Recent Experience With PHL Park 'n Fly??

[Bill From PA]

We used a hotel park and fly for our last WDW trip but the rate has gone through the roof since March '06 so I'm scrounging for a new option. We'll need a reliable shuttle for a morning PHL flight and safe parking for 6 - 7 days. Any recommendations/rates from those with recent experience would be appreciated.

Bill From PA

 

[kcork1026]

we are having the same problem. what's going on? who can help?

 

[mrg013]

We always run into the same problem. There doesn't seem to be a best place to park. We flew to MCO on Christmas, and ended up parking at the economy remote parking. We live close enough that we don't need to do a hotel package. However, we wanted to do one of the private lots, but couldn't find a good one. I was extremely nervous about doing the economy parking (safe? , reliable buses to terminal? , etc.). We were there on Christmas morning at 5:00 am and had no problems. I guess that's a pretty good test- early morning on a holiday. We got a bus within 2 minutes of parking. When we got back, there was a bus within 2 minutes to pick us up at the arrivals area. Everything was fine, and the price is right.

I'm curious, though, to find out what other options people have used and enjoyed!

 

[1Prince3Princesses]

I did not stay @ the Ramada overnight, but I did use the Park & Jet parking lot and shuttle service. It is a secured lot and I had NO problems. I had an early morning flight to Minneapolis and the shuttle service was great. It is alot cheaper than the airport. I drove down from the Allentown area really early. I tried to post the link, but I need to have 10 posts. There is a coupon online for $7.95/day for Parking Only. There are other rates listed for Overnight Stay w/ Parking included. Look into: LongTermParking.com Hope this helps.

 

[riaesq]

We live in NJ and have used Winners Parking at PHL the past two trips. Very reasonable, great service, close to the airport. They valet you over in your own car so there is no waiting for a shuttle to fill up. And the BEST part is that for $10 more, they will come drop your car off directly to you in front of the baggage claim (they catch their own shuttle back). Very quick and reliable and friendly. They'll even detail your car while it's waiting for an additional charge. It's around $8 day and the 6th day is free.

If you must stay over, you might want to try bidding on Priceline for the hotel separately from the parking- it could come out cheaper in the long run. Check out biddingfortravel.com to see the rates people have been getting for airport hotels. We took a midday flight both times (we are NOT morning people) but if we had an earlier one that's what we would have done. Also, a side benefit of the midday travel is that the airport is significantly less frantic.

 

[Bill From PA]

riaesq,

Great suggestion concerning Priceline. We used them to get the Hyatt Regency at MCO for $37 on 2004. Probably what I'll do is book a ressie we can cancel just to have something, then bid on a hotel with shuttle and, hopefully, park'n fly. This will be a quick, 5 park day trip as opposed to the 7 - 10 day trips we're used to, so time is precious. We'll gladly drive to PHL the night before, catch an early direct flight so we can be to Epcot WS for rope drop. It's the Food&Wine time of year and that's why we're going.

Bill From PA

 

[ducklite]

riaesq,

Great suggestion concerning Priceline. We used them to get the Hyatt Regency at MCO for $37 on 2004. Probably what I'll do is book a ressie we can cancel just to have something, then bid on a hotel with shuttle and, hopefully, park'n fly. This will be a quick, 5 park day trip as opposed to the 7 - 10 day trips we're used to, so time is precious. We'll gladly drive to PHL the night before, catch an early direct flight so we can be to Epcot WS for rope drop. It's the Food&Wine time of year and that's why we're going.

Bill From PA

Bill,

Be careful doing that. Often the "park" option is speficially excluded from heavily discounted stays.

You might also want to just consider staying someplace reasonable a little further out and then paying to park at one of the shuttle places over on Essington.

Anne

 

[Ed J]

I have used Winner parking in the past, and have them booked for my next 3 flights out of PHL.

I'm expensing these trips and do not get grief for using short term parking even with 9 or 10 day trips, Winner is the way to go IMO

 

[1000th happy haunt]

Another vote for Winner. We've been using them for over two years now. You don't really need a reservation. Just show up and they'll take you to the airport and keep your car safe for you.

 

[riaesq]

Bill,

Be careful doing that. Often the "park" option is speficially excluded from heavily discounted stays.

You might also want to just consider staying someplace reasonable a little further out and then paying to park at one of the shuttle places over on Essington.

