Valet parking at hotels?

[CheshireVal]

I'm staying at a hotel this weekend that has valet parking ONLY-- no self-parking option.

I usually avoid valet parking in general... there's just something unsettling about handing over my keys to a stranger!

How does hotel valet parking work? If I arrive too early to check into my room and have to have the valet park my car, what do I do with my luggage? Will I be able to go get it out of my car once it's been parked?

And do they really hold on to your keys for the duration of your stay?

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

I am NOT trying to freak you out-

We had a news story up here about a pretty young woman who valet parked her car at the Hospital. The valet employee took a liking to her and copied her keys on his break. He either riffled through the insurance information for the address or followed her home. He returned a few days later and set up a hidden camera in her bedroom. She arrived home while he was in her bedroom. He hid under her bed for several days and she had no idea he was there. I think it was a weekend and she didn't leave the house so he was stuck.

Moral of the story: Give them only the car key and keep any important information with you.

Can you call the hotel to find out its policies?

 

[CheshireVal]

Yikes! That is a scary story!!!

Luckily my husband will be with me-- I was planning on giving them my spare car key instead of my full set. That's a good idea about calling the hotel. Thanks!

 

[GeorgeG]

In general, always use a "valet" key, or one that is on a key ring without any other keys and never leave any confidential information or valuables in the car.

I'm not sure about other hotels, but WDW resorts will hold for luggage in a baggage staging area until your room is ready.

Valet parking at WDW resorts has a daily fee of $7, except there is not fee for those with handicap parking placards. The fee covers valet parking at other WDW resorts for that day, but does not include tips. I generally tip $2 plus that amount for each bag handled coming and going. Considering all the walking you do during the day and evening at WDW, valet parking can actually be a bargain you may only appreciate after a long day and miles of walking.

 

[mtemm]

never ever ever give them your full set of keys...either give them a valet key, or take your car key off the ring and hand them that.

 

[ducklite]

I keep my car keys on an entirely seperate ring. I have each ring on a carabiner, and use only the ring with the car key in the ignition when I'm driving, it's not good for your stearing column to ahve the weight of all your keys hanging off it.

When I valet the car I ONLY give them the ring with the keys for that car. Only one of our cars has a valet key. The Prius doesn't even need the little gadget in teh sterring column to drive--it just needs to be in the car, and the SKY doesn't have a valet key because there's a chip embedded in the key ring and the ignition is disabled if that chip isn't within "X" inches of it.

Anne