Parking @ PHL

[Dopey Sharon]

We always park at ExpressPark. Everyone there is very nice. We park our car, they pick us up in the van and take us to the airport.

I will never valet my car, no matter where I go. Not only do they have the use of it, but they also have your address, unless you take out your insurance car and/or registration, and know exactly how long your house will be unoccupied.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

We just returned yesterday from a great 8 day trip...

Parking at PHL is both insane and expensive... I took a tip from a Dis'er and used Winner Airport Parking. They are unique in the aspect that you drive to their facility, their driver takes you in YOUR CAR to your terminal, and then returns to the lot. Upon returning, you call them and they will bring YOUR CAR back to the airport to pick you up, at which time you can either return with them to their facility to pay your bill, or for an extra $11, you can leave right from the airport...

We chose to return to the facility to pay the bill. Using the coupon from their website we were able to get a decent discount. Our total for 8 days, with taxes and surcharges, came out to $66. We also tipped the driver $5 each way. I think this is probably the most affordable and convenient service I've found so far... and I'll definitally be using them in the future...

Hope this helps... winnerairportparking.com

When we fly out of Philly we use preflight parking. It is off of enterprise avenue. The deal is that you park your own car inside or outside your choice. They drive around the parking lot picking up passengers and when they pick you up they take you to your car. We have used them a couple of times and it has worked out great. I like parking my own car and keeping the keys with me. You can get discounts online.

We've used both of these in the past and were equally happy with both.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've used Winner twice now and while I like the convenience compared to PHL's economy lot, I really didn't like how they drove my car. They exceeded the speed limit on Essington Ave. by at least 20 mph both times.
Thank God there's speed bumps near the terminals or he probably would have blown thru there at 60 mph.

I'm not so concerned about the car itself; that's what insurance is for. My concern is more for the safety of my family. Even a minor fender bender is a PITA and would put a damper on our vacation.

We'll be flying in Aug and I don't know what we'll do just yet. I love the convenience when we're going home but I don't know that it's worth the stress I feel on the way to the airport.

Maybe I'm just a sissy cuz no one else feels this way.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

We've used Winner twice now and while I like the convenience compared to PHL's economy lot, I really didn't like how they drove my car. They exceeded the speed limit on Essington Ave. by at least 20 mph both times.
Thank God there's speed bumps near the terminals or he probably would have blown thru there at 60 mph.

I'm not so concerned about the car itself; that's what insurance is for. My concern is more for the safety of my family. Even a minor fender bender is a PITA and would put a damper on our vacation.

We'll be flying in Aug and I don't know what we'll do just yet. I love the convenience when we're going home but I don't know that it's worth the stress I feel on the way to the airport.

Maybe I'm just a sissy cuz no one else feels this way.

See, that's another reason why I will never valet my car...you're not a sissy!

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I've used Pre-Flight Airport Parking twice in the last 8 months and had great experiences both times.

You can find discount coupons online and the shuttle drivers are friendly and helpful. As soon as you pull into your parking space, they will be there to pick you up and help you with your luggage if you need it.

 

[loveysbydesign]

We've been using Colonial Parking on Gov Printz Blvd (south of the airport) for a few years now. For us, it's the best because we use I 476 (Blue route) and are on 95N for only a few miles and use the Essington exit. When we return, it's also very easy access to 95S and I 476. We just got back from a WDW trip yesterday and paid $40 (including taxes) with an internet coupon for a five day trip. They have a shuttle whichs runs continually through the parking lot for pickups and when you return to the airport, simply call them after you've claimed your bags and the wait is usually no more than five minutes. Even though I've heard very good things about Winner, I'm still very hesitant to leave our car keys/car with someone else.

Hi, We will be coming down the blue rte as well and are not familiar with the area...can you give us directions from the Essington exit..or do they have them on their website?

 

[loveysbydesign]

Do all of the places charge 20% city tax??
I'm trying to decide between Colonial, Pacifico and Pre-flight.

We can't use Winner as then one of us would have to ride on the roof-lol!

 

[drgnfly30]

^^ Not sure but I have my last receipt at work. I can check & report back in tomorrow.

 

[DIZBOUND]

We personally like the convience of parking at one of the hotels that offer a parking package. We drive in the day before our flight, swim in the pool and rest (somewhat with the kids), then we use the 24 hr shuttle the hotel offers. We usually stay at the Renassiance, they offer free shuttle and 10 day parking. We book through buyreservations.com and have never been unhappy. Once, we had problem with our battery when we returned and we were able to enjoy the hotel lobby while we waited for AAA.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi, We will be coming down the blue rte as well and are not familiar with the area...can you give us directions from the Essington exit..or do they have them on their website?

Take the blue rt all the way to 95. Go north on 95 and exit at Bartram Ave. which leads to Essington.
(We come south on 95 and it's exit 14 for us but it appears on Mapquest that this exit is only available to southbound traffic.) From what I can tell if you're traveling north it would be Exit 13. This exit has a fork. Bear right for Island Ave. or left for Penrose Ave. Both of these lead to Bartram Ave.
From Penrose Ave: make a left onto Bartram then right onto Essington.
From Island Ave./end of Penrose Ave: make a right onto Island Ave. then right onto Bartram then left onto Essington.

If you reach the double decker bridge over the Schuylkill River, you went too far on 95.

I wish I knew how to post a screensave picture of what I have on Mapquest.
If you find PHL, it's just NE of the airport. Bartram, Island and Penrose Aves form a triangle and Essington branches off the top of the triangle.

hth.
Good luck. Getting lost in Philly freaks me out so I never go there w/o clear directions.

