One Vettey Boi

Going to a wedding in Philly and the hotel is a luxury hotel in center city. They only have valet parking and (since my only car is the C8) I will be taking her there this weekend.

Is there a way to ask the valets to keep the car out front for the weekend and keep an eye on it? Don’t want it in a garage… Figured money talks so a $20 tip upfront and a promise of another like $20 would suffice?

Would be a plus if I could just park it myself.

anyone ever do this (or a restaurant) and have success?

Bird67

I know I’ll catch grief for this (“it’s only a Chevy/mass-produced/meant to be driven/etc”) I’m with you completely and there is no way I’d let them valet the car. At least in the first year or two of ownership…I tend to lighten up over time.

Have you considered getting a Turo for the day? For the $50-$100 it’ll cost you all-in, the peace of mind might be worth it…

wfoZ06

It is typically the valet park cars in the garage and the streets are metered. In many big cities, they stop metering parking spaces during the weekend to attract people so if you want to "park out front" there is that.

Skid Row Joe

Sure, money talks in that business. 👍

I'll tell you what, depending upon the drive by / drive-up cars in the out in front area, I don’t want my car there where it could pick up door dings, women walking by placing their purses on it, hunting keys, etc. , and folks hitting the mirrors on it. I learned that lesson the hard way by the outside mirror assembly getting torn off by walkers by. Just not a good idea to be in the heat of activity.

The Chevy dealer I used I noticed parks service customer's Camaro and Corvette where people walk by all day in close quarters. Service Manager said; he likes to have them there. I don't think that is a good idea when there's a secured parking lot just 30 yards away with no traffic.

dvilin

I have asked the attendant to keep my car out front and not in the underground garage at a luxury hotel in Toronto. I gave him $25.00 and he was glad to do it, no problems as the area in front was large enough for several cars and no worries about people traffic.

Italianfox

"$20 tip upfront and a promise of another like $20 would suffice". Has worked for me every time. But I do $20/$10, guess I'm cheap. I put the car in valet mode too.

BlindSpot

$20 bill going in. If you can keep it up front I’ll match it going out. Always works for me.

Nelag

I did the same with my C 6 at an Embassy Suite. The Valet said they don't park the "nice cars" they leave them parked out front under the big awning. They want the people who are staying there to see the nice cars. Prob. could have kept my tip and gotten the same service. Oh, well, no biggy.

Datawiz

CASH

Slip him a $20, 50, or 100, whatever your region dictates. Also, ensure your PDR is recording if you have one.

I take care of people, they usually take care of me.

twinzor1

This is mine at a hotel last weekend. The GM came out and asked if he could keep it right there for the night, and that he would put a r'ope' on both ends! Overkill, but I said sure. He wouldn't take any tip whatsoever, either.

I live in Center City, Phila. Can I ask which hotel? Most CC hotels have a very small footprint out front, and those that 'hold' cars out front abut the street. On a weekend evening, you do NOT want your car outside with both the foot and check in traffic. The Logan Hotel does have ample, safe space outside. Philadelphia is about the worst place to drive, park or maintain a nice car.

Hockeyfun1

Just because the hotel has valet only, doesn't mean you can't park somewhere else on your own and walk the block or two.

The only time I valet park at hotels in big cities are if they have the rotating car holders. If it's just a parking lot or garage, I find somewhere else.

BlindSpot

I recently did the $20 in with a promise of $20 out when my wife and I went to a steakhouse in the Phoenix area in the CGT. The valet said no problem. As I was going in I turned and snapped a pic BC he was locking the car in the pullup lane. I could tell BC the puddle lights come on when locked.

When we came out almost 3 hours later, the car was still sitting at the front door, he didn't move the car at all, just locked it. He got the $20 out, no problem.

Datawiz

This is how the game works.

Bluehinder

We are talking hundies my friend. In my mind, anything less is insulting.

By the way, no need to say more is coming on the back end, it's implied. Discrete is better. A bill up front always works for me.

BlindSpot

YES it does. I know the whole valet crew at one of the best Scottsdale locations. These are car guys I've come to know. It's all about the money. One valet supervisor told me - you can come up in a Pinto, doesn't matter, the money talks!

Only time I get beat out in Scottsdale is some of the Lambo/Ferrari guys come in and tip $100 up front. My car might then get moved if there is no more room, even if I did tip $20 up front.

Datawiz

My mother and father live in Vegas. I'll be there again in a few weeks with my daughter for about 10 days (racing again at Las Vegas Exotics). Vegas is ALL ABOUT TIPS. You take care of people, they take care of you. Simple. I had lunch by myself at my local dig today, and the bill was $25 for a sandwich and 2 beers. I tipped $10, as I always do. I get EXCEPTIONAL service every single time I'm there.

zipity

I live outside of Philadelphia and I would not park anything I value in the city. Rent a car and do not worry about.

JABCAT

I was a valet through college at a Ritz-Carlton, believe me they drive much nicer cars than Corvettes. Also, you do want your car in the garage because there is most likely security surveillance 24/7 and most high-end hotels have garages that require either access codes or cards so security knows who is going in & out of the garage. If you leave the car up front, it’s available for anyone to walk by when the valet is not out there. And overnight, the valet or bellman is typically inside, not outside by the car.

Give them $20 & politely ask that it be parked near a security camera in the garage.

Big Lebowski

OP, I was going to suggest the above b they beat me to it. Money talks. No you can not park it, it’s usually an insurance thing…it’s your baby, I get it, but it’s a Corvette, not a kidney in a cooler.

twinzor1

​​​​​​Interesting discussion, but there are so many variables to consider. This is the motor lobby of our condo, shared with a hotel and restaurant, in South Florida. 1. Do you really think these owners offer cash and 'ask' to have their cars parked here? 2. Do you really believe that the valet staff can't manuever our Corvettes when, out of this photo''s range, one of them is backing a McLaren into a tight corner space? 3. Do you think this establishment is going to risk harm to this multi million dollar set of assets, which changes by the hour? 4. Do you really think that by offerring the valet a hundred bucks your Pinto will be squeezed alongside? Lots of perspectives to keep in mind. (btw, the building's insurance will not allow a driver to self-park, once on the property, not even to pull into a front space.)​​​​​