valet parking

Meaning

A service offered at hotels, restaurants, or airports where an attendant parks your car for you. It is highly convenient but usually involves a fee and a small tip for the attendant.

Examples

• Does this hotel offer valet parking, or do we have to find a spot ourselves?

  Does this hotel offer valet parking, or do we have to find a spot ourselves?

• I usually prefer valet parking when it's raining so I don't have to walk far.

  I usually prefer valet parking when it's raining so I don't have to walk far.

• We left the car with the valet parking service at the airport terminal.

  We left the car with the valet parking service at the airport terminal.

• Make sure you have some cash on hand to tip the valet parking attendant.

  Make sure you have some cash on hand to tip the valet parking attendant.

• Valet parking is complimentary for guests dining at the rooftop restaurant.

  Valet parking is complimentary for guests dining at the rooftop restaurant.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I used the valet car park yesterday.

  ✓ I used the valet parking service yesterday.

  'Valet parking' is the standard noun phrase. 'Valet car park' is an unnatural combination.

• ✗ We parked our valet in front of the hotel.

  ✓ We used valet parking in front of the hotel.

  'Valet' refers to the person or the service, not the car itself. You do not park a valet.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The hotel offers complimentary ________ for all overnight guests.

  💡 A service where someone parks your car for you.

  Show answer

  valet parking

• I didn't want to search for a spot in the crowded garage, so I just used ________.

  💡 The opposite of parking the vehicle yourself.

  Show answer

  valet parking