What do you tip for valet parking????

[momtofour]

I know this is a redundant question but I just did a search and could not find any information. I will be valet parking tomorrow at the VWL. Do I tip when I arrive and depart? Or just one? What do people generally tip? Thanks to all! I am leaving in 12 hours with just one son!!

 

[JimC]

The standard is to tip $1-2 when your car is delivered.

 

[ceejay13]

We tip $2.00 when the car is delivered, nothing on drop off.

 

[jimh13432]

$2 coming in and $2 going out.

 

[Pig Pen]

Yikes, I guess I overtipped on my last visit by a longshot!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Lots of different opinions on his--most travel "experts" recommend tipping on pick-up only.
But I'm like jimh--$2.00 on dropoff and $2.00 on pickup.

 

[OKW Lover]

A standard tip is $2 when you get the car back. But if you are also being helped with loading/unloading the car or maybe getting directions to someplace, you could tip extra.

I've noticed that some valets seem to be waiting for a tip when I drop the car off too. But I don't believe that they should expect one then. Its not until you get your car back that the service has been completed.

Jeff

 

[Van Helsing]

$2 coming in and $2 going out.

Same here

 

[Lexxiefern]

$2 when we pick the car up.

 

[cgcw]

Originally posted by jimh13432
$2 coming in and $2 going out.

Us too.

We tried just tipping on pickup but we were uncomfortable doing this. The same person who takes our car is never the same one who returns it to us. I suspect the valets also expect to be tipped both ways based on the strange looks we received when we didn't tip on drop off.

 

[labst60]

I believe that tipping only on the way out is what is expected. As far as it being different people that help you, I was under the impression that a lot of places pooled tips in these situations.

FYI - This is from a tipping guide I found online:

Vehicular Tipping

Valet Parking - $1 to $2 per car is usually appropriate, given when the car is returned to you. However, if you think that you may need to leave in a rush, you should also give the attendant a tip on the front end and request that your car be placed somewhere that it can be retrieved quickly

We usually just tip when we pick the car up, but I am certain no one minds if you choose to be more generous!

 

[MikeSquared]

I've been doing $1 in and $1 out. I feel like a cheapskate now.

 

[JimC]

Valets expect to be tipped when the car is delivered. Tip pooling among valets is the norm.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by JimC
Valets expect to be tipped when the car is delivered. Tip pooling among valets is the norm.

Jim,
We were told by the valets at Disney that they do not pool tips.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The traditional way to tip for valet parking is at pickup only -- "upon competion of service."

15 years ago, I was tipping $2 at pickup only. But that seems inadequate in 2004. So now I generally tip $2 at dropoff, and $2-3 at pickup.

I know that the tip at dropoff is optional, but whole the idea of tipping is to take care of the service employees who take good care of you. Usually, at dropff, the valet parking attendent open doors, provides a friendly greeting, saves me the trouble of finding a parking space, and saves me time. So I really don't mind tipping $2 at that point.

 

[JimC]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Jim,
We were told by the valets at Disney that they do not pool tips.

Gail, Hmmm maybe things have changed as we were told the opposite at BC, but that was several years ago (wow I just checked and it was 8 years ago!). We now use towncar service almost exclusively. Thanks for the correction.

 

[wdwstar]

we tip $2-$3 up and $2-$3 down, i have noticed this last trip when the valet seen us walking out before we can hand our ticket in the valet was already running for our car, so i believe it pays to give a little more to get better service.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Just returned from Wilderness Lodge I tiped $2.00 both dropping it off and picking it up...and the car was already waiting with air on when we reached it.

 

[Regina]

We tip the same as Horace and wdwstar.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by JimC
Gail, Hmmm maybe things have changed as we were told the opposite at BC, but that was several years ago (wow I just checked and it was 8 years ago!). We now use towncar service almost exclusively. Thanks for the correction.

Jim,
this is what I was told by one of the valets. Now, he may well have been not telling me the truth. But, since that time we have been tipping both ways. BUT.....since Dean's discussion about this a few months ago, we plan to tip on the return of the car only. Apparently they take turns parking and picking up, so, according to Dean, it evens out. I am more apt to believe Dean than the valet.