I’ve been commuting to Midtown Manhattan for the past 30 years or so, but every so often I need to trade in my comfortable air-conditioned seat on Metro North to drive in to NYC. Driving into Manhattan is always an adventure, a real balance of offensive and defensive driving. And every time I do drive in I am reminded of just how valuable 200 square feet of prime real estate can be: the parking spot!

In Midtown Manhattan a parking space can cost over $50 for the day (more for SUV’s and vans!) however, just like car sticker prices, you seldom pay full rack rate. But the rates can vary quite dramatically and it used to be very stressful for me to drive around from garage to garage deciphering the signs, trying not to get ripped off: “In by 6, out by 7″ or “Special: $9.87 plus tax for 30 minutes”, etc. And, like a hotel or an airline, a parking garage can change its rates daily, so the great deal you get one day may not be available the next.

Recently, however, I came across a web site that completely eliminated the stress: BestParking.com. It is right up there with the GPS (and Nintendo Wii) as one of the miracles of technology. Plug in the neighborhood and time of arrival and it tells you how much garages are charging for spaces that day. You may have to print out a coupon in advance, but the other day armed with my coupon I paid $14 to park when others were being charged $32 (without a coupon!) It was the next best thing to getting a free spot on the street…