Parking Panda

Tips for a Stress-Less Commute

Thus far, we’ve had your back when it comes to all things parking. We’d like to take this time to help you with the other part of your commute. As residents of the DMV area, (DC, Maryland, Virginia), we were not surprised to discover that the Census Bureau placed us at number three in the country for longest commute time in their most recent study. Countless hours of our lives have been lost sitting on a highway that ends in “95”. This amazing infographic from Car Insurance Guide breaks down the science of the traffic jam.

Instead of stressing behind the wheel, there are ways to make traffic work for you. The first step is to calm down. As tempting as it may seem, resist the urge to speed forward at any slight opening during gridlock. The objective is to get to your destination promptly and safely. By maintaining a consistent, average speed, and a 2-car distance minimum between yourself and the vehicle in front, you can eat traffic waves. For more tips on becoming a hero of the highway, check out this video and accompanying articles by The Science Hobbyist.

We’d also like to introduce you to this concept called “Do the Zipper Merge” courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Waiting for the best opportune moment to safely merge rather than instantly upon seeing a sign or blockage will maintain even traffic patterns. Have confidence and do not be nervous! While we are all for defensive driving, we are also huge supporters of efficiency.

Take these tips and try them, we would love to hear about your findings! And, as always, remember to reserve parking in advance with Parking Panda!

44th Annual Jazz and Heritage Festival

The 44th Annual Jazz and Heritage Festival, aka Jazz Fest, is one of the biggest music festivals in the United States. This 10-day culture feast brings 400,000 music junkies to the Fair Grounds Race Course every year, all ready to indulge in the unforgettable music performances, authentic Louisiana cuisine and the brilliant artistry of Louisiana Culture.  The fair is held over the course of two weekends beginning on April 26th to the 28th and ending on the weekend of May 2nd to the 5th. The Festival celebrates the local culture of New Orleans, engrossing every style of music associated with the city including blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun, zydeco, Afro Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, bluegrass and everything in between.

We have spoken to representatives from the event, and it was made clear to us that parking is minimal to none near the fairgrounds; the festival does not offer parking passes! Not to worry; there is however, a shuttle that leaves from two locations downtown that will transport you to and from the grounds. This is the only way to get to the grounds from the city. We are the ONLY company to have guaranteed and reserved parking just steps from the shuttle stops in a safe and secure 24 hour parking lot. The shuttle and festival admission tickets will be on sale at the Shuttle Departure Locations on the day of the festival beginning at 9:30am. All shuttles begin operating at 10:30am and will stay running until all patrons have been transported to the Fair Grounds. The gates to the Fair Grounds open at 11:00am and they suggest to get there sooner rather than later. To find shuttle locations, times and fares click on Gray Line Shuttle New Orleans.

Book your parking with Parking Panda. We want to make your Jazz Festival experience an unforgettable one. Don’t get frustrated driving around the city trying to find somewhere to park while you see the shuttle driving past you on the way to the race track. Book your reserved New Orleans Jazz Festival parking now!

For more information about the festival go to http://www.nojazzfest.com. Be safe and have a great time!

Parking Panda Wants to Take YOU Out to The Ball Game!

Goodbye spring training, hello MLB season 2013! With opening day just around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to let you know about all of our new MLB parking locations. The flowers are blooming, the smell of spring is in the air, and it is finally time to enjoy your peanuts and crackerjacks. The Parking Panda team wants you to be able to fully enjoy the aura of a ball game, so we decided to hit it out of the ballpark with 5 new stadium parking locations. We now have quick and convenient parking for the following MLB teams….

-Baltimore Orioles

-San Francisco Giants

-Washington Nationals

-Houston Astros

-Red Sox

Save time and money by booking with Parking Panda. Once you book, your reservation is guaranteed no matter what time you show up. Know what you’re paying and where you’re going ahead of time. Don’t let the hassle of parking keep you from the opening innings. Enjoy discounts at all of these locations, and don’t forget to book early to ensure your guaranteed parking space. Click on your team above, and book your parking now!

Ultra Music Festival 2013: Parking Panda Joins the Party at Bayfront Park

It’s 80 degrees and perfectly balmy. Beautiful people wearing bikinis and scraps of clothing are packed in the streets. Music is emitting loudly from Bayfront Park and all five of your senses are screaming at you to explore this LED adult wonderland. But you can’t. You’ve been stuck looping between 95, 395 and 2^nd Ave looking for parking for the past hour and at this point you’re over it.

Every March over 300,000 glow stick adorned party-goers infiltrate the Magic City for ULTRA music festival, the largest electronic dance music celebration in the nation. World-renown DJs and producers such as Swedish House Mafia, David Guetta and Tiësto have all headlined at this three-day weekend extravaganza.

Notorious for selling out within minutes, ULTRA has expanded the party to stretch out over two weekends this year to satisfy overwhelming demand. Twice the mayhem means that the party is likely to last the entire month, with thousands of after parties to fill in the dead time between each weekend.

Miami is a vacation hot-spot in its own right, making parking inherently expensive and elusive. Combined with the chaos and debauchery of ULTRA, finding a home for your car at this event can be painful. Garage prices for each weekend are anticipated to cost $35/per day and over. The panda is happy to offer a safe abode for your vehicle for as low as $10/per day! By planning ahead with our discounted ULTRA music festival parking, you can indulge your instincts immediately and join the rave before the glow sticks die out!

