Valet Parking

Staying at Mandalay Bay in a month. Driving a high performance car. Would it be safer (for the car) to valet park or self park? I assume they see all sorts of sports cars, so my Camaro SS is nothing to them, but you hear stories and see videos...

I have always self parked (20+ times) and never had the slightest of problems, but those cars were invisible.

I'm thinking cruise through the self park lot and see if I find a nice spot, otherwise valet?

Quote: megapixels

Staying at Mandalay Bay in a month. Driving a high performance car. Would it be safer (for the car) to valet park or self park? I assume they see all sorts of sports cars, so my Camaro SS is nothing to them, but you hear stories and see videos...

I have always self parked (20+ times) and never had the slightest of problems, but those cars were invisible.

I'm thinking cruise through the self park lot and see if I find a nice spot, otherwise valet?

I would do the latter. I've seen too many valets in action.

Quote: megapixels

Staying at Mandalay Bay in a month. Driving a high performance car. Would it be safer (for the car) to valet park or self park? I assume they see all sorts of sports cars, so my Camaro SS is nothing to them, but you hear stories and see videos...

I have always self parked (20+ times) and never had the slightest of problems, but those cars were invisible.

I'm thinking cruise through the self park lot and see if I find a nice spot, otherwise valet?

My personal opinion is Valet. It's free/couple bucks tip, they do have insurance though it's a hassle if you have to make a claim (not for stuff in the car, but the condition of the car itself), it's better watched over. YMMV.

Nobody is going to be "watching." Don't get any such nonsense stuck in your head. This is something people just imagine in their 'Vegas Baby - magic omnipotent eye' fantasies; no such "watching" of either self-park or valet vehicles is going to be happening. Check out the specific arrangements where you're staying and make your own best guesstimate of what choice you think is better based on what you actually see there; I don't know Mandalay Bay well enough in particular to give you any of their relevant details.

It varies from place to place, but valet parking is often not any more secure than self-parking. Often it is simply on a lower floor of the same parking garage you'd be putting it in yourself. In many places I regularly cruise right by the valet floor(s) of the garage on the way to park myself on upper floors, and they are most often easier (as well as more desireable) for a crook to get to than the other floors. In some places it is even less secure than that, and it may be left out on an easily accessible surface lot when you valet. Don't expect it to be "watched over" in any way whatsoever. Nobody does.

As with the example of the family that valeted their car strapped on a tow dolly behind their rental moving van with all their furniture & household possessions at Venetian when stopping in Las Vegas during their cross-country move to their new home. It, and all contents, right down to the sock drawer & sofa & kitchen doo-dads & baby pictures, were stolen. Nobody noticed during the several days of their stay, until the family checked out and went to valet pick-up to leave. "Derp, uhhh, car, truck, furniture, wad, huh, uhh, derp..." The only thing uncommon about that is that it was a bit bigger than all the other rigs that got stolen that day up & down the Strip, and the family was more media savvy than average, so it got briefly mentioned in the local LV news because the press in the places they were moving from & to got ahold of their story and ran with it first. It happens many times daily. Yes, it does. The Las Vegas Strip resort corridor is the car theft capital of the world, and has been for decades.

Does your flashy conspicuously expensive vehicle have a very good theft deterrent system? Good. Now who is likely to be most diligent in arming it properly? Here is the name of the person I trust to be most careful about these things when my property is involved: Me. I wouldn't count on the valet kid to even think of locking it.

Here's something that I think is uncommon from many conversations with people enduring months long ordeals over this kind of thing: A resort property voluntarily accepting any responsibility for damage from a vehicle smash & grab, theft, or an accident, including those left with the valet, without involving an attorney who has done all the work necessary to leave no doubt s/he's fully prepared to file suit and win it. The 'front-of-the-house' staff will try to be very nice and verbally reassuring. And people will fill out a report and head home feeling it will all be okay & 'they' will take care of it. And they will refer it "upstairs" to the legal/risk-management dept. And that will be the end of "nice." Can't say I totally blame them, since I think sleazy people with ethical deficiencies trying to scam the casino resorts are probably about the only thing even more commonplace than actual vehicle theft & burglary damage.

