vallet parking?

I guess I am different than most, as I use valet rather frequently (never an issue as of yet) with all the cars. I do feel that your post above is the best info I have seen yet. Although I didn't "officially" know this info, I am glad to say that I practice these things already. $20 in the valets hands always keeps them up front and still sitting there when I return. The only place that would not leave it up front was at the Venetian. I was late for what i was doing and had to leave it.

I did have a problem in a valet line in Vegas (Stratosphere) this past summer in the 993TT, long story short turned out the DME took a dive so it wasn't a valet issue...but during the entire event the valets and "the lead" were very professional, helpful and understanding of my issue...even when the tow truck came and blocked the drive while it was loaded.

Thanks,
Tony

 

So you would only valet at Gateway and La Caille. Only two places in Utah I have ever spotted such cars in a valet lot.

Also, the two places I have worked as a valet.

 

Interesting. My son is "valeting" his way through college, so maybe he will chime in. I never took my Ferrari to any place with valet, but I probably would have left it (it being "only" an old Mondial)

Meanwhile, my Alfas get plenty enough respect and attention, believe it or not!

Still, I am hesitant to leave my Alfa 164ls 5 speed with them. It has got two ridiculous features that make it hard for valets. The reverse has a lockout ring, and removing the key requires pushing an almost hidden button. Better to just throw him 10 or 20 to leave it up front.

 

I simply pull in - park the car where I want - lock the car and take they keys - and throw them $20.

 

So you understand how unsafe Flemmings is? But you also know how Riley is with cars that's where your money spots come in?
Ruths Chris and Spencers are safe. I've never had issues there, in fact, I talked to a valet at Ruths and he said they have 4 spots just for exotics? Maybe you can shed some light on that?

 

I always take care of the vallet. I get rock star treatment at all of the usual places I park, The Hotel Del, downtown Gaslamp, downtown Hyatt , and LA Jolla. All you have to do is be a great tipper and friendly and they will bend over backwards to take care of you and your car. If your a single guy like me. It's also a nice touch on a date when the vallets know you by name.

Don't be a cheapskate. These people work hard and are looking after one of your most prized possessions.

 

Thanks for your post, it really opened my eyes. I've actually left the Ferrari home rather than deal with parking hassles in Atlantic City, but I will put your suggestions to use next time I go to AC.

 

Wow, i'm glad you guys found my post useful! I of course follow these same rules with my Ferrari (and my other cars). I would NEVER self-park my cars in a public hotel or casino parking lot, there are WAY too many rental cars out there... those people dont think twice about flinging that door open into your car!
I am always comfortable leaving my car in the valet, and I dont sit and worry about it at all while i'm inside. $20 is a damn small price to pay knowing your car will be as and WHERE you left it, when you return.

When somone came into my valet with a top-end car and tipped me well, I protected that car like it was my own girlfriend standing naked in the middle of that parking lot!

 

I would say that the Valet at Ruths is full of it, but it is after my time. Of course he may consider BMW 7 series exotic so who knows. However, I do know that on certain event nights and when people call ahead, we would hold the front line for exotics and other nice cars. When those spots would fill up, at times we would even leave cars parked right on the curb where the valet stand is.

 

+1

I always wanted the people with Ferrari's, Bentley's, Lambo's and the like to not only come back, but bring their nice cars when they did. If I didn't treat their car right that wasn't going to happen. Truth be told I treated every car as if it were my own. I just tried to treat peoples cars how I wanted mine treated when I left it with a valet.

 

drive it hard, park it, valet it, let it get dirty....it's not going to fall apart, nor is it going to go down in value [substantially] unless you let it go down the tubes by mass neglect. If it gets dinged, scratched or otherwise....get it fixed. ITS a CAR, plain and simple. It's not worth the time to worry; if it is a concern, keep it in the garage and look at it. If it makes you feel better knowing your car is SAFE and in a controlled environment, to each their own. It has taken me a long time to finally get the fact that I own the car and it doesn't own me. Enjoy it. If you are worried about parking your exotic, IMO it doesn't sound like ownership enjoyment; rather ownership concern, fear or otherwise........it's a possession. If you are concerned, try your best to let it go and truly enjoy it without the worry. Good luck and enjoy. These cars are great fun when you can enjoy them without the worries....I am a hypocrite because I used to be this way. I know it's tough but give it a shot. Over time, it gets better.

 

NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! Not even my "crummy old 308"! No, especially not! Have you ever really looked at the valet and seen the EVIL look in their eyes when they think you might be dumb enough to fall for their song and dance about how their insurance won't allow this, or some other lame excuse??? Well, you should see their eyes when you say NO FU&$#n' way when they want your keys!!! HOO-HA!

 

All I envision is the two guys from Ferris Buellers day off "Ah relax sir we are what you call professionals" lol

 

Thank you for the information and education I am clueless about the procedure, however, nobody touches any of my cars in the first place.

 

I dont trust valets. Sure Ive parked normal cars with nothing ever happening..but when I took my SL55 out I had an incident.

I had just picked up my SL55 3 days earlier and I went to the Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix. A very nice hotel and the valet looked like hotel employees and not independants. I gave them the keys to the car and left. But I paused and watched the guy...as I usually do with every car anyway. Kid takes the car around the corner and out of sight...and then starts doing burnouts in the car. Of course I could hear it. So could the other valets. I made it very clear to them too. Then to the general manager of the hotel as well.

The other horror story is parking at the Ritz Carlton. I had my Ferrari 355 parked out front only to have another guest drive into my car. She kept going too. and had I not seen it from the patio she would have checked in and ignored what she did..even though she admitted to me she even knew she hit my car.

 

When your clutch costs $8k, you're generally somewhat hesitant to let anyone who doesn't have routine first hand experience drive or park your car--chances are, they're going to require some type of learning curve and it will likely come at the expense of unnecessary clutch wear! Not to mention, the visibility of some of these cars is impaired which makes curbing wheels, etc. a lot more likely--you never know the level of experience of the guy parking your car. With that said, my usual experience with valet is that the valet person usually does not expect to park the car--they normally offer to keep it right up front before I can even say anything.