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valet parking at stansted airport

Yak

By Yak
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Marlene

Marlene

Posted
Posted
Be careful, last time we did this at Gatwick airport, we had our home broken into when we were away. It has happened to other people as well, Leaving the car at the airport car parks is better than let someone else know you are away, ie airport hotel car parks, car valet parking.
  • 8 months later...
Devonshire lad

Devonshire lad

Posted
Posted

A word of caution ... I have used a these services 3-4 times in recent years and previously had no issues.


However, after my holiday in April flying from Stansted when the valet parking co returned my car they left me with two punctured tyres but most importantly DID NOT TELL ME as we drove out of the airport it was obvious something was wrong! It seems the car had been vandelised whilst with them - now the subject of invesitagation by the Police and correspondance with Tading Standards etc - but it seems most likely that the car was not parked in a secure, gaurded location and it seems many of these companies are not what they appear.


My advice - be very careful - ask them for confirmation of

1. Exactly where the car will be parked - and if they cannot tell you for "security reasons" - DO NOT TRUST THEM

2. What level of insurance do they offer (search some sites and they specifically state liability remains with you!)

3. Never leave your house keys on same fob as car key

4. As always the cheapest is unlikely to be the best as they are cutting corners somewhere.


With hindsight it amazes me how trusting I have been in the past (?40k car left with a man I have never met and really no idea where my car was going) I feel conned but a slick on line professional booking process .. but they left me with a bill approach ?700 for two news tyres and transport back to Camberrwell for me, luggage, kids etc - in short ruined my holiday .. I won't make the aame mistake again.


Note I have not named the company I used on this occassion as yet as I don't wish to be accused of slander whilst this is still subject to investigations - but please be careful. Do you research and probably stick with a big company linked to the Airport which clearly park cars on site.

tllm2

tllm2

Posted
Posted

We used Pink Elephant parking when we last flew from there - and can honestly say they managed to successfully add to the already high levels of stress, when flying with 2 young kids and plenty of luggage.


This lot (although there seems to be 2 companies fighting over the 'Pink Elephant' name) operate from the car park of the Hilton hotel. The theory is that you drop your car off in an allocated pink elephant bay, someone close by takes your paperwork, then you quickly jump on one of their shuttle buses, right next door to the bays, and off you go to the airport.


The reality is abit different - you arrive at the Hilton car park, shared by the Hilton, a gym and pink elephant - there are maybe 6 pink pays, you wait and see if any of the cars in bays look like moving, which they don't, circle the car park (with the clock ticking) to find any available space and then struggle from the furthest point of the car park with kids and bags to try and find someone to give your paperwork and keys to. With time running we approached the Hilton staff, who directed us to a broom cupboard at the back of the hotel, with a note on the door leaving a mobile number if the office is unattended.


By this point our heart was sinking that we were about to leave our car with this very dodgy looking outfit - but we were between a rock and a hard place. No where else to go and still be able to make the flight.


In the end we got our car back safely in one piece - but were hardly filled with confidence.


Avoid ............. there have got to be better options out there .............

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