MARDI GRAS 2013: PARKING IN THE BIG EASY CAN ACTUALLY BE EASY THIS YEAR WITH OUR PARKING PANDA TIPS

PARKING PANDA LAUNCHES IN HOUSTON JUST IN TIME FOR NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

Parking Panda is proud to announce that we are now LIVE in Houston, TX. With many new lots surrounding the Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park, and Reliant Stadium, we’re here to help the “Clutch City” faithful find that clutch parking spot by allowing them to find and reserve parking spaces online in advance quickly and conveniently.

With all of the events coming up at the Toyota Center and Reliant Stadium, we figured this was the perfect time to introduce Parking Panda to the Bayou City. Toyota Center parking passes are available for all events, including NBA All-Star Weekend and Rockets home games.

From February 25 – March 17th the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo returns to the Reliant Center. With performances by Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and many more, parking spots are sure to be in high demand. Reserve your spot now at The Reliant Center Parking page. With plenty of options starting at just $5, why not reserve now and avoid the headache the day of the event?

Already thinking about the Astros? Come March 31st, we’ll have your Minute Maid Park parking available as well.  With over 15 locations less than a half-mile from the park, parking doesn’t have to be a hassle anymore.   

Using Parking Panda is a breeze! Just go to our website or download our free iPhone app, enter where and when you want to park, and reserve your spot. Then just print your confirmation and put it on your dash when you arrive! Parking in Houston has never been easier!

Parking for All-Star weekend will be hard to come buy, so check out our site and reserve your spot at the Toyota Center Parking page in advance, and allow yourself to enjoy the All-Star experience.

Parking Panda teams up with Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco

It’s out with the dragons and in with the snakes at the 2013 Chinese New Year Parade on February 23rd in San Francisco! The city will celebrate the Year of the Snake with the same parade it has held since 1860. Spectators will be treated to spectacular performances from folk dancers, Chinese acrobats, and a 268 foot-long Golden Dragon!

This year, new traditions will join the old, as Parking Panda teams up with the Chinese New Year Parade to improve access to the event. As official parking partners of the parade, Parking Panda will offer spectators the ability to reserve a parking space near the parade route ahead of time. Over ONE MILLION people are expected to attend this very popular event! So getting a space with Parking Panda will be the only way to guarantee a place to park near Chinatown.

Currently, Parking Panda offers discounted parking at several garages within a few blocks of the parade route, which snakes through Union Square, the Financial District, and, of course, Chinatown. But space is limited, and parking spots are already being reserved, so spectators should visit our Chinese New Year Parade Parking page today to reserve a 100% guaranteed parking space!

Though the Year of the Panda won’t come any time soon—in fact, it will never come, since no such year exists—the year of Parking Panda is already at hand! We’ll see you at the parade!

Let the Bon Temps Roll! Parking Panda Launches in New Orleans Today

Parking Panda is pleased to announce that as of today we are live in New Orleans, Louisiana! It may be ‘the City that Care Forgot,’ but locals and visitors can’t forget to care about finding a place to park their cars. That’s where Parking Panda comes in: we take the hassle out of parking by helping people find spaces quickly, conveniently, and for less money.

This is an exciting time to be setting up shop in the Crescent City (which, if you haven’t noticed, has a lot of nicknames!) Superdome parking is available for events at the stadium, including the Saints’ remaining home games. On January 2nd, New Orleans plays host to the 2013 Sugar Bowl between Florida and Louisville. Parking Panda can help fans reserve a space ahead of time and save money, so they can focus on enjoying the game, and the obligatory tailgate. The Sugar Bowl Parking page has details.

Then, on February 3rd, the biggest event of the year after Mardi Gras will whip the town into a frenzy, as Super Bowl mania descends on New Orleans. Parking near the Superdome will be hard to come by, so reserving Super Bowl parking ahead of time is a smart choice for any football fan.

Later in the year, Parking Panda has the perennial parties covered: Mardi Gras parking and Jazz Fest parking will be readily available. For those who live near a parade route or the fairgrounds, listing a parking space on Parking Panda will be a great way to make a little extra cash!

Using Parking Panda to reserve a spot in New Orleans is easy! Just visit our site, type in where and when you want to park, and reserve a space in the lot you want. It’s never been easier to park in NOLA.  

Purchase Tickets and Reserve Parking All In One!

           Good news Parking Panda Fans! Now you can buy tickets and reserve parking when you use MissionTix! What could be better than this? Thanks to this new partnership with MissionTix we have created an easy process to help with planning your next concert or outing.

          Why wait until the last minute to search for parking? When you buy tickets with MissionTix, Parking Panda will automatically find parking near that event after your purchase. Think it can get any better? Well it can. The spots Parking Panda offers have cheaper rates and are within walking distance to your event! Reserve parking in advance with us for 100% guaranteed parking! Nothing is worse than being extremely late for that thing you have been dying to go to just because of parking problems.

GO NOW to MissionTix to purchase your tickets and book parking!

Affordable Parking for the Georgetown Basketball Games!

Are you a Georgetown Hoya fan? Well good news, Parking Panda offers cheaper, more affordable parking close to Georgetown Basketball games. Booking your spot in advance gives you 100% guaranteed pre-paid parking, even if the lot is full when you arrive. Just show your Parking Panda confirmation and the attendant will let you right on in!  

Book in advance for any game so you don’t have to worry about missing tip off.  We understand some things are last minute, but parking doesn’t have to be one of them! Rather than waiting till game day to find parking, find it now. Parking Panda allows you to reserve spots online or through our mobile app. It’s easy, just go to our site and reserve a spot for the game you’re attending.

Go now, and reserve a spot for your next game, or the whole season!