And, personally I had a theft from my car when left with a Las Vegas valet. And I very strongly suspect the items were stolen BY the valet. Shame on me for not valet-proofing my car before I let them have it (but in my (weak) defense it was a last moment choice I was left with because the garage at the property was unexpectedly closed for some kind of maintenance). I hope they enjoyed their haul of parking meter change, MP3 player, paper comp tickets issued by a casino poker room 90 miles away, road maps, and fancy squeegee.

Quote: DrawingDead

Nobody is going to be "watching." Don't get any such nonsense stuck in your head. This is something people just imagine in their 'Vegas Baby - magic omnipotent eye' fantasies; no such "watching" of either self-park or valet vehicles is going to be happening. Check out the specific arrangements where you're staying and make your own best guesstimate of what choice you think is better based on what you actually see there; I don't know Mandalay Bay well enough in particular to give you any of their relevant details.

It varies from place to place, but valet parking is often not any more secure than self-parking. Often it is simply on a lower floor of the same parking garage you'd be putting it in yourself. In many places I regularly cruise right by the valet floor(s) of the garage on the way to park myself on upper floors, and they are most often easier (as well as more desireable) for a crook to get to than the other floors. In some places it is even less secure than that, and it may be left out on an easily accessible surface lot when you valet. Don't expect it to be "watched over" in any way whatsoever. Nobody does.

As with the example of the family that valeted their car strapped on a tow dolly behind their rental moving van with all their furniture & household possessions at Venetian when stopping in Las Vegas during their cross-country move to their new home. It, and all contents, right down to the sock drawer & sofa & kitchen doo-dads & baby pictures, were stolen. Nobody noticed during the several days of their stay, until the family checked out and went to valet pick-up to leave. "Derp, uhhh, car, truck, furniture, wad, huh, uhh, derp..." The only thing uncommon about that is that it was a bit bigger than all the other rigs that got stolen that day up & down the Strip, and the family was more media savvy than average, so it got briefly mentioned in the local LV news because the press in the places they were moving from & to got ahold of their story and ran with it first. It happens many times daily. Yes, it does. The Las Vegas Strip resort corridor is the car theft capital of the world, and has been for decades.

Does your flashy conspicuously expensive vehicle have a very good theft deterrent system? Good. Now who is likely to be most diligent in arming it properly? Here is the name of the person I trust to be most careful about these things when my property is involved: Me. I wouldn't count on the valet kid to even think of locking it.

Here's something that I think is uncommon from many conversations with people enduring months long ordeals over this kind of thing: A resort property voluntarily accepting any responsibility for damage from a vehicle smash & grab, theft, or an accident, including those left with the valet, without involving an attorney who has done all the work necessary to leave no doubt s/he's fully prepared to file suit and win it. The 'front-of-the-house' staff will try to be very nice and verbally reassuring. And people will fill out a report and head home feeling it will all be okay & 'they' will take care of it. And they will refer it "upstairs" to the legal/risk-management dept. And that will be the end of "nice." Can't say I totally blame them, since I think sleazy people with ethical deficiencies trying to scam the casino resorts are probably about the only thing even more commonplace than actual vehicle theft & burglary damage.

Yeah, DD, I would say your mileage has varied. lol... Can't disagree with anything you've said. I have used Valet probably 50 times in the last 3 years in LV, and have been genuinely happy with it, though I haven't Valet'ed at MB, so what do I know? But I'm just driving rentals. If it's the OP's own baby, and he wants to park it and arm it, more power to him.

If I was driving a rental, I'd valet.

Don't have to think through how to valet-proof it, it is automatically provided with an excellent evidence trail as to condition at the rental lot, let the rental car lawyers spar with the property lawyers to their collective heart's content, won't have to look at that fender again in the morning after I get home and feel sick all over again, etc...

ADD: I'd guess the likelihood of something happening to one car is probably something considerably less than 1 out of 50 per visit. Because it is a target rich environment; there are a lot of cars on the Strip every single day. Not because anybody is diligently watching over them. They aren't. Same as when it is parked anywhere else, like a shopping mall.

