

[AP2011]

what really makes me mad is that all these parking garages don't take credit cards. not too many people carry cash anymore. I didn't have enough cash one night and had to back up and park, run to an atm and then come back to the window to pay. They charged me extra for the time I was parked in the garage getting the cash. Moderator cut: language

[Lee W.]

I'm like a lot of people...I avoid the downtown area like a plague nowadays! I might go downtown once a year. It wasn't always that way. It used to be better. Now, the high cost of parking is a deterrent...and to use a parking lot invokes the fear of the dreaded "boot", even if I paid exactly what I'm supposed to pay.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by Lee W.

I'm like a lot of people...I avoid the downtown area like a plague nowadays! I might go downtown once a year. It wasn't always that way. It used to be better. Now, the high cost of parking is a deterrent...and to use a parking lot invokes the fear of the dreaded "boot", even if I paid exactly what I'm supposed to pay.

San Antonio vehicle booting companies face tough city ordinance
http://www.tpr.org/news/2012/05/news12051801.html

Downtown Tuesdays
http://www.sanantonio.gov/dtops/downtowntuesday.aspx