Hotel Valet Parking - Tipping Etiquette

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Self parking is not an option so I am stuck with the valet parking. I get why people don't like it and personally don't like it myself. It is a 6-year old 4-cylinder SUV. Not too worried about joy riding and, like I said, no self parking available. Just trying to get feedback on how others tip since not everyone is quite as adverse to valet parking and some live in / travel to places where it is the only choice.

Not sure if you want to be bothered with this, but I have a strategy for these valet only hotels. What I will do is drop off everything with the bag guys and then I will have my wife check in while I drive to a pre-determined place (I google them) to park the car myself. My other choice is to simply rent a car when I have to valet since I could care less what happens to my rental.

[EL Jeffe 5]

back in the day I use to work as a valet parking $2 was always good $5 even better

[PandaM3]

When I valet at fancy hotels if I am in my M3 I tip them $20 and tell them to not scratch anything up in which case they just leave it up in front of the hotel and never move it. If I am in my wife's VW CC I just tip them a few dollars and they just park it wherever they park it. For my lifted FJ cruiser I tip a $20 since I know it will not fit in their parking garage at which point the valet person would rather keep the $20 for themselves and leave it up front rather than tell me it is to large for their garage. Nothing like having your muddied up 4x4 parked up front of a posh hotel right next to all the exotics... haha

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Not sure if you want to be bothered with this, but I have a strategy for these valet only hotels. What I will do is drop off everything with the bag guys and then I will have my wife check in while I drive to a pre-determined place (I google them) to park the car myself. My other choice is to simply rent a car when I have to valet since I could care less what happens to my rental.

You care what happens to the rental if they damage it, you don't see it and then the rental company comes after you.

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by PandaM3

When I valet at fancy hotels if I am in my M3 I tip them $20 and tell them to not scratch anything up in which case they just leave it up in front of the hotel and never move it. If I am in my wife's VW CC I just tip them a few dollars and they just park it wherever they park it. For my lifted FJ cruiser I tip a $20 since I know it will not fit in their parking garage at which point the valet person would rather keep the $20 for themselves and leave it up front rather than tell me it is to large for their garage. Nothing like having your muddied up 4x4 parked up front of a posh hotel right next to all the exotics... haha

You must be flush. I rarely tip $20 for dinner, let alone parking. I avoid valet if there are any other options.

But if I have to valet, then usually its a toonie.

[bd307]

Avoid valet when possible.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by MGM135is

You care what happens to the rental if they damage it, you don't see it and then the rental company comes after you.

For situations like this, I don't care. My insurance deductible is very low.

[fbsm]

Originally Posted by blue-mw

I have only ever valeted once and I was forced into it. Older gentleman, very nice and polite. Dropped it off to check in at a hotel, got situated, came back down to get my car and go to the store.

Car pulls up a few minutes later and the valet driver locked the keys in my running car! Needless to say, hotel bar drinks were paid up for the remainder of my stay. That's my one and done.

Same here

Only had to valet the car once

Winter in a city where the only parking was the valet option

Gentleman that was the valet was in his late 30's

Offered unsolicited assurance that he knew how to drive stick, I handed him $30 and never once worried about the car.

Car came back 2 days later with no issue.

[Scout10]

If this is valet parking only....are you paying a flat rate per room for PARKING.
MANY decent hotels do that, a flat daily rate for parking, say 20 -40 per day.
Are you staying a long time or short 3-4 day.
You don't have to make a financial statement to get your car. Your not a
permanent resident, so $3 each time they go get it for you. Not at drop off.
That fine, and drive a different car next time you visit them.....they'll never know
(if its a biz trip........ write it down for taxes!)

[jaye944]

I have a better strategy,

We use the wife's Caravan

LOLZ

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Not sure if you want to be bothered with this, but I have a strategy for these valet only hotels. What I will do is drop off everything with the bag guys and then I will have my wife check in while I drive to a pre-determined place (I google them) to park the car myself. My other choice is to simply rent a car when I have to valet since I could care less what happens to my rental.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by jaye944

I have a better strategy,

We use the wife's Caravan

LOLZ

That's great. My suggestions are for people who don't have access to a beater.

[jaye944]

I always give a decent tip when I drop off and a thank you, with a handshake,
hoping it will pay off, so far it has
(but this is at hotels)

Originally Posted by Scout10

If this is valet parking only....are you paying a flat rate per room for PARKING.
MANY decent hotels do that, a flat daily rate for parking, say 20 -40 per day.
Are you staying a long time or short 3-4 day.
You don't have to make a financial statement to get your car. Your not a
permanent resident, so $3 each time they go get it for you. Not at drop off.
That fine, and drive a different car next time you visit them.....they'll never know
(if its a biz trip........ write it down for taxes!)

[jaye944]

[jaye944]

[jaye944]

and lastly !

[jaye944]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

That's great. My suggestions are for people who don't have access to a beater.

[RickFLM4]

Everything worked out fine with the valet. I tipped $5 when first dropping off and $5 each time I picked the car up. We only picked up the car 5 times so the difference between $3 and $5 wasn't much and I didn't need to constantly be looking for $1 bills. Plus, they appreciated it and made sure we always had fresh bottled water in the car when we picked it up.

Now, if only I didn't get that speeding ticket on the ride home...

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1394040

[Kolyan2k]

$2 bucks used to be a minimum back in 90s when I was valet myself. We we're always happy to get a $5, some tipped more.

[other_evolved]

I valeted at a nice hotel from the age of 18 to 23. $3-5 was the average tip then (2002 through 2007).

[Naz24]

Throw the valet a $20 to keep it out front. Works every time

[drunkenup]

I used to valet until recently. I've seen a LOT of things good and bad. Money up front doesn't really guarantee anything unless you are generous like the guy above.

Also don't expect accountability outside of the cities or resorts where valeting is actually profitable enough to be a career. Lots of small companies that fly by night or just lack credibility that offer services to small establishments

[GT_H9RV]

General rule of thumb when tipping for valet parking and this doesnt depend on how fancy your hotel is, its 1% of the cars value.

And your meant to tip evertime you pass your keys and everytime you collect your keys.

Last weekend I spent a week away at a really nice hotel that offered valet parking. it was $25 to park your car per day and the value of my car is $50,000 so i would just pass the valet attendant 5 $100 bills. I did this twice per day everyday for 7 days so you do the math.

Thats the proper ettiquette in valet tipping, if its too much for you then park your crappy car on the opposite street