Going solo--airport parking problems

[Piper]

I don't know if anyone has come up with this problem before, but I thought I would let you know what I've encountered and my solution.

When I have travelled before, I have always rented an ecv for the cruise, or WDW, etc. Although, I have taken my WC when I was with others (just more comfortable with it than a rented one), I have never flown with my ECV.

This next trip is solo, so I started checking out parking options. Most places want me to park---have one of their staff (using my car) drive me to the airport--give them the keys and they will drive my car back to their lot and put it back in the space I just vacated. When I get back, the process reverses.

Now, I am not comfortable with handing over my keys for a week to strangers! So I started investigating other options.

My solution is to stay at a hotel for the night before and the night after my trip. They have a lift-equipped van and will do the drop-off and pick-up. Fortunately, the hotel is part of the Starwood chain and I have enough points to stay free.

I know I could have asked family to drop me off, but I don't feel comfortable asking someone to get up early enough to drop me off at 5 a.m. all the way across Houston (in a diagonal line none the less!) That would mean they would have to leave their house at about 3:30 to get to mine by 4 so we could load my stuff and drive 45 minutes to the airport!

Has anyone else dealt with this? If so, what was your solution?

 

[clkelley]

Not sure about your airport, but Nashville airport has lift equipped shuttles for their long term parking lot.

Another thing you might try (if you are physically able), is go to curbside and drop everything and ask the skycap to wait with your ECV while you go to the long term lot and take the shuttle back. Then when you return just tip the skycap a bit extra.

 

[BillSears]

Usually my family drops me off at the airport but in 2 weeks I'll be doing a solo trip and I've decided to park at the airport. For this trip I'll be parking at one of the satellite parking areas and taking the lift equipped bus to the airport. I'm concerned about the lift and the bus and getting to the airport on time but I'll give myself plenty of time and it should be fine.

Personally I'd love the Valet service. Having them drop me off at the curb and driving my car back to the parking lot sounds wonderful to me. Lots of people have driven my car. Whenever it's brought in for service they drive it away, when I park in Valet parking they drive it, and of course when my family drops me off at the airport they drive my car back. The convenience of being dropped off at the curb would outweigh any concerns I have about them driving my car.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Almost all the time when I travel I leave my car, and the car key, with an off-airport location that provides on-site valet service and a free shuttle service to and from the airport. The only key I leave is for my car, and I do know the mileage when I drop it off.

Do you ever have you car valet parked? The keys are not kept in the car and the car is locked once they actually have parked it.

 

[Piper]

Usually my family drops me off at the airport but in 2 weeks I'll be doing a solo trip and I've decided to park at the airport. For this trip I'll be parking at one of the satellite parking areas and taking the lift equipped bus to the airport.

Personally I'd love the Valet service. Having them drop me off at the curb and driving my car back to the parking lot sounds wonderful to me. Lots of people have driven my car. Whenever it's brought in for service they drive it away, when I park in Valet parking they drive it, and of course when my family drops me off at the airport they drive my car back. The convenience of being dropped off at the curb would outweigh any concerns I have about them driving my car.

You'd think an airport as large as Houston would have a lift-equipped bus, wouldn't you!?!

I've used valet service in hotels and restaurants, but somehow this seems different to me. At the hotels, etc. they never knew when I would show up, but this would be for a fixed time--a week. Although, I don't think anything would happen, you cannot be sure. I just feel safer (maybe false security) if everything is locked up and I have the key!