There’s something very enticing about the idea of having your car taken care
of by a valet service. You and your date mosey on into whatever event while your
car is whisked away into an undisclosed location where it sits comfortably until
you call for it again. It’s only a couple of dollars, and often, we say "Why
not?" Depending on the situation, you may not have a choice in the matter, as
many events and restaurants have a valet requirement - but is valeting always
the best idea? And how can you find one that keeps car door protection and
overall preservation of your car's exterior top-of-mind?
To be fair, being a valet is one of the hardest and most stressful service
jobs out there. Valets are often underappreciated and overworked. During a
stressful night, it is not uncommon for a valet to accidently ding or dent a car
adjacent to the one he or she is driving. Unfortunately, while you can track
which valet took your car, you cannot track which car door was the one that
dinged yours. Yikes.
Knowing When To Valet Or Park On Your Own
How do you decide? It can be tough, but here are a few tips:
- If you’re parking in an area you know well, and you’re not running late
for whatever festivities you are attending, consider parking on a
residential side street with little traffic. Of course, if you're parking in
an area where vehicular theft and/or vandalism are common, running the risk
of a ding or dent caused by a valet service might be one you should take.
- If you want to valet, or feel unsafe parking on a side street, check out
the valet lot before you decide. Look for a compartmentalized lot - these
are your safest bests. If the lot is highly compacted, has heavy traffic, or
is otherwise uncomfortable – look for additional parking. A walk isn’t
necessarily a bad thing anyway.
Good luck, and happy travels. |
