poss

Wondering where's the best/most economical place to park for the airport. We'll be gone 16 days. I remember hearing that cars aren't especially safe at that airport, and that also it's less expensive to park at one of the "airport service" companies where one leaves one's car and then is somehow shuttled to the airport; I think there are auto places on Essington? Also remember that at airport motels, one can leave car for free (which is not possible at BWI, from where we usually fly).
In short, would appreciate advice on this. Thanks a lot.

hop_along

Poss: I've been trying to figure out what to do with a camper van while visiting downtown Philly for a few days, so I don't know any more than you do at this stage. But it might be helpful for you to try a Google search for "airport parking" and see what the Park 'n' Fly type places have to offer. I have done that in other locations with some success.

PaulRabe

Poss: the advice HopAlong gave you is correct. I've done this more than once and he cheapest I'm usually able to find over the years is Colonial Parking -- at $8 a day -- but you may find something better.
MAKE A RESERVATION -- I've shown up at this airport and found ALL parking lots filled. I don't mean all the lots on the airport, I mean all the private lots as well!

BTW, sixteen days at a minimum of $8 a day works out to about $130. Check to see if you could do this cheaper via cab or airport shuttle.

Bizarre as it may sound, also check auto rental. Even with drop off fees from where you live to the Philly airport, you might find it cheaper to twice rent a car between your town and the airport than to pay for sixteen days of parking.

schmerl

I have used Winner and Pacifico. They keep your car safe and take you to the airport and pick you up . They sometimes offer lower rates for longer stays.

BarryK

I've used Avistar without problem.

poss

Thanks very much for all this in-put. Will pursue. I'm particularly curious to inquire abt the car-rental idea-- had certainly never thought of that.

Jed

We have used Pacifico valet for 20 years. Check out the coupons.

http://www.pacificovalet.com/

poss

Question for Jed, etc: When you park with Pacifico or similar, do you tip your driver? I see that there's a "valet charge" in addition to the actual rate, so that seems to say that one doesn't tip, yet....?

Jed

I know that there is a 'valet charge', but my wife usually pokes me in the ribs on the way over, telling me I should give him a few bucks. Next time I will ask at the office so I can give her a definitive answer as to whether the 'tip' is included.

NJriverchick

I live in NJ and we have used SMART PARK dozens of times & been pleased.
However, when we are going to be gone that long we will take SEPTA to the airport.

Poss- can you get to the SEPTA from where you live?

it might be cheaper to take a taxi from your house to the SEPTA and then take SEPTA to the airport.

poss

Thanks again, everyone.
I checked abt renting a car (sounded like a cool idea), but our little town on Maryland's Eastern Shore only has Enterprise-- and one can't drop off in another state. Also, no SEPTA, tant pis.
I think we will go with Pacifico. In fact, we actually used them once a number of years ago. Still expensive, but better, I think, than leaving car in airport long-term lot.

GBelle

I knew someone who flew out of Philly on a weekly basis last year. He used one of the private parking lots with the shuttle service and said that if you check the web, many of them have "discount" coupons for a reduced price. For holiday periods, he recommended the reservation too.

diann24

http://www.fasttrack.com/LocationHomePage.aspx?ln=9054

This use to be www.sunpark.com you park yourself and a bus takes you to the airport. It is very cheap. We use to use sunpark but this fastrack.com is the way to go. It is $6.95 per day. We went to Hawaii and used them.

karens

We use Pacifico valet,too. What's nice about this is that they drive you, so you don't have to lug your suitcases through a parking lot and load them onto a shuttle.

The airport garages are expensive and often fill up mid-week.

mileaday

Check out Ampco. They have outside and garage parking. You can usually print coupons for them. We had a bad experience with Pacifico a few years ago and have heard similar stories to ours. We left our car with a full tank of gas and came back to an empty tank! A friend of a friend came back a day earlier than expected and his car was no where to be found. They managed to locate it in Atlantic City with one of the Pacifico employees at the wheel. We have chosen never to leave our keys in the posession of others. If they decide to hot wire the car and take it for a spin, so be it!

poss

Thanks a lot for the continued in-put. Those stories about Pacifico certainly do give one pause! If we decide to use them I'd certainly mention that we'd noted the mileage on the odometer, etc.