Dubai: Valet service is always the best option when there are no parking lots available or when there’s a need to reach a specific place on time.
However, it could also be costly in some venues that do not offer a complimentary service.
While handing the car to a valet can be convenient and efficient at times, there’s always a chance that the car gets damaged under unexpected circumstances. Additionally, in crowded areas, returning cars to customers could take longer than necessary.
Gulf News spoke to seven people about their views on valet parking and the positive and negative experiences they had when handing their cars to a valet.
Jawad Mirwais Azizi, 25, general manager, Azizi Investments:
“I prefer going to places that offer valet parking, especially in areas where there aren’t enough parking spots such as Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence and Shaikh Zayed Road. Trying to find a parking slot in Deira and Bur Dubai can also be very frustrating. The down side of opting for valet parking is your car could get damaged. I once had a very bad experience with valet parking in a very posh hotel — the valet was not a good driver and he hit a column while parking my car. My car’s bumper was severely damaged and I had to wait for an hour until the police showed up. Their insurance had to pay for the damage, and it took more than a month for my car to be repaired.”
Ahmad Fareed, 22, university graduate:
“I never trust the valet with my car especially after I bought a Mercedes S class but, at the same time, I worry about parking my car at malls or in crowded areas. I discovered recently that the ticket for valet parking, in some places, comes with a disclaimer saying they are not liable for any damages unless it was caused by their own negligence. This worries me sometimes. Whenever I opt for valet parking, I request the valet to be careful and to take good care of the car. I also check the car from the outside before leaving to make sure nothing untoward has happened. The other thing I dislike about this option is that I sometimes have to wait for many minutes until they bring the car around, especially in crowded hotels.”
Nadia Amr Elbilassy, 20, university student:
“I usually avoid giving my car to the valet and prefer parking on my own for two main reasons. Valet parking is actually costly and can go up to Dh200 on the weekends at some popular malls in the UAE. The long wait involved is another reason. In certain places where valet parking is cheap or is complimentary, it can take ages to get your car back. On the other hand, valet parking can also be an efficient way of solving the issue of finding a parking slot close to your destination. I’m not wary of valets — I feel it’s safe to hand them the car. If, for example, they hit the car, I’m sure they will take responsibility for the damage. I would, however avoid leaving any valuable things in the car because that would be my responsibility.”
Maryam Abdul Sattar, university student:
“There are pros and cons to everything. In case of valet parking, I believe that if I’m very late for a meeting or an important occasion, then it’s reasonable to give my car to the valet. Also, if my car were brand new or expensive, I would prefer giving it to the valet because they seem to be more careful unlike when parking your car in a regular parking where minor accidents are prone to happen. If, for example, I was not in a hurry and the place was not too crowded, I would prefer parking my own car. Valet parking can be very expensive sometimes. I’ve never had any problems with the valet, but if I felt something was not right, I wouldn’t hand them the car in the first place. All in all, I think valet parking is convenient and makes more sense when visiting exclusive restaurants and some hotels.”
Arin Bazdekian, 25, PR and marketing executive:
“A few years ago, my dad surprised my twin sister and me with a brand new car. Two months later, we decided to go to a restaurant in Downtown Dubai and so had our car valet-parked. Back then, the underground parking was still under construction so parking ourselves was not an option. When we came back for the car, we realised that a valet driver had smashed into our vehicle while parking a huge 4x4 . Apparently, they had looked for us in the restaurant but couldn’t find us so they decided to call the police and get all the paperwork done without consulting us. We couldn’t even open the door from the driver’s side so we had to climb in from the passenger side. We made sure that the paperwork was completed correctly and drove back home stunned. We couldn’t even write a complaint as everything was done already. Our personal insurance covered it, not the valet’s. I do not trust them and choose to park my car myself. However, there are certain instances where you are left no choice but to leave your car to the valet. I always tell them to please be careful.”
Sandy Azmy, 22, university student:
“I like the fact that there is free valet parking in almost all hospitals across Dubai. I go to Medcare and Al Zahra hospitals and the valet is very convenient, especially if I’m late for my appointment or if I’m in pain and must go in immediately. With the valet service, I don’t need to waste time looking for parking while in pain. In fact, even if there aren’t any drivers available to take the car I can just queue my car in front of the door and they will take care of it. Additionally, when my husband and I were looking for ballrooms for our wedding, we discovered that a lot of hotels had valet parking available free of charge. However, I find it frustrating when a mall is incredibly crowded and they close off a huge chunk of the parking for valet services. In most instances, that area is empty even as people are struggling to find a spot in the regular parking lot.”
Sana Nader, 23, journalist:
“I believe that the cost of valet parking is extremely high and it isn’t a service affordable for many. Although it seems like the more convenient option in crowded places with no parking, it’s still expensive. An incident that comes to mind was when my aunt needed to take my grandmother to the doctor who was located in a mall. She looked for parking but couldn’t find any so she asked about the valet service. She was told that for every hour she had to pay Dh200. They were shocked by the prices and decided to leave.”
-Maria Botros is a trainee at Gulf News
