Message: Next summer, we will spend a week in the Colorado mountains. The resort where we will stay has a "valet parking" system. As Europeans we are not familiar with this use. What are the customs? Are we obliged to use this service?

Pardon my surprize if you're from Europe, you might be aware that valet (French origin, for male servant) means someone parks your car for you while you unload your luggage-presumably because the resort entrance may be far away from the parking.

There is usually a way around valet parking, once you figure out where the parking lot is. If you list the resort name, others here may be able to give you more details to avoid the few dollars it costs to valet park.

It means that there will be an attendant at the entrance who will take your car to the parking area for you and store your keys at their desk. Then when you want your car they will go get it for you. It requires that you tip the attendant each time you get it back from them (you don't need to tip when they take it). You probably don't need to use it--just park your own car and walk to your unit. I have been some places however where it was quite a hike and worth the tip. As far as the first time when you check in you can give your luggage to the bell man and then park it yourself if you ask where the lots are. No, you don't have to use it.

I would add that some hotels and resorts ONLY offer valet parking. I noticed this in Dallas last week. The Melrose Hotel has valet parking in a big open lot, but you can't park there unless you valet! It was silly.

Depending on the hotel, you MAY have to use the valet parking. It may be that there is no parking actually at the hotel, and the hotel has an off-site arrangement. In that case, you can't park the car yourself, and they will bring you the car each time you need it. You may also be charged a parking fee for each day, if that is the case, I don't know that I would tip the attendent each time he brings the car to you.

You should check with the hotel whether valet parking is the only parking available; if so, it is kind of a pain if you will need your car every day, as you will have to wait with others for your car to be brought around. However, at a resort if you arne't going to need the car every day, then it is fine.

As noted above, if you tell us the name of the hotel, others here may have advice for alternative parking in the area which you can do for yourself rather than having to use the valet parking.

AND...at some hotels there is a parking fee + a valet fee + tip. Gets expensive. So many different systems, you will just have to ask.

Personnally, I would rather not have any one else driving my car, and I would rather not have to wait for someone to bring it around. OF course, my opinion changed dramatically when I went on vacation while on crutches...then it was a fabulous service and worth every penny!

I agree that it is rare to be required to use the valet. Some places will give you a little attitude if you want to park your own car, but I just put my nose in the air and ignore them.

Thanks to all for this useful information. Now I know what we can expect.

I suppose whether the valet is worth it or not depends on the city and hotel. As mentioned, many hotels in city cores have no parking facilities of their own so it's a major pain to park off-site every time. However, there are more than a few hotels (and restaurants) that have plenty of parking on-site and in fact "valet" means they just park your car in a lot no more than 50 feet away! In those cases the valet is a big rip off. I've had bad experiences at these type of valets. It would take me no more than 30 seconds to walk to my car but I couldn't do that since they got my keys. Instead, I had to wait 10 minutes for an available employee to "pull" my car up! Outrageous!