please don't laugh

I live in scotland we don%26#39;t have valet parking over here.so how does it work .do i drive up to the front of the hotel%26#39; and if the valet takes my keys and goes park my car do i have to stand and wait till he comes back to get my keys back.and how much should i give the guy..please explain how it works..thanks..brian

please don't laugh

Aloha, Where are you staying?

please don't laugh

hI AA we are staying st the mauna lani hotel and i am going to the fourseasons hotel for dinner so i want to know what is the right thing to do ..

Mauna Lani offer both valet and self parking. When you arrive you will be tired so let them park your car for you, they will bring the keys to the desk where you are checking in. I normally tip when they bring me back the car. After that you can continue to valet park or self park, which ever makes you comfortable.

We went to the Four Seasons for dinner. You can park yourself. The parking is just before you get to valet parking. We actually went around the circular drive way where valet is, just turned around and went into the parking lot. You can%26#39;t miss it. Personally, I don%26#39;t like valet, seems like something rich people do because they are too lazy to walk. lol

No laughing ... good question.

I separate the car key from any other keys--but with a rental it%26#39;s probably just the car key on the ring anyway. Give the valet the keys and he%26#39;ll give you your claim tag ... and you head off to check in.

When you go to get your car, the keys will be at the desk and given to the attendant who brings your car round, and yes, that is when you tip, unfair as it might seem to the original guy who parked your car. (Maybe they pool the tips, I don%26#39;t know.)

At the Mauna Lani, it%26#39;s a very short walk from guest parking to the entrance, so I suggest that after your original check-in, when you have luggage, you may want to save the tip money and self-park until you approach the end of your stay. Or not, depending on how much you want to be pampered.

At the Hilton, it%26#39;s entirely different, quite the trek from the parking lot. The Hilton charges for valet, as I recall, PLUS the tip.

Valet parking is also nice to do if you visit Hapuna Prince, as they have a big dark parking structure for self park that lets you out into a side wing of the hotel rather than near the lobby and restaurants.

We also use valet parking if we eat dinner at the Fairmont Orchid.

Hapuna, Mauna Lani, and Fairmont are class acts that don%26#39;t charge patrons for valet parking. The tip is the only cost. We usually tip $5 per pickup, but perhaps we are out of touch. Anyone tip more than that? Am I a appearing to be a tightwad because I don%26#39;t know the going tip rate?

Brian288,

Not sure you got an answer to your question, so I thought I would clarify.

No you do not wait for your keys. They will tag your keys and keep them while the car is parked. To valet park follow the signs, usually to a circular entry or covered car port area. There usually is a desk or podium that the valet attendants use. The attendant will usually come to your car (unless the area is busy) quickly and open your door(s). In Hawaii the normal uniform for most valet attendants consists of a name tag, either an Aloha shirt or polo shirt, and either khaki shorts or pants.

To retrieve your car, you may call ahead from your room or present your half of the ticket at the valet desk. If you are staying multiple nights, do not remove the tag from your keys, just leave it on there and keep your stub.

You should always tip valet attendants. One or two dollars is sufficient.

Valet is useful in instances where you have lots of luggage, perishable food, or a spouse with heels etc. These instances use of valet reduces the time and distance one has to walk.

Most places in Hawaii also offer self park. This usually is cheaper than valet. Every hotel has their own rules regarding parking, I strongly suggest contacting yours to not be surprised by a per night parking charge, even for self park.

Good luck and happy travels!

re the rich person comment ...

well, we are not rich and not terribly lazy, but in my experience the staff at a four star hotel expects you to valet park when you arrive and it is a mark of cheapness to arrive at the entry with your luggage in tow from the self park. Second mark of cheapness, to insist on taking your own bags up so you don%26#39;t have to tip.

It is part of their service to pamper you as a guest and make you feel special, and the young men working there are usually local boys who live on that tip money, so it%26#39;s a way to support the local economy.

As for valet parking to go to a good dinner, we do so because to be frank, living on the island, we rarely wear our dress footwear, and are so used to wearing slippers (flipflops), that I start hobbling pretty quickly in my ';dinner shoes';! They are just not made for walking far.

ah, I see in the meantime echolynch provided the perfect reply, all the details, AND he knows about the high heels dilemma. ;-)

Not that I wear high heels any more.

KK mentioned it but I neglected to - the tip goes to the person who gets your car OUT of Valet when retrieving it.

Most hotels charge you for the parking anyway nowadays so you might as well just use the valet. They will keep your car keys and will not give it to Front Desk. If you decide to park on your own after the valet on the first day you just keep the keys. Tip when they retrieve your car. The tip is pooled by the attendants.