Anne

I guess I wasn't being clear enough. What I was trying to say was that paying separately for the parking at Winner PLUS the Priceline stay, might come out cheaper. I'd be surprised if a hotel would let you do a P and F with PL res-- but I SURE would love to hear about that from anyone has had that experience!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We paid $119/night for the park and fly package in June at the Holiday Inn. The hotel is decent, and it's only about a 7 minute shuttle ride to the airport. We live 3 1/2 hours from Philly,so we needed at hotel anyway. Lots of parking; seemed pretty safe.

 

[havencruiser]

I use Colonial Parking just south of the airport. They have many coupons online for discounts and have frequent shuttles to the airport. They are significantly cheaper than the other places near there.

 

[Suzyq9241]

I need a park and fly (as well as sleep) place too...

The Holiday Inn was it the stadium or which one...

 

[CRI]

We have never done the park and fly option, but we have used Ampco off site parking and have always been pleased. They have outdoor and indoor parking garage for $2.00 additional fee per night, which is worth it when Phila. gets a snow storm while we are in sunny Florida, and you come back to a buried car. There is a coupon on the longtermparking.com website. They also gave us an additional discount as AAA members. I was always fearful of the valet service. I don't want anyone else driving my car or having access to my keys while we are away. I haven't been active on these boards in a few years, but when I first researched Phila off site parking, I read some bad experiences of people who had parked at a valet lot. Ampco has 24 hr shuttles and we were never waiting more than 5 or 10 minutes in either direction. Hope this helps some of you. In December we were the idiots driving down the PA TPK at 3:00 AM to catch the early flight in Phila. I do recommend a hotel the night before!
Chris

 

[Letsbgoofy]

The Holiday Inn was it the stadium or which one...

There's only one really close to the airport; I can't remember what it's called. You will see information about park and fly rates, but you have to call to make a reservation - it can't be done online. If you are unsure which hotel it is, pm me and I will check their site.

 

[DonnaL]

Could always do what we do......rent a vehicle from AVP the day before your flight and drive it to PHL......drop it at Budget lot at PHL and do the reverse for the trip back. We're doing it this week......total rental cost for the car ....round trip is $74.80 plus gas. Personally, I'd rather our vehicle sitting at home in our driveway .....cost is about the same as 7 nights parking no matter where you park. Then, if you wanted to use Priceline for a hotel ressie the night before you don't need to worry about the parking for your vehicle, just use the the hotel shuttle service to pick you up at the Budget counter and then bring you back to the airport in the AM. Now, in all honesty, you do need to peiodically check the rental rates. AVP always runs about $36 or $37, but, PHL tends to be a bit higher initially....I just book it and then change it as prices drop. Our return trip for the end of this month was initially about $52....when I checked right after New Year's it had dropped to $37.20 so I rebooked for the lower price....I figured that's a quick breakfast at the airport before we board our flight. Also, since we always fly SW each rental give my DH an extra .5 Rapid Reward point which really helps when you're getting close to getting a free flight with RR's ...SW recently has changed their policy that you must have a flight within 24 hours of the rental, but, that's a non-issue since we always do.

 

[Bill From PA]

DonnaL,

Any idea what kind of deal I might get on Priceline for an airport zone hotel in Oct.? I'll have to check Biddingfortravel.com and give this idea some thought.

Bill From PA

 

[feet1]

wow, just found this thread. I'm in NE PA as well, last time we flew we left out of AVP and had a transfer in atlanta. with the kids, it was a pain to have to wait for the connecting flight. We are thinking of leaving out of Phili this time coming up in December. It would be cheaper plus it would be a direct flight. so, I'm getting from all these posts that you all don't want to leave your car parked at Phili, why is this? I wasn't nervous about that decision, but now I am. Is is expensive, or not safe? thanks guys!

 

[Ed J]

I've traveled for work & with the family and have used both short term & economy parking as well as Winner for PHL.

Winner beats AP parking hands down IMO.

Winner is cheaper by a few dollars than economy, and about 3 or 4 times than short term.

Economy is not that bad, but why pay more to walk to a hut, wait for a bus, especially if the weather is poor.

To me, it's not that there are issues with the parking at PHL, but why not get curb to curb service for your car, family & bags for the lowest price? It's a no brainer .

 

[1000th happy haunt]

I just got a ValPak coupon for Winner in today's mail. Their website is:

www.winnerairportparking.net