Wharf Parking Garage 1 - Sutton Square SW Entrance — Local services in Washington

The place needs some signage updates. The place has signs all over saying to pay before returning to your car. I couldn't find a pay kiosk or any signs saying where one is. Eventually I yoloed it and discovered you can pay at the exit points.

There are open spot counters in areas, but I couldn't figure out (but I didn't try hard to) to figure out what areas each one represented.

These counters seem tied into a system where each spot is determined filled or not automatically with sensors. Each spot has a light in the "road" on the ceiling. If a spot is filled it will turn red. If it is open it will turn green. I didn't notice any off these lights being wrong, but I sat back and watched for a bit. There does seem to be a minute or two delay before a green/open light registers a newly parked car.

If you need an elevator or restroom immediately after parking, the parkin garage extends under the hotel. The Hilton has an elevator that extends into the parking garage. Going from memory since it has been about a month since I was there... I think ground floor is level 2 and the restrooms are in the hotel on level 3.

Conclusion=== It was a stressful and annoying experience using this location my first time because of some of my above complaints. Now that I learned how the open spot lights work and that there aren't any payment kiosks (despite what the signs say) it isn't a bad...

This garage or another operated by Colonial Parking in the immediate area (it’s not clear) operate the valet services at the Intercontinental Hotel.

They managed to return my car with a scrape on the side. They denied it, even after watching the security footage showing that the car was dropped off in their care without damage and returned with damage! The hotel didn’t offer to share their footage and have been impossible to reach on the phone subsequently.

Colonial’s staff don’t have a strong command of English so it’s quite a process trying to communicate with them (unless you speak Amharic) while they are trying to flat out deny responsibility.

If you use their valet services be sure to video your car at drop off and check it upon return or you could be in for a nasty surprise...

It's the closest parking to the Wharf that's open late since its open 24/7. But you pay dearly for it! Parked there at 4:30pm, returned at 11:30pm. The fee was $45. Granted, almost 8 hours, but I've parked at hospitals for more time and it wasn't that much! And payments are taken at a machine before you head to your car, so it's not like a living person is lying to you about the fee and pocketing it. You still feel robbed, though! It's just a really expensive albeit convenient parking garage. I got a chance to read the fee signage before exiting the garage: $25 for 2 hours, $35+ for 3 hours and greater. NEXT TIME, I'm trying the L'Enfant parking down the way. I have legs, I can walk a block or two for lower...