(Picture taken from inside Le Yen and you can see the parking in front)
It is either all Lebanese like to show off or are plain stupid. That’s the only rational conclusion I could come up with yesterday while having dinner at Le Yen in Antelias. Le Yen is a really good Sushi place for those unaware of it.
Why am I saying that about the Lebanese?
Because I usually try to avoid giving my car to the valet parking people in Lebanon since they are not trustworthy and could wreck your car (And most importantly they make sure they mention on the small ticket they give you that they are not responsible of any damages or thefts that might occur to your car).
The great thing about Le Yen and Carlito’s is that there is a parking right across the street as you can see in the picture below meaning that you never need to give it to the Valet parking there, yet throughout the night, most people who visited the place gave it to the Valet instead of parking and we are not talking fancy cars here, just random cars.
Is it this hard to park your own car? or to walk for barely 1 minute? or maybe it is harmful to the public image that you don’t give the valet your car?
I will vote for pretentious and show off…I have found out that Lebanese are self centered and most importantly; they think they are the center of universe.
But stupid can not be far behind as you mention the proximity of the parking lot and the unprofessional valet workers. Even the poorest ones think if they parked and walked…what would people think lol??
sometimes we have no choice but to give it to Valet because there is no parking space. However all Lebanese like to show off, I remember at LAU they had valet and the valet workers used to take out their umbrella and walk them to the gate it’s pathetic! And it’s Lebanon 🙂
Link
I don’t think it’s snobbery or showing off, this is how things are there.
If everywhere you go, you find people giving their cars to the valet, then, naturally you follow suit. Lebanon is big on tourism, and valet is part of the service, if you prefer to part the car your self, feel free to do so, but don’t label all Lebanese as snobs or lazy or pretentious because they choose to use the services provided to them.
It’s like when I was at the gas station there, it’s not self service like here in Australia, and quite frankly, I would so much prefer it to be so….and not because i’m a snob!
LebExile,
Most Lebanese I know nag about the valet parking and how bad it is. We are not tourists to act like this, we are Lebanese and should know better how to handle ourselves without needing the valet everytime. You choose the service that comforts you most, and if leaving your car to the valet not knowing what will happen to it instead of walking from a 1 minute parking, then you ( not you as in you, the person who does it) are a show off or an idiot.
That’s all i said and your gas station is not valid. The worker filling up my tank is better than me going down and filling it myself as there’s no risk of him wrecking the car here.
@Najib @LebExile
You can both choose to use the service or not, let’s just not make a big deal out of it.
Valet service is sometimes obligatory. For instance, when you want to have sushi at Benihana or WokWok (Since you like sushi, Najib 😉 ), you are obliged to give it to the valet. I personally hate it, but I’m not going to park it on the other end of DT and get sweaty before my dinner. On the other hand, I think it is unprofessional to rip people their money off (+7000LL) and not assume responsibility for theft.
On the other hand, let’s not oblige people to park in parking lots. Whichever suits them.
As for the gas station, having a boy fill you tank is job-employment creating. I don’t see where’s the problem.
It is in Lebanese culture to offer such services. I don’t think it is to be called stupid or snobbish.
Rhea,
I did not claim valet parking is bad and u should not use it. My whole point was related to LeYen restaurant where you are offered an alternative to valet which is a big ass parking 10 meters away from the place, yet everyone prefers giving it to the valet.
Don’t you find something wrong with that?
People are used to that. You mentioned “most people” you know nag about Valet services. But you forget the other big chunk of the population who likes it. This is how they were brought up to think.
I personally opt for another solution (there’s not always Big Ass Parking lots everywhere you go 😉 ): I tell the Valet I am ready to pay him the same amount if he lets me park it on my own. This is what I did when I went to LeYen (which isn’t the best, but is just fine), and it worked – perfectly !
Parking lots close early sometimes and you are obliged to find another parking space.
Bottom line: I think just like you do, just a tiny bit less aggressive (don’t get me wrong). I always manage to find alternatives to Valet service, especially with the way they drive and park and sometimes go for a ride in your car (yes I’ve seen that). It pisses me off. : D
Rhéa,
bitrou7e 3a LeYen? keef jara ma bchoufik wala marra :P?