Unexpected Parking Costs While Traveling

The vehicles that many of us own can be a source of great convenience, and at the same time great frustration. They allow us to get to where we want to go, when we want to go there. But there are also many costs associated with owning one. First you have to buy the thing, then there’s fuel, insurance and maintenance. We all know all about those, they’re factored into everyone’s mental perspective as the cost of ownership. But over this last weekend, I encountered three separate occasions where I had to reach deep into my pocket for funds to pay for vehicle related expenses that we don’t commonly think of.

Hotel Parking

I fully realize that this one is simply a product of the fact that I live the majority of my life in a smallish city, or the rural Midwest. To me, the standard final question to checking into a hotel is, “Which door would be most convenient for me to park next to?” After receiving the answer, which is given by the hotel receptionist orally while showing me visually on a map, I pull my car to the hotel door that is closest to my room. This creates the shortest distance between my “I packed too much” vehicle to my room.

However, I had a very different experience this weekend when I checked into a hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota as I was running in a 5K, 10K and 10 Mile race as part of the Twin Cities Marathon festivities. I was told that I could park at the parking garage next to the hotel. But since the parking garage was not owned by the hotel, it would cost me $15 a day.

It just floors me that someone would build a hotel and think there’s no need for parking. To think that it would be perfectly fine to direct their customers to a publicly accessible parking garage that may or may not have any room in it to park their vehicle. It reminds me of my thoughts when airlines started charging for baggage – because having luggage when you travel is an oddity, right? <end sarcasm> If you’re going to provide a service, then your service should accommodate the needs of your customers without charging for things you KNOW they’re going to need. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find that hotels in the future will start charging extra for blankets to go on the beds.

Taxi Service

While in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, Vonnie and I were part of a group that was going to a nearby restaurant for dinner. The restaurant was only 6 miles away, but it was suggested that we take a cab because the restaurant is typically very busy, and parking is difficult. After some investigation, I estimated that the round trip price to the restaurant and back would probably sit at about $40. Why would I have to pay that $40? Because the restaurant has inadequate parking to accommodate a full restaurant. Again, who thought it would be a good idea to build a restaurant that holds 200 people (making up a numbers here), but their parking lot can only hold enough cars for half that?

I decided to take a chance and drive. We piled a total of 7 people into our van and went to the restaurant. After dropping the rest off at the front door, I began what I thought was to be a very long process of snaking through the packed parking lot waiting for someone to leave. Luckily, just as I entered the overflow parking lot someone was pulling out to leave. I shouldn’t have to feel like I won the lottery because I was able to find a parking spot outside a restaurant.

Airport Parking

Ok, Ok…I actually understand this one. If you’re going to leave your car parked while you go on a trip, you’re going to pay. No problem. But after the first two incidents, this still just rubbed me the wrong way especially with the hassle I had to go through.

My parents drove to my city to fly out for a vacation out west. They parked their car in the metered parking on Saturday and when I returned on Sunday I was to retrieve their car and park it at my house. They were supposed to leave the parking ticket in the vehicle for me to get the car out of the parking lot. Unfortunately, after tearing the car apart I couldn’t find it. I walked to the exit to talk to the cashier about my options. This obviously wasn’t the first time this had happened as he handed me a little form for me to fill out to give back to him when I came back to the car. I walked all the way across the parking lot back to my parents car to discover I had no pen. So I talked into the airport and borrowed a pen to fill out the form. I then walked back to the parking lot and then drove to the cashier who fortunately took my word at when my parents parked the car. After paying $18, I was on my way.

The point here is more than just a series of events dealing with parking which sparked a slow burn of frustration eventually culminating in a 10 minute cursefest on my way back from the Rochester International Airport. Vehicles give us an immeasurable amount of convenience, but at a cost. The next time you go on a trip, make sure you know what you’re going to do with your self-propelled piece of metal, and know how much it’s going to cost.

• Hotel Parking : When making reservations, ask if there is parking. If not, ask how much it’s going to cost, and what the chances are that there will be room for you. Find out if there are any big events going on in town, and what the backup plan is should the parking be full or otherwise unavailable. This will allow you to tack on the appropriate amount to your budget.
• Airport Parking: Find out what the airport charges for parking. Check around for park and rides. If you’re staying at a hotel the night before your flight find out if they offer park and ride from their parking lot. Don’t be afraid to inconvenience family or friends to drop you off…..but make sure you realize the favor will be returned someday.
• Shuttle Service: Find out if your hotel has a shuttle service, and how far they will go. The hotel we stayed out would only shuttle three miles out from the hotel. If you can make plans within the shuttle service, you’ll a ton of money from cab rides (do NOT forget to tip your shuttle driver, though!).

I should have known all these things, but I got caught up in the exhilaration of how much fun I was going to have during my runs that weekend. Next time I’ll be doing more research to try to eliminate some of these fees, or at least know they’re there so I can plan for them.

Have you every experienced frustration and unexpected costs associated with what to do with your car while traveling? How much did it cost you?