Off-topic addendum: I do know a local guy who picked up a very well used surplus Ford Crown Victoria for a second car. White on white, and came equipped with some things like extra big side mirrors, and a spotlight. He says he got it for remaining serene behind the wheel when he's driving around the parts of town where he thinks the prevailing driving technique most heavily falls under the technical term "lunatic." I tend to agree with him on that, between the cabbies who learned their skills in Mogadishu, the tourists who are either arriving & believe they have been rendered immortal due to the magic immunizing properties of neon lighting + complimentary beverage service, or are leaving while broke & hung-over & cheesed-off & none too eager to face another day back in reality at home, or locals who haven't drawn a sober breath since the Carter administration and are preoccupied with how they can possibly explain that they just pissed the rent money into a 'Blazing 7s' slot, again. But, he says he discovered an extra collateral side-benefit to the special theft-proof & dare-ya-ta-hit-me White Crown Vic Stripmobile. He says other motorists are amazingly polite to him in that car, everybody merges right on the freeway, and nobody ever cuts him off in traffic. Even the lunatic cabbies. Maybe especially the cabbies.

I think a lot of people don't realize that if they have full coverage on their own car it will also cover a rental car without taking the insurance from the rental car company. Most credit cards will cover the deductible if something does happen to it. Yes, it can be a hassle, but very little financial responsibility.

Used valet in Vegas for 40 years, never
self parked once. Never had one single
teeny tiny problem. Self parking is out
of the question. Why people do that
is a major mystery to me.

I stand by my answer to self park. This answer was specifically for megapixels and took into consideration an engine putting out over 400 horsepower as well as the young age of many male valets. Don't let these guys anywhere near your car. My wife had a incident with her Corvette where the valet floored it, lost control, jumped a curb and ruined a very expensive wheel.

If theft is a concern I might look for a casino that I could trust more, if that's even possible. I would not take up two spaces when self parking. That's a good way to set someone off especially in crowded areas. You don't want to get keyed.

By the way, just because a sign may be posted saying that the casino is not responsible for damage or theft to your car doesn't necessarily make it true. That goes for Indian casinos as well. Speaking from experience here.

Quote: 1BB

I would not take up two spaces when self parking. That's a good way to set someone off especially in crowded areas. You don't want to get keyed.

Yes.

Quote: 1BB

I would not take up two spaces when self parking. That's a good way to set someone off especially in crowded areas. You don't want to get keyed.

I never do. I think I will just try and blend in with everyone else.

I should have made this a poll. :)

Quote: EvenBob

Used valet in Vegas for 40 years, never
self parked once. Never had one single
teeny tiny problem. Self parking is out
of the question. Why people do that
is a major mystery to me.

I, for one, find valeting my car a hassle. I live in a huge metro area, and only valet it when I find it necessary. When I am ready to leave, I don't wish to sit around and wait for my vehicle when I could have found it and drove away in less time than a supposed premium service takes

Quote: EvenBob

Used valet in Vegas for 40 years, never
self parked once. Never had one single
teeny tiny problem. Self parking is out
of the question. Why people do that
is a major mystery to me.

I, for one, find valeting my car a hassle. I live in a huge metro area, and only valet it when I find it necessary. When I am ready to leave, I don't wish to sit around and wait for my vehicle when I could have found it and drove away in less time than a supposed premium service takes

Quote: Gabes22

I, for one, find valeting my car a hassle. I live in a huge metro area, and only valet it when I find it necessary. When I am ready to leave, I don't wish to sit around and wait for my vehicle when I could have found it and drove away in less time than a supposed premium service takes

I'm an older man, been a lot of places, some good some not. Only used valet a couple times in my life, didn't care for it.
Was at Harrahs Cherokee this last weekend for 3 nights. For some reason (like it is falling in, or a ramp is collapsing or something) the hotel parking decks are closed except for the ground level which is used exclusively for valet service. The casino self park is across the creek/river and is a bit of a walk to check-in, and then another bit back to the towers of rooms. Once settled in though it is pretty convenient.and like Gabes said, when I want to drive away I don't want to stand around and wait for someone to bring me my car. Also I tend to visit the car for items in or out and it's not possible to do that if it's off in valet parking. Maybe if I was more organized?.....

