TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Parking in Miami

So, for a few years now we have been using The Parking Spot (which used to be called something else, which escapes me at the moment). Now, today I go online to try to make a reservation and they want $23.50 PER DAY. Ouch. Ridiculous!! Anyone here have places you have used before with satisfaction?

Dumb question, because you probably already investigated this, but have you looked at any airport hotels? Stay-and-park, as some call it?

And some hotels "sell" parking spots and shuttle, even if you don't stay there.

We don't stay overnight in a hotel anywhere, as we are often rushed at the last minute, getting everything done before we go. Our flight isn't until 11:30, so we plan on spending the night before at home.

Ride Share app (Lyft or Uber)...or a formal Car Service. Dropped and Picked-up at the door. Make it easy. Even if it's a tic more expensive...take the hassle out of that part of your trip.

For our last St. Martin trip, we used the following company for our parking. We flew out of Birmingham, AL. In looking at their website, I see that they offer parking at hotels and offsite parking lots close to the MIA airport. The prices are much better than $23.50 per day. https://www.cheapestairportparking.com/airport-parking/index.html?airport=MIA

Doubt a 3 and 1/2 hour drive each way for a ride share app going to be more than a little expensive.

Hello Carol,
We've used the Hampton Airport West for parking, shuttle etc., it was something like 10$ per day + tax.

It appears that you didn't read the entirety of my post.

"And some hotels "sell" parking spots and shuttle, even if you don't stay there."

You can park at some hotels, even if you're not staying there (see Gomer's post above).

I'm not sure how comfortable I would feel parking at a hotel, in an unsecured lot. People have reported their cars getting stolen or vandalized at hotels, and the hotel disclaimed any responsibility.

gomer---was the parking lot secured at all?

I don't mean to be argumentative, but outside of valet, I don't know of any airport parking lot that provides liability for theft. Even the claim ticket will likely disclaim liability, stating that no bailment is created.

That's why we have used the same lot for years. It is valet, in a secured building. I had been paying about $12-$15 a day, last year.

The past couple of years we have opted to do one way car rentals which worked great and were far less costly than area parking, plus less wear and tear on our personal car. I think our last car rental was $110 one way and $75 the other....from the Naples/Estero area.

Depending on where you are in Florida can you take the Tri-Rail into the airport?

If you have any friends who live in the Miami area, you could park at their house and uber back and forth to the airport. It is what we did last year. Just an idea.

We are 3 1/2 hours one way, so it's a hike. Don't know anyone in the Miami area.

Again, anyone have any experience with a parking garage you would recommend?

So I have the CLT app and I signed up for discount emails for parking and have gotten really good deals on airport parking when booking in advance usually half price might be worth checking to see if Miami has something similar.

OK thanks

Carol,

I recently booked on line a 15 day stay at Park N Fly the Parking Spot in April for a trip to the DR. I joined the Spot Club and got a AAA discount and it cost me $197 that includes $28 in taxes and tees. The actual parking cost is $11,27 per day plus fees and taxes. That is for parking outside and paying ahead of time. I used Park n Fly before they were bought out.

Try joining the club, use AAA, and go through the process to see your final cost.

Rob--I thought I was already a member, but will doublecheck that. Thanks.

I just did a dummy booking for mid April and uncovered parking was $11.75 a day. Are you logged into the site as a member?

Yes, I am. I'm looking for June and the 'pay now, non cancellable' price was the same as the pay when you arrive price. I wonder if there was something wrong with the site. I will look again today.

Just tried it again, just now, still $23.50 a day. For April they are having a sale, if booked right now. I think I will check back in a day or two and if the price is still the same, will register as Eric and see if I can get a better price.

Perhaps clearing your history/cookies or using a VPN might produce a different result.

We are seeing altogether too many VPN's these days!! That's what spammers use. I'll check back in a couple of days.

Hi Carol,
We used to do the stay and fly option at EB Hotel, Miami, until my much beloved 4WD, lifted, turbo diesel truck was stolen while we were in Turks and Caicos.
Never again! We now do one-way car rentals. Back in SXM in June!

I remembered someone here had their vehicle stolen at a hotel. I was trying to look at doing two one way rentals, and it looks like I can't drop off a car locally. Will need to look at it again.

Local rental places often have limited hours so its possible you need to return the car the next morning if you are arriving too late (not every place offers 24h drop off).

It's really an efficient way to "park" especially if your traveling longer than a week.

It doesn't appear to be 'efficient' for us at all, from what I'm seeing. We are in the middle of nowhere. It appears that I could rent one way from here and drop off in Miami, but cannot rent one way in Miami and drop off locally. Everything within an hour from our house, when I try to book it, says 'requires a change of location' and it won't even give me a price. And one way, dropping off in Miami was $100, so I have to assume the return, if I could find it, would be at least that much.