When tipping, don’t forget the people who clean your room.
What is the standard tip for a bellboy, room service or valet? Ask ten people and you might get ten answers.
“Tipping etiquette is very different from continent to continent and country to country,” says Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAP Tickets. “While in the US a tip is expected at almost every turn, in Europe, for example, a tip is more of an appreciation for a service that has exceeded your expectations.”
While there are places around the world where tipping is not common – such as Australia, where the minimum wage for jobs in the hospitality industry is much higher – it is becoming increasingly easy to tip (especially those regions that receive a flow of American travelers ).
“A quick internet search can help you understand the tipping culture in your destination—there are places like Japan where tipping is actually bad,” says Zach.
But within the US, tipping is common and expected. However, opinions differ on who to tip and how much. We asked industry insiders about who to tip, how much, and whether it’s okay to skip tips.
Do not forget the master of the house
People often forget to tip the person who cleans their room.
“There are so many people working to provide a great service experience, we know it’s not possible to tip everyone all the time,” says Michael Klein, General Manager, The Eliza Jane in New Orleans, Louisiana. “The unsung heroes of the hotel are our housekeepers and this is an area that many guests can take for granted.” Are there people you shouldn’t tip? “As a manager, I will always try to redirect any tips offered by the guests, or if they insist we take them to throw the money in a pool to buy something nice for the team.
Here are Klein’s tips for tipping:
- For the waiter, it is recommended to tip 3-5 dollars each time.
- For bellhops, you can tip between $1-$2 per bag for standard service.
- Room service will usually have a payment built into the check, and potentially a delivery or packaging fee. While additional gratuity is always appreciated, it is not required.
- For excursions, it depends on the context and the experience offered. Some pre-planned activities will have money built in for guides or if they are run by an owner. Of course, if you feel they have gone above and beyond to create a truly memorable experience, then feel free to tip as you see fit. A well-written review can go even further than a monetary tip for many of the excursion’s activities to help them spread the word.
- For all-inclusive resorts, many sites will build with pre-budgeted rewards and explain how the money is being distributed. They will also give you an opportunity to recognize or add as desired, but it will not be required.
No money, no problem
Not everyone keeps tip money.
Many people don’t carry cash with them, so it’s not that they don’t want to tip, it’s that they don’t have cash on hand. Fortunately some hotels are addressing this issue.
“At the Curtis Hotel, we recently introduced a QR digital tipping option for our Stay Happy Team (Front Desk/Pier) and our Gleam Team (House) – we’ve found it’s a great option for business travelers because they they get a tip receipt goes away and can track and spend more easily,” says Lizzie Raudenbush, General Manager of The Curtis in Denver, Colorado.
Raudenbush suggests the following tipping rules:
- For valet, while it’s perfectly appropriate to tip at the end of your ride, I tend to lean toward a $5 tip on any ride outside of valet.
- For bellhops, we see anywhere from $3-$10 per bag, depending on the level of service they offer. If your ring ambassador spends time with you giving suggestions on local events during your visit and reviewing events at the hotel – consider the higher end.
- The in-room dining delivery fee is usually split between the house and the server, although this varies from hotel to hotel. If you’re not sure, you can of course ask when you place your order. My preference is to tip the same as in a restaurant – 18-20%.
- Tipping your maid is often overlooked, but if you’ve chosen to have your room cleaned daily, it’s a nice touch to leave $5-10 a day on the nightstand when you check out.
When to tip (when not to tip)
Tipping the valet is customary, but sometimes travelers aren’t sure who to tip.
“It is standard practice to tip most of your service providers at a hotel or resort in the US,” says Samuel Bulkeley, Manager at the Hilton Pensacola Beach in Florida. “Tipping is a habit, but also voluntary. A good rule of thumb is if you’re wondering if you should tip this person who’s doing something for you, do it. If the thought doesn’t cross your mind, then you’re probably safe not to tip.”
Here are Bulkeley’s tipping recommendations:
- A tip to the bellhop should be commensurate with the amount of luggage or loading they have to do to get your luggage to your room. A tip of $10 – $20 is customary. Remember that a bellhop’s job is also to provide basic information about the property and the area, and those insider tips from your bellhop may also merit an extra tip from you.
- Room service gratuity should be around 20% of the bill and if there is a gratuity already added to your check then an extra $5 is fine.
- For excursions, you must tip your tour guide or driver each time you participate in one of these activities. Excursion tips are usually $5 – $20 depending on the service. If you have a bus or trolley driver who is chatty and informative a tip of $5 per person is appropriate and if you have a family dolphin cruise or trolley ride then a tip of $20 would be more in line with that type of service provision.