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

Only used valet a couple times in my life, didn't care for
..

What's not to like. Pull right up to the
door and I'm inside and playing in minutes.
No driving around on a ramp looking for
a space, no 10 min hike is sweltering or
freezing temps to and from the car.

When I leave there's usually a comfortable
waiting area where SOMEBODY ELSE goes
and finds my car. It's a win-win all around.
Whenever somebody says they don't use
valet, I usually find it's because they're
a cheapskate and resent tipping, it's not
because they don't like not parking themselves.

Valet is nothing more than to get you inside faster blowing your money faster.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Valet is nothing more than to get you inside faster blowing your money faster.

It's there for the convenience of the patron.
There are many people who, if you don't
offer valet service, will never come back.
I hate looking for a space and hiking in,
makes me feel just as swell as waiting
in line at the DMV or the bank.

Quote: EvenBob

It's there for the convenience of the patron.
There are many people who, if you don't
offer valet service, will never come back.
I hate looking for a space and hiking in,
makes me feel just as swell as waiting
in line at the DMV or the bank.

Makes me treasure my health even more.

Quote: EvenBob

It's there for the convenience of the patron.
There are many people who, if you don't
offer valet service, will never come back.
I hate looking for a space and hiking in,
makes me feel just as swell as waiting
in line at the DMV or the bank.

I already stated "if I were just more organized". That is one reason. You look and wait for a spot coming in, or you wait for your car when you want to leave.
Believe me, it's not the 'tipping'.
I come in on my own schedule, no rush.
I leave on my own schedule, might be in a rush.
Just me, not advising anyone.

Valet is nice for hotel check in. If I'm driving a rental, no brainier. The professionalism varies greatly hotel to hotel. If a house proves they can't handle it, I'll self park.

In my experience, good valet: Red rock, Ceasars, Rio, Main St. (But it sucks for check in)

Not so good valet: Orleans, Gold Coast, IP (Biloxi)

Quote: Dodsferd

Makes me treasure my health even more.

I go on hikes with my dog at home, have
no time or desire to do it in casino parking
lots.

Quote: TwoFeathersATL

I already stated "if I were just more organized". That is one reason. You look and wait for a spot coming in, or you wait for your car when you want to leave.
.

I've never found any place where I had to
wait in line for valet long. What I have found
is when valet is full, I have to spend 10 min
or more parking the car in the garage, then
walk 100 yards to the elevator, go to the
bottom level and walk another 5 min to
the casino floor. The parking garage is always
the furthest distance possible from the casino.

I also now have a handicapped permit because
of my bad hip joints. Handicapped parking is
a joke at a casino because half the people
there are old and have the same permit. Finding
an empty space is rarer than hitting a royal.

Quote:

so my Camaro SS is nothing to them,

Push your antenna down if it doesn't retract if you're in free parking area.

It's just too tempting to idiots and drunk idiots. Probably nothing will happen, but it's an easy prevention.

Quote: EvenBob

It's there for the convenience of the patron.
There are many people who, if you don't
offer valet service, will never come back.
I hate looking for a space and hiking in,
makes me feel just as swell as waiting
in line at the DMV or the bank.

I personally know people who flipped their keys to a guy they thought was a valet attendant in downtown Chicago only for the police to find their car completely gutted on the South Side of town. There is some comfort when going to a casino in Vegas where the Porte Cochere is a drive up and you see 5-7 people in the same uniforms, doing it on a sidewalk at a downtown restaurant with dozens of people walking by who may be dressed like the valet attendants is another thing. I have nothing against tipping, in fact I am a very good tipper, and most people in the service industry who deal with me regularly appreciate my tips and give me free services as a result. I don't find the valet service all that convenient. I think it saves time going in, but it costs you time when leaving. I find it a net neutral, so I decide to park my car and not let some complete stranger drive it for me. I don't see the convenience.

Quote: Gabes22

I think it saves time going in, but it costs you time when leaving. .

Having done it for decades, I find it a
huge net winner. And I mean huge.
Somebody has to wait one time, and
never uses it again. Part of it is avoiding
leaving at the busiest times. I never
go to a Strip casino at night, ever. I have
my car parked at the hotel I'm at DT. Valet
of course. Using valet on the Strip in the
afternoon I've never encountered a
waiting problem. Years ago, when I stayed
at Strip hotels, at night I played only at the
place I was staying. That way I could drink
and not worry about driving.

