Valet Parking???

Planning a trip to Charleston this summer. Hotel only has valet parking. I have other cars I can take instead of the 987. What are your thoughts on valet parking? Thanks!

It's fine, and Charleston is a wonderful town! The wife and I grew up outside of Charleston, and we moved there when we got married. Though we don't live there now, I'll always consider it home. If you need some guidance as to what to do and see, especially stuff off of the beaten path, just let me know!

I don't ever mind valets on any car, as long with the Cayman , they can drive a manual. Did a valet once with the Cayman and they asked me to park it up front for them. At Discount tires, I have to pull the car in for them as well. 🤣😂 Funny, my family and I are going to Charleston for a trip too! Small world. @theblooms , I will take some tips, tricks and places to see when in Charleston!

this, I took my Cayman to a hotel in LA and asked if I could park myself, they said no, then looked in the car and saw it was a manual and said "sure park it yourself". I have twice gone to have tires installed in the last two years (once on the Cayman and once on another car with a manual) and watched the first tech walk out to the car and turn around to get another tech when they saw the cars were manuals....

From my personal experience, I will never utilize a valet service. Once while attending a wedding, after having the valet park my car I realized that I had forgotten the card/gift once inside the event hall. I retrieved my keys and headed into the basement parking garage to fetch the card. While walking through the large facility, I heard screeching tires and saw one of the teenage valets careening around corners in a guests car. In addition to the oft-posted signs claiming ‘Not responsible for damage, or lost or stolen items’, the age and lack of driving experience of the average valet, and the mere fact that I am uncomfortable with anyone driving my dearly loved and cared for P-car, I suddenly realized how foolish the whole valet thing is by handing over your keys to a young, untested driver, who is a complete stranger. That was an eye-opening moment for me. Now when I arrive at a crowded restaurant or event that only has valet parking, I wave a $20 bill at the lad and tell him/her that I need to complete a few business calls in my car before I go in, and inquire where I can self-park it close by. They usually point me to one of their ‘reserved‘ spots close by and gladly accept my ‘bribe’. Mission accomplished.

Valet parking? Sorry, couldn't resist. But seriously, I've had to use valet several times with my Cayman and have not had any issues. My only real damage when turning my Porsche over to another driver was at a Porsche service center. Of course, they denied that they caused the damage.

Valet parking has never happened with any car I have ever owned in my long life, and never will. The nightmare stories I've heard, witnessed, and read about will never happen to me. I would talk to hotel management and make other arrangements or find another hotel that will. And also based on experience, too many valet service personnel are clueless when it comes to driving manual transmission cars. It's just not worth the risk.

I never, ever allow valet parking. Just don't trust that they will treat it right, or like others noted above, can even drive a manual.

Never. I tell them the clutch is finicky and that I need to park it.

Always leery of “valet only” parking in downtown Dallas. What’s not to say they’re not taking the long way around to the parking lot on the next block over. I too have been asked if it’s a manual, to park it upfront myself. As well as have been asked to drive it over the inspection pit for state inspection.

Just did a valet last night for dinner. Asked the guy if he would drive a manual. Zero issues. They also drive Lambos, Bentley's, and hither high end. Just know your area or examine the area.

I used to be a valet. I would never use a valet because of that lol

That is the best testament, and argument for not using valets. Right from the source. Confirms my stance. Besides, after reading that ever-present sign near every valet stand, ‘Not responsible for damage or lost or stolen property’, who could hand over the keys to their P-car with any confidence?

I don't valet. I asked my wife not to valet my cars - Of course, she let a valet park my (former) daily driver once, and came home with a bent rim. She learned a lesson and doesn't valet anymore either.

I never valet park with my Porsche 911 Turbo S.... and frankly, like the first comment, never with any of my cars...... .. I just pay extra for Self Park... i.e. in Chicago... and walk .... but lately that isn't safe at night around the Mag Mile or Gold Coast areas either, especially w/my wife?? With the wheels, tires, and front skirts... one careless valet can do thousands... or +$10K in damage in about 10 seconds..... I don't have the "raise" suspension feature on my car... one "bad" street to ramp height differences can be brutal!!! I also don't want to take all the electronics and lose change and currency from the car either..... trust me, it will be gone too.... In short... you need to have a "throw away" or +200K mile car if you let a valet touch it... and even then, they can screw it up..... I do valet my 2008 Lexus LS460L with 230K miles on the clock.... and I leave a $20 in the ashtray.... for a courtesy "theft"....... That is where we are now....