 

[yrdlyprincess]

that is a great question you asked- b/c I was going to ask the same thing!! Last time we went down my parents drove us down in our car & came back & picked us up, I dont want to be a major pain to them b/c this time I think we are going to try to get the earliest flight down that we can- I don't think that they would like getting up @ 4am to have us to the airport--we'll see!

 

[Tina G]

We just came home from a week in Disney and we used ExpressPark and loved it. We are not fans of someone else driving our car or even having to leave the keys for that matter. My favorite part with ExpressPark is as soon as you enter the lot, they direct you to a spot and then the van comes right to your car and the driver helps unload the luggage and loads it into the van. So no dragging your luggage to the van yourself. Less than 5 minutes to the airport and off course dropped us right off at the terminal. For the return ride, we called the number after we picked up our luggage and the van arrived within 5-6 minutes. Again loaded our luggage and dropped us right off at our car in the lot. I would absolutely use them again. They have a coupon on their site for $7.75 a day (plus tax of course).

 

[pamjb]

Do all of the places charge 20% city tax??
I'm trying to decide between Colonial, Pacifico and Pre-flight.

We can't use Winner as then one of us would have to ride on the roof-lol!

Unfortunately, the 20% tax is charged by all of them.

Winner does have vans available to take you to the airport if your car won't accomodate an additional body.

 

[pamjb]

Here is a site that lists the long term parking facilities. This way, you can compare prices. It lists both valet and shuttle services

http://www.longtermparking.com/penn.htm

If you have friends in other states, you can also just go to longtermparking.com for a list of states.

 

[jobie61]

We've used Winner twice now and while I like the convenience compared to PHL's economy lot, I really didn't like how they drove my car. They exceeded the speed limit on Essington Ave. by at least 20 mph both times.
Thank God there's speed bumps near the terminals or he probably would have blown thru there at 60 mph.

I'm not so concerned about the car itself; that's what insurance is for. My concern is more for the safety of my family. Even a minor fender bender is a PITA and would put a damper on our vacation.

We'll be flying in Aug and I don't know what we'll do just yet. I love the convenience when we're going home but I don't know that it's worth the stress I feel on the way to the airport.

Maybe I'm just a sissy cuz no one else feels this way.

You know the best thing I found and my kids love it.....I take a limo over to the airport and have them pick us up.

Last time I paid 150.00 round trip, I called them from MCo told them my expected depart time and when I got my lugagge at PHL airport went out the back door and a guy was there to take my lugage to the limo and drive us home.

Yes I know it costs a little more, but what the hell. No worrying about leaving your keys or if the car will start. The extra price is worth the convenience to me.

 

[loveysbydesign]

You know the best thing I found and my kids love it.....I take a limo over to the airport and have them pick us up.

Last time I paid 150.00 round trip, I called them from MCo told them my expected depart time and when I got my lugagge at PHL airport went out the back door and a guy was there to take my lugage to the limo and drive us home.

Yes I know it costs a little more, but what the hell. No worrying about leaving your keys or if the car will start. The extra price is worth the convenience to me.

Wow....that's not a bad price at all. We'll be parking for 10 days so that's not too much more then we'd pay...who did you use? I just worry as I have 3 kids who are in car seats

 

[pamjb]

I checked limo services from Allentown to PHL a few years ago. It was $150 ONEWAY. I love my MIL, but not that much.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You know the best thing I found and my kids love it.....I take a limo over to the airport and have them pick us up.

Last time I paid 150.00 round trip, I called them from MCo told them my expected depart time and when I got my lugagge at PHL airport went out the back door and a guy was there to take my lugage to the limo and drive us home.

Yes I know it costs a little more, but what the hell. No worrying about leaving your keys or if the car will start. The extra price is worth the convenience to me.

We have done this a few times before when my parents cruise with us. With James Limo it was $116 for each couple so around $232 RT including grat. (This is from Cherry Hill with 2 pick up/drop off locations.)
My kids love it but last time (Nov) our drivers both ways really bothered me. On the way to PHL, it was snowing (enough to cancel our flight) and yet he was still doing 70+ mph on 95. I guess it's me (backseat anxiety) but I would never be driving that fast. Someone spun out of control and hit the barrier on that hairpin curve/ramp just before you reach the terminals. Do people not know you need to slow down in snow and that bridges freeze first?

On the way back the driver was like a bobble head looking at stadiums, navy yard, etc. Eyes were everywhere but on the road. Even my mom called me after we got home and was really annoyed and said they'd never hire them again. They've used James Limo many times but recently they moved to Trenton or somewhere up north there and it's not the same as when they were local.

Maybe I just need some Xanex to be a passenger....

 

[Andrea from PA]

Another vote for Winner or Pacifico -- Check their websites for coupons

 

[richmo]

A couple of thoughts:

- I used FastTrack (formerly AviStar) a couple of months ago and it worked out fine. When I arrived, the shuttle came right to my car, the driver handed me a card with my spot number and we went straight to the airport, about 5-10 minutes away. Upon return, you call the number on the card and the shuttle picks you up and drops you off at your spot. Very convenient.

- But, I think I also read you'll be doing a 10 day trip. That's pretty close to the break even point for two one-way car rentals. That's what I'm doing this summer and its going to save me quite a bit and my car will be resting in its garage at home. If you have a local Avis or Hertz (or others), go online and check the one way rates. I was able to get overnights each way with Avis for about $30 (using a coupon -- might have been Costco). The total for both one way rentals was about $75, which was considerably less than I would have paid to park.