But it's not just one time you have to wait. It's every single time. You have to hand off your keys to a guy and he has to find your car while you stand there like a dope and wait. I'd rather go to where I parked and get into my car.

Quote: Gabes22

But it's not just one time you have to wait. It's every single time. You have to hand off your keys to a guy and he has to find your car while you stand there like a dope and wait. .

Where the heck are you going that you
have to wait longer than a couple minutes?
Just last week I stayed at Soaring Eagle
and the car was there in less than 60
seconds. Also, at night I DO NOT like
walking in parking garages. Too many
chances for violent crime. The stories
of parking garage crime are legion. Never
heard of a single person getting robbed
while waiting for valet.

Quote: EvenBob

Where the heck are you going that you
have to wait longer than a couple minutes?
Just last week I stayed at Soaring Eagle
and the car was there in less than 60
seconds. Also, at night I DO NOT like
walking in parking garages. Too many
chances for violent crime. The stories
of parking garage crime are legion. Never
heard of a single person getting robbed
while waiting for valet.

Play as yourself, on players card, get line of credit beforehand.
Don't carry a bunch of cash on you.
In garage, be polite to strangers that want to talk.
If necessary break their knees, rip one eyeball out and show it the other one.
Usually works.

Quote: EvenBob

Where the heck are you going that you
have to wait longer than a couple minutes?

Perhaps to a place you are not familiar with: a large casino-resort-hotel in Las Vegas, in an area called the Strip, after sundown. Instead of up to a few hundred or so rooms, they have thousands of them. Like 5,000++ of them these days, Bob. They often have lines for valet, among other things, sometimes long ones at peak times when most people are trying to go there, or leave. Enough that it leads some people to covet fancy cards that allow skipping to the front of them. People talk about them. A lot. Often. Other people here have previously talked a lot about not liking them. People you've been well acquainted with in your many sparring matches on this site. Perhaps you'll actually visit the area sometime in this century to see one.

Quote: EvenBob

Never
heard of a single person getting robbed
while waiting for valet.

Oh. My. Never huh? Well then, I can help you out there, Bobster. Now you have:

Detectives Seek Public’s Assistance in Homicide Investigation

Quote: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department - press release

At approximately 4:20 a.m. on May 3, 2015 LVMPD patrol officers were dispatched to the valet
area of the Paris Hotel and Casino...

The male was transported to the UMC Trauma Center where he was later pronounced deceased...

The investigation initiated by the LVMPD Violent Crimes Section and the LVMPD Homicide Section...

Carjacking from valet turns deadly

Quote: Las Vegas Review-Journal - By FRANCIS MCCABE

One man was killed and another critically injured after a carjacking at the Flamingo valet...

<SNIP>

...This was the second high-profile criminal incident at a Strip valet area in a week.

On Aug. 11 off-duty police detective Bernard Plaskett shot one time a would-be car thief who tried to steal his car at the Excalibur valet area. Saul Villegas, 27, of Bellflower, Calif., was charged with...

Quote: Las Vegas Sun - by John Taylor

Strip shooting, wreck, explosion



Police said a confrontation that appeared to have begun in the valet area of the Aria resort spilled onto Las Vegas Boulevard, leading to sporadic gunshots...

The incident, police said, began with an argument in the valet area of the Aria.

Cherry died, as did cab driver Michael Boldon, 62, and Sandra Sutton-Wasmund, 48, a businesswoman from Maple Valley, Wash., who was riding in the cab.

Freddy Walters, a passenger in Cherry’s car, was shot but survived.

Harris, who has been charged with three counts of capital murder...

Of course one could easily go on with that kind of thing for as many pages as anyone would care to, and also do the same for garages, and hotel hallways, on or off-Strip, in Las Vegas or nowhere near it, or for that matter for just about place that has large numbers of people, including nightlife districts of any city of any size at all, major shopping areas including malls, and on and on. But now you've heard of it. You're welcome.

