Tipping Guidelines Tired of trying to figure out who and how much you're
supposed to tip while travelling?
Here are some basic guidelines!
Bellman ~ $1 to $2 (per bag)
Depending on how many pieces you have and how big or heavy they are. You are going to have to make a judgement call on this one. You can give a set amount if you have luggage plus a bunch of smaller items such as a pillow, children's toy bag, etc. $10 to $20 depending on the type of hotel and service you expect during your stay. The bellman will also be the one to hail you a cab and bring your luggage back down from your room when you check out.
I recently had a new experience where they had an outside bellman, who loaded your luggage from the car to the rolling rack. Then an inside bellman would bring it up to your room "shortly". That's 2 separate tips. Be prepared for that one.
Front Desk ~ 0 to $10 (room upgrades)
This tip could be as much as $50, if they provide a huge upgrade. One time we booked a regular room at the Luxor and somehow we got upgraded to a huge suite. I don't know why? Maybe we looked like good tippers??? Rule of thumb: don't tip so much that you didn't end up with a deal in the end.
On a recent visit to Vegas we got a great deal on the room, but they charged $12 for an early check-in. It's interesting how it adds up one way or another.
Waitstaff ~ 15 to 20% (Pretax)
I have worked in restaurants, so I tend to over tip...unless the server was really bad. Sometimes the server is not in control of certain situations, so I try to take that into consideration. I believe the minimum hourly wage for waitstaff is $2.13 right now.
My first job as a waitress was in New York City and it was a nightmare. The Chef was an arrogant 'you know what' and if you didn't respond to his advances he held your food back knowing your customers would blame you...therefore no tip! Today we call that sexual harassment, but it still goes on. So try not to blame the waitstaff for everything. It's tough to understand the behind the scenes politics when you've never been in that business. I have worked as a waitress, hostess, prep-cook, chef and manager, so I know it takes teamwork to pull everything together in a timely and friendly manner. In the end who cares? We want our food fast and friendly right? It can be done!
Buffet ~ $1 to $2 (per person)
Buffets have always been confusing since you serve yourself. If they have waitstaff who comes around with water, extra napkins, take your drink order, etc., minor things compared to the full service that you are used to, then the above applies. If you order a drink which is not a part of the buffet, such as a cocktail for example a dollar tip per drink, just like you would if you were ordering at a bar.
Bartender/Cocktail Waitress~ $1 to $2 (per drink)
Again, depending on the level of service and the drink. If you order a beer - a buck is sufficient. If you order a fancy drink, special order or the bartender makes a specialty drink, a little more goes a long way. Sometimes the more you tip the faster the service the next time you order.
It's always a good idea to make eye contact so they know you are aware of them. After all they are looking for tips. If they feel a connection to you it's a win, win for both of you.
Valet ~ $2 to $5 (per car)
One of my pet peeves is, if I don't want to valet park my car and they still force you to. One time we pulled up to the restaurant and there was no valet available at the time, so we parked it ourselves. A half hour later the valet came up to us in the restaurant looking for payment. Even though we parked it ourselves, in a spot outside of the parking lot! Ridiculous...
On a different occasion it took the valet over a half hour to find our car. My husband and I finally took a stand, literally, and stood in the middle of the parking lot until they brought us our car. We didn't let them bring anyone else their car until we got ours. It worked. Can you say Danger Will Rogers! Don't try this at home.
We have mixed emotions about valet parking but, there are times when I just want to get out of the car and not worry about finding a parking spot or walking in my high heels. Tip accordingly.
Taxi Drivers ~ 15 to 20%
Taxi drivers are taxed on their tips just as waitstaff are. I've had some drivers actually get out of the cab and helped me with my luggage and then I've had others who just pop the truck and impatiently wait for you to get it yourself! Mmmm...
Housekeeping ~ $1 to $2 (per day)
At the end of your stay you would add up the total nights of your stay and leave a tip for housekeeping. If you have several different maids cleaning your room and you have one in particular that you appreciate, try to find out the name of that person and leave it specifically for them.
Cabana Boy ~ 15 to 20%
If you're lucky enough to have a cabana boy, tip them like you would any waitstaff. They do have a lot of ground to cover depending on the size of the pool and property, so I would lean toward the higher percentage. They bring you food orders, drink orders and they are at the ready should you need anything. If you get a discount on the cabana, tip as if you were paying regular price. It's not their fault the hotel lowered the price that day because it was supposed to rain.
Attitude + Service = Tip
If you'd like additional information please feel free to ask.
For a small tip I will answer. Just kidding!
I found this link if you are looking for more advice on tipping in your everyday life,
as well as while travelling.
Happy Travelling!
Lori
Note: make sure the tip is not already included!
