What is valet parking?
Valet parking is a service where you hand your car keys to an attendant (the valet) who parks your vehicle for you. The process:
- Drive up to the valet stand at the entrance.
- Hand over keys and accept a numbered claim ticket.
- The valet parks your car in a designated lot or garage nearby.
- On return, present your ticket at the valet stand.
- The valet retrieves your car and drives it back to the entrance, usually within 5–15 minutes.
- Tip $2–5 in cash on pickup.
Valet parking cost by type
| Type | Typical Cost | Tip Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Airport valet (DIA, ORD, MDW) | $32-50/day | $3-5 |
| Hotel valet (overnight) | $25-75/night | $3-5 |
| Restaurant valet | $5-15/visit | $2-5 |
| Event/venue valet | $20-40/event | $3-5 |
| Casino valet | Often free | $2-5 |
| Hospital valet | $3-10/visit | Optional |
Valet parking tipping etiquette
Tip in cash at pickup. Standard amounts:
- $2–3 — quick valet at casual restaurants and standard hotels.
- $5 — standard at upscale hotels, fine-dining, and airport valet.
- $10+ — bad weather, heavy luggage, or attentive premium service.
Dropoff tipping is optional ($1–2). Most valets rely on tips for income; underpaying or stiffing is considered rude in US service culture.
Valet vs self-park comparison
| Factor | Valet | Self-park |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (airport, 7 days) | $224-350 | $49-105 off-airport |
| Time at dropoff | 2-5 minutes | 10-25 minutes |
| Time at pickup | 5-15 minutes | 10-25 minutes |
| Luggage handling | Curbside | Self-haul to shuttle |
| Weather exposure | None | Walk + shuttle wait |
| Best for | Short trips, premium service | Multi-day trips, budget |
Valet parking at DIA, ORD, and MDW
Denver International (DIA): Official DIA valet is $45+/day at the terminal. WallyPark Premier off-airport valet is $22/day and includes car wash and interior vacuum — the best valet value in Denver. Canopy offers off-airport valet at $18/day (no detailing).
Chicago O'Hare (ORD): Official ORD valet runs $50+/day. The Parking Spot O'Hare offers off-airport valet at $20–28/day with covered options.
Chicago Midway (MDW): Official MDW valet is $50+/day. The Parking Spot Midway offers off-airport valet at $18–25/day.
How to book valet parking
Most airport valet services accept walk-up and pre-booking. Pre-booking guarantees a slot during peak periods (Thanksgiving, Christmas, summer) and locks in advance-rate pricing. Restaurant and hotel valet are typically walk-up only and bundled into the venue's service. Book DIA valet through Windy Parking, SpotHero, ParkWhiz, or directly with WallyPark/Canopy/The Parking Spot.
Valet parking sub-topics
Valet Parking Denver Airport
DIA valet options reviewed from $22/day.
Valet Parking DIA
DIA's official curbside valet service.
WallyPark Denver Airport
WallyPark Premier valet with car wash from $22/day.
Coming Soon
Valet at the airport — from $22/day at DIA.
Windy Parking books WallyPark Premier valet with car wash. Join the waitlist for 25% off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is valet parking?
Valet parking is a service where an attendant parks your car for you. You pull up to the entrance, hand over your keys to the valet, and they park your vehicle in a designated lot or garage. When you return, you give the valet your ticket and they retrieve your car. Common at hotels, restaurants, airports, hospitals, and event venues.
How much does valet parking cost?
Valet parking costs $10–50 per use depending on location. Airport valet runs $32–50/day, hotel valet $25–75/night, restaurant valet $5–15 plus tip, and event valet $20–40. Always tip $2–5 on pickup, more for premium service.
How much do you tip a valet?
Standard valet tip is $2–5 on pickup (when they bring your car), with $5 considered standard for upscale restaurants and hotels. Tip on dropoff is optional ($1–2). Bad weather, heavy luggage assistance, or premium venues warrant $5–10. Tip in cash — valets rarely receive credit-card tips.
Is valet parking worth it?
Valet parking is worth it for short trips, bad weather, heavy luggage, mobility issues, or when self-parking is far from the entrance. It saves time but costs $10–30 more per use than self-park. For multi-day airport trips, off-airport self-park ($7–15/day) beats valet ($32–50/day) by $100+ per week.
Where can I find valet parking near me?
Valet parking is available at most upscale hotels, fine-dining restaurants, major airports (DIA, ORD, MDW all offer valet), large hospitals, casinos, sports venues during events, and downtown garages in major cities. Airport valet can be pre-booked through Windy Parking, SpotHero, or directly with the lot operator.
Is valet parking safe?
Reputable valet services are safe — attendants are bonded, vehicles are kept in secure lots with cameras, and operators carry liability insurance. Damage and theft are rare but happen; document any pre-existing damage on the valet ticket and check your car at pickup. Avoid leaving valuables in the cabin.