NeoPatrick

If keeping a car for a month in midtown and using a valet garage under the apartment building, how much are you expected to tip each time you get your car? Do you only tip when you get it, or do you also tip when you bring it back? It may be used almost daily.

bspielman

We've been taking the train into Manhattan almost exclusively for the past nine months or so, after many, many years of driving. Our usual tip, upon retrieving the car from a privately-operated parking lot, was $2.

mclaurie

I'm not sure you have to tip every day. $1-2 on picking it up is typical if you mostly use it on weekends. For those who live here all the time and use it daily, I think they just give big tips for Xmas. In your situation, I'd consider giving $20-$30 at the beginning of the stay to whoever is on duty at the time you intend picking the car up and then maybe $1-2 if one of the other guys happens to get the car.

nytraveler

If you're using every day you don;t need to tip very day. Tell whoever you give to the car what your scheudle will be (they will want to now so they know where to park it) and give them $25. If someone else gets you the car when you pick up give $2.

happytrailstoyou

For many years I parked my car in a garage on East 58th Street in New York City.

The monthly rental was $60 when I started, but it soared to over $350 by the time I left NYC 20 years ago.

Cars were crammed into small spaces in tandem and could be secured only with the help of an attendant. I never tipped anybody, and in the twenty years I parked there I never saw another monthly customer tip either.

Now I follow the most usual advice, which is to tip $2 when I pick up my car. But I have written at this forum before that I find I get the same smile and thank you whether I tip $1, $2, or $5.

HTTY

Aduchamp1

The problem with giving one guy $25, is he may not be the one on duty tomorrow. I would tip the guy on a per use basis. I would also introduce myself and ask them if you have call ahead or whatever, even if the question is irrelevant to appear as a mensch.

When I owned a car rather than rented, I gave the guys a tip when I brought the car in, in the hopes, no matter how delusional, that they might treat it better.

NeoPatrick

OK, several opinions here and still not sure. Meanwhile still trying to decide, but the deal is this. A friend staying with me for the month in the ciy, but he works in Somerset, NJ. So the commute is not easy. He could leave his car near a NJ Path Station, commute to there daily and then drive. But considering the logistics of walk, subway, Path, walk, car and drive every day and reversing it in the evening, driving actually seems simpler. Plus he'd be doing a "backwards" commute from the heaviest traffic (hopefully). Also we'd then have the car for weekends, and we are leaving the city for at least two of the weekends during the month.

We were happy with the rate of $275 for a month's unlimited valet parking, but I think part of the good price is because he drives a Prius.

garyt22

I would recommend that you keep at least $10 in the cupholder so they can help themselves plus get a second wallet that you leave in the glovebox with at least $50... they will help themselves and set their own tip rate.... that the way it works in most valet garages...

Aduchamp1

He would also need an EZ pass to pay for the daily tolls and must account for the vagaries of delays at the bridges and tunnels.

During the rush hour commute they add lanes to accommodate the heavier traffic which also can lead to delays for the restriced reverse commute.

HowardR

Assuming that there would be more than one employee getting the car over the month,I agree with Aduchamp1 about tipping on a per use basis. Obviously, the ideal situation would be for you to "meet" with all the employees at the start of your stay and leave a substantial gratuity then. But, just as obviously, that's too ideal a possibility to be a reality!
I wish I could offer some advice for your friend's commute, but I see no easy way to do it. Even a reverse commute would not be a fun situation, especially in the late afternoon/early evening.
Of course, however, having a car at your disposal for the weekends is a definite plus that time of the year.

mclaurie

For $140 he can buy a monthly parking and ferry pass to leave the car at Port Imperial in Weehawken. http://nywaterway.com/PortImperialWe...nTerminal.aspx I'm not sure if he can leave the car there overnight for this price but if the answer is yes, it would be worth it to me to avoid doing that Hudson River crossing twice a day. The tunnels and bridges are just awful. If you're staying at Executive Plaza or thereabouts, the ferry over is quite convenient.

I have a relative who commutes from the upper east side to Ft. Lee NJ by car. Ugh. Not a relaxing way to start and end the day. I think the ferry would be fun and cheaper. Maybe find out what it would cost to just leave the car in the building on Fri. night and Sun. night. Tipping is really nota big deal in this situation.