Seeking alternative to valet parking Westin Copley Place Boston
 

Just wondering if there's a relatively convenient and less expensive alternative to valet parking at the Westin Copley Place. Will be arriving Friday afternoon 3/27 so traffic will be a factor. Thanks for any advice.

Assuming you don't need the car during the time you're here:

1) Just park at Copley Place but don't mention the Westin Valet Parking. $35/24hrs
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=784

2) Park at Prudential Center Garage next door (you can get to Westin via pedestrian walkways in the mall). $39/24hrs.
http://www.prudentialcenter.com/parking/rates.php

for the 2 above, if you are parking for just a few hours and need to use the car again, you can buy something at the respective malls and get your ticket validated which entitles you to a lower rate.

3) Garage @ 100 Clarendon, about 3 blocks from your hotel. $32/24hrs.
http://www.100clarendon.com/rates_hours.html

YK- thanks for the suggestions complete with competing rates, that is what I was wondering about. If the valet parking is still $40 (plus tip) then it's not significantly cheaper to park elsewhere. We won't use the car while we're there. I doublecheck the valet rate but thanks again for the info.

If the valet parking is $40 + tip, and you don't need to use your car at all, I'd go ahead and park yourself at the Copley Place garage. It's the same garage as the Westin Valet, except that you park/retrieve yourself. Saves $5/day plus tip, enough for a breakfast for 2.

There's also a Parking Garage at 40Dalton Street owned by Pilgram Parking. I don't know what their rate is, and it's pretty close too. You may want to google it and find out what their rate is.

One more thought: If you have thentime and patience, you can read the reviews of the hotel on Tripadvisor. Sometimes reviewers will put in tips about area parking which may offer some discounted garage options, but you'd have to spend the time to comb through all the reviews.

gailw,

Take a look at http://www.boston.bestparking.com. You can plug in your date and times and it will show you area parking with the rates.

BestParking is a terrific resource, but you'd have to expand your search to the Financial District for any signficant savings, and not all garages are shown.

If one of you drops the other and the bags off at the hotel, then heads for Post Office Square, for example, you can park the entire weekend for less that valet at the hotel (or even self-park). But, it's a long walk back or a taxi fare. Or, you could use the "T".

You may also want to consider the Boston Common garage, but I don't think the inconvenience will offset the savings.

Thanks to all of you for suggestions. It seems like we'd only save $5 or $10 a day to park elsewhere and then would have to deal with logistics. I'll check out the resources mentioned above just to make sure.
thanks again.
gail

I tried using the boston bestparking.com website. I found the list of parking lots but can't figure out how to enter our arrival and departure times "on top of the map." That Pilgrim lot on Dalton street looks closest, other than the Copley Place lot yk suggested.

gail,

When I choose "daily" parking, then click on by neighborhood, I get the drop down menu for dates and times, arrival and departure. Next on the page (under dates) is the map, followed by the list of garages. So the place to put your date and time is at the top of the page.

If it doesn't work for you, give your date and times and I can check.