V-Flyer

With valet parking not having much demand in Hull, and us very rarely driving when abroad I have never used valet parking before. Stupid question, but how does it work, and what is the etiquette for tipping?

So, I just roll up, give them my keys and off we go? Do we tip them then? Does the valet parking charge just get added to the hotel bill? When we want the car back do we just ask and they go get it? Do we tip them then? how much to tip?

Who knew it could be so complicated, well for a simpleton like me anyway

TIA
Neil

Depends on the hotel.

In Vegas, I just roll up to the valet line, hand over the keys, tip a dollar or 2 and wander off. On return, hand over the stub, wait for the car to be brought back, tip again, then drive off.

As it's free, I make the most of it. Other hotels may charge.

The one and only time I have used valet parking was at the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach of all places. They didn't have any self parking so you were forced to use the valet service. You drove up and paid your money and you got given a receipt - they then parked the car and kept the keys. When you wanted the car back, you showed the receipt and they went and got the car for you and then demanded a tip too! Quite annoying like I say as there was no option to park the car yourself!

There is usually a drop off point at large hotels and restaurants and you hand the keys over and get given a token with a number or receipt to the valet staff. Small hotels sometimes take the keys at check in and just make a note of the car reg and bring it back when you need it or are checking out.

In USA I tip on drop off and pick up but in Europe it is fine to tip when you leave.

Valet parking is fabulous, although my US friends constantly moan about the price of it, I guess to me, it's just neat to have the service so the infrequentness of it makes the cost seem manageable!

I do this two ways - at a large place where there are many staff I tip on drop off and pick up, e.g. a hotel, but at a smaller establishment where there may only be one or two valet parkers, I tip on return even if paying up front. At hotels, the charge should just be added to your bill.

As others have said, with the exception of the Four Seasons all hotels offer free valet parking in Vegas, for whatever reason the four Seasons charges for it. Get the ticket from the valet person, go on your ways.

When you want your car, just hand the ticket over to the person at the valet desk and give the person who brings your car up a couple of dollars.

In other cities you will have to pay for valet parking, in some cities it's a lot of $$$$ so be careful.

Like the Sheraton Seattle that won't let you park yourself, and then charges you $35 a night to park, on top of the $35 valet fee. Understandbly there are guides on the net of all the places within a block of the hotel that you can park at for far less.

Which hotel are you staying at in the Disney area Neil ?

Scrooge wrote:Which hotel are you staying at in the Disney area Neil ?

Sheraton Park Anaheim.

Well I normally pull up get out and then will tip when leaving the establishment (rather than at the start).

The RC in Sarasota is exactly how LROM describes the Sherton in Seattle, i.e.: You can only vallet park, and sadly there is no 'nearby' parking. However there is something rather cool about calling up before leaving your room and then having your car waiting complete with water bottles and sweets for your days adventure.

At many restuarants they have a buzzer system, whereby when you are done you hit a button on what looks like a garage door opener and your car is waiting by the time you get outside.

Tinkerbelle wrote:The one and only time I have used valet parking was at the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach of all places. They didn't have any self parking so you were forced to use the valet service. You drove up and paid your money and you got given a receipt - they then parked the car and kept the keys. When you wanted the car back, you showed the receipt and they went and got the car for you and then demanded a tip too! Quite annoying like I say as there was no option to park the car yourself!

Think that this must have been the same Cheesecake Factory location that we ended up at during our Cali holiday in '08; they were REALLY sniffy when we said we didn't want to use valet parking being the typical tight Brits that we are ) .
We decided to carry on and eventually got to another Cheesecake Factory (Huntingdon Beach???) where self-parking was plentiful and where we proceeded to stuff ourselves silly in true Cheesecake Factory stylee y) .