Whenever I have an appointment to visit a provider, I always account for more traffic/getting lost, etc and always end up getting there very early.  My philosophy is I hate being late and like some time to regroup before my meeting anyway.  But if I am over 30 minutes early, am not sure what to do about parking.  If she is in a big hotel, I figure it's a big parking lot so I can just park there and stay in the car.  If it is an apartment or smaller hotel, I try to find a nearby shopping center and park, then wait awhile then drive there.  Any recommendations?
Another scenario question:  If we agree to meet at 2:00 and she is staying in a hotel and I text her when I arrive and she'll reply with her room number, is it rude to text her at about 1:50 to let her know I am there?  Or should I wait some?  My philosophy is 10 minutes is no big deal and it may take me 5  minutes to get to the room anyway.
Any other suggestions or am I just over-thinking this?

I let them up. If I have to finish getting ready I get them a drink n give em remote bc ID rather they wait in room then in a parking lot somewhere. But every girl is different and some might have an appointment before you. Maybe mention when you confirm that you might be early, and see how she feels about it.

I agree with Jamie's points.  If you think you will be a lot early (more than 10 minutes) you should ask your date how she would handle that.

I usually find somewhere near by, like a Starbucks, and hang out until a couple minutes before our time and then I text her and let her know I am waiting and can be at the hotel in a couple of minutes.

When I say 2, I will be ready at 2...not before, not after. There have been cases where I was generally ready early and allowed the guy in, but I do not make a habit of doing that. The 2 hours before a date is my "Prepare myself mentally and physically time" and I don't need anyone showing up, riding around the area, looking like an idiot and drawing attention. If you are there only 10 min. ahead of time, text her for the room number, and see if she says to come on up or wait. You might be told to wait, which again, is not a good thing for you. It leaves you either sitting in your car or in the lobby.  

[b]Short Answer:[/b]  I'll arrive at the hotel to make sure I'm there on time and no parking surprises.  If its ten or fifteen minutes, will wait it out in the car.  Any longer, will go run a quick errand or stop at 7-11 and get some gum or water.   If a full half hour or more, will text asking if she wants to move-up the date.  Will not wait in the parking lot or hotel/hotel lobby.  Too suspicious.

So in reality there is not a straight answer for it, however, do not drag unnecessary attention if it is a hotel or doorman building because you are probably on camera, stay in your car and text/ call the provider and see if she is ready, some of us go to school and or have other personal activities so we are ready just at the time we agreed on,just be discreet and respectful to the surroundings. I am sure if the lady is ready to see you she will let you know or ask you to come in X minutes. If you have a GPS or Iphone, both do take into consideration accidents and/or traffic so you will know pretty much exactly when you will arrive to your date.
Kisses,
Paloma M.

public transportation in the city & driving on sometimes jammed up roads in the burbs.  So I will frequently simply ask the provider by e-mail or text if it's OK to contact her if I'm early.  If she says yes then problem solved.  I've never had a harsh reaction from a provider to such a question.  IF I'm early and she has agreed I'll call/text and sometimes it's fine, come on up, or give me 5 minutes, I'll call you back.  But the key s to ask in advance.  If she says no I'll wait until a couple of minutes before to contact her

5 or 10 minutes till the appointed time, lots of times they say "Call me back in 10 minutes. I need more time to get ready for you." So off I go to kill some time until date time + 10. Maybe a women's clock is habitually 10 minutes slow?

after a weather emergency wrecked my chance at a meeting...  I called, cancelled & was fortunate enough to rebook a couple of days later.  
I locate the call point & then withdraw to the corner coffee.  I'll judge how long it will take to return, typically in sight or nearly...  on repeat appts, I'll often call from the coffee shop parking with my car turned around & ready to go.  I DO tell her that I'm not outside yet as ONCE a gal said, matter of factly "I can't see you!" as she was watching from her window.  
I had another give me turn by turn directions...  ended up on the same block headed in the opposite direction...  she observed my vehicle & parking.
Yet another gave me a house number which I could not find...  a number between the 2 odd numbers.  I got out of my car as she emerged behind me, from the other side of the street & walked me in.

I find this quandary of the tougher issues to deal with. I dont want to arrive late and use up my time that way.  But if I get there early I hate the "sitting around" feeling. I agree with the earlier posters who said dont hang around, go to a starbucks or something. It used to make me really nervous to have to wait. Now, it is just no different from "waiting" while driving there.  Still, no single good answer.

gentleman to be on time. I want to be prepared, not rushing around and in my "space" for the appointment. Sounds like you handle it well, parking away from the incall as long as your safe. It's easy to overthink in this arena

I won't meet with someone that calls attention to me or themselves, which sitting in the lobby would!  

I arrived to my appointment today about 15 minutes early.  I parked the car, and to kill time, I used my phone to read up on the discussion boards at TER and go to this thread.  I immediately turned off my phone and headed over to the Best Buy for 10 minutes, then called my date from outside the store at 5 minutes prior to the appointment.

Me, no fun.
Which is why I specifically address the issue on my website.  Now guess how many actually read it.

Maybe where you are from.... in my city doing that at a big hotel will get you noticed and then some.

If you are early and not sure what to do the best thing is just wait nearby, don't be obvious, and come in when it's time for the appt. you drove there early so good for you in avoiding unforeseen traffic etc but then you wait. Easy as that.  

That has happened to me a lot! when a gent is early he usually texts me to let me know he's running early...if i'm ready i will tell him to come over....if not i tell him to wait for my text! now 5-10 is usually not a problem as i like to be on time also...

I'm new to all this. For life in general I've always gone by the following: To be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, to be late is to be left behind.

Here is how I handle this situation and never had any problems.