For the Original Poster, here's a map of the property you're going to, in case you find it useful as a first time visitor. For the first time, at some point you might end up finding it answering a few questions you didn't ask. If you use the link that follows to go to the original, you can zoom in and scroll around and print it out if you care to, so you can have some idea where you're at and going to when you pull in.

Looks like Mandalay has separate garages, and that the self-park garage and valet are about equally convenient to the casino, though it appears the garage involves less of a trek across the maze of the casino's slot machine forest in order to get to the hotel front desk.



http://s427445329.onlinehome.us/images/propmaps/mbmapb.jpg

http://s427445329.onlinehome.us/casino-property-maps.php

Quote: DrawingDead

Perhaps to a place you are not familiar with: a large casino-resort-hotel in Las Vegas, in an area called the Strip, after sundown..

Where I said never go at night. Are you paying
the slightest amount of attention?

Quote: EvenBob

Where the heck are you going that you
have to wait longer than a couple minutes?
Just last week I stayed at Soaring Eagle
and the car was there in less than 60
seconds. Also, at night I DO NOT like
walking in parking garages. Too many
chances for violent crime. The stories
of parking garage crime are legion. Never
heard of a single person getting robbed
while waiting for valet.

That's a good answer. Several people have been murdered over the years that I know of in the Taj Mahal garage alone.

Quote: EvenBob

Where the heck are you going that you
have to wait longer than a couple minutes?
Just last week I stayed at Soaring Eagle
and the car was there in less than 60
seconds. Also, at night I DO NOT like
walking in parking garages. Too many
chances for violent crime. The stories
of parking garage crime are legion. Never
heard of a single person getting robbed
while waiting for valet.

Depends on where you are parking. if you are parking in a parking garage in Vegas it's one thing, if you are going to a restaurant downtown in a major city, the valet driver has to drive thru city traffic to get the car back to you. I have waited in excess of half an hour for a car I valeted before. Some see the value, I don't. I would rather park my car, know precisely where it is, not have someone drive it and leave precisely when I want to.

Quote: bobsims

That's a good answer. Several people have been murdered over the years that I know of in the Taj Mahal garage alone.

Atlantic City, NJ and Mount Pleasant, MI are two totally different worlds. The only crime going on up there is underage drinking (CMU) and the Indians removing aces from the blackjack game.

valet at all times in vegas.

valet at all times at the local craps boat (no other option).

self park at the seminoles if its early morning so I won't be doing that much drinking anyway.

valet park at the seminole if its later in the afternoon or evening where booze, crowds or events may mean a distraction or a lengthy hike in the parking lot.

Quote: FleaStiff

valet at all times in vegas.

valet at all times at the local craps boat (no other option).

self park at the seminoles if its early morning so I won't be doing that much drinking anyway.

valet park at the seminole if its later in the afternoon or evening where booze, crowds or events may mean a distraction or a lengthy hike in the parking lot.

I feel sure that's good advice, but how in the world did us Indians get in there. I will go back a couple posts and read again....

Downtown Austin you almost have to valet park. Otherwise you're going to be walking for blocks.
The only time I remember using valet at a casino was in Tahoe. The reason I used it there was it was snowing and after dark and I had to pee badly. I handed him the keys and asked where the nearest bathroom was. It was a rental I had driven from Reno and wasn't worried about it. The next day I got it from valet and self parked in back of Harrah's. It was actually more convenient than valet.

Quote: beachbumbabs

If it's the OP's own baby, and he wants to park it and arm it, more power to him.

Yeah, I'm not going to lie, it's my baby. That being said, I have good insurance. If I park it myself, arm it, and leave nothing in it... I'm pretty much covered no worries no matter what happens. If I hand the keys off to someone else, that's an insurance grey area that I don't want to venture into.

Quote: megapixels

Yeah, I'm not going to lie, it's my baby. That being said, I have good insurance. If I park it myself, arm it, and leave nothing in it... I'm pretty much covered no worries no matter what happens. If I hand the keys off to someone else, that's an insurance grey area that I don't want to venture into.

That's a wise decision. Some hot dog valet with no respect for the property of others could cause damage that may not immediately show up. Better safe than sorry.