I generally tip the Executive / Club Lounge attendants - especially in larger lounges, where there may be 2 - 3 attendants / servers. €2 or maybe 3 for two of us stopping in the lounge, snacking and having some wine poured and brought to us.

I generally do not tip the Concierge (a higher level than a lounge attendant / server) if they register me, check me out, welcome me or give me general information; they are paid to do that, that's their job.

If the Concierge makes a booking, spends some time giving me information and referrals, arranges a special service for me or otherwise treats me beyond the norm (e.g. a bottle of champers and some cocholate-covered strawberries in the room,) I do tip. The amount of the tip will be proportionate to what was done - a booking at a nearby restaurant that is pretty much empty for early Sunday brunch gets a significantly smaller tip than booking an upscale and popular restaurant that would not have any bookings for a month if I called them.

I only tip the executive lounge concierge if he/she does something very special for me. I do always tip the housekeeping staff. However, I have noticed something lately. I have had several occasions where I have left a tip for housekeeping, have returned to find my room not cleaned, but the tip gone. I have started to watch for this and have in 2 of my last 4 European stays, found a repair person in my room or leaving my room and the tip gone. I have also reported this. What do you do then? Leave another tip because you know the housekeeper didn't get one and then pay twice what you are willing. Or leave nothing more and appear to be a cheapskate?

tipping...
 

i am probably going to piss a lot of people off, but that's life...

<rant>
i can't believe how tip-happy people are... i consider maids, concierge, bell boys, and everyone else working at the hotel as part of the benefits of paying overpriced hotel bills (in asia there is the 10% service charge that should cover everyones tip)... the concierge is listed as a benefit of the hotel as is daily maid service... why should i pay extra if i use them (not that i use the concierge much, other than ask for directions, a map, and once in a while or where i can get some food in the area)... i generally do not let the bell boy take my bag and when he does, i do not tip him, it is his JOB! if he doesn't like it, get a different job, there are people with much worse jobs that have harder time making ends meet... i really, really hate the extra "tax" that you have to pay in the usa for tips, especially when the service sucks. these waiters/waitresses should be paid a decent (minimum) wage, and we should be charged more for meals if the restaurant wants to pass the cost on to us... it has been said that the only reason that waiters/waitresses in the usa are allowed to get paid less than minimum wage is because tipping was so standard that the govt decided it could count to their minimum wage (i believe you have to pay taxes on at least 10% of all the food you serve no matter whether you have been tipped or not) ! this is crazy! also, it is getting VERY high these days as some people say that you should leave a 25% tip for a waiter/waitress! that is insane! 10% is reasonable, but 1/4 of the price of the food for someone to bring my plate from the kitchen to my table and get me a refill on my water? some waiters/waitresses do work hard for their money and i think do deserve a tip, BUT LET ME DECIDE WHEN TO TIP, DON'T REQUIRE IT!
</rant>

Do you know what servers earn?
 

Are you aware that many servers in U.S. are only paid $1.35 per hour? That's because the employers figure they will receive 15-20% of their customer's bills in tips. Loosen up & be fair with them. Serving you is their job, true, but a tip is expected.
As to maids, also very low paid - basically minimum wage. And their job is hard. They clean your bathroom and change your bedding. At least you can leave them a dollar for their efforts.

I don't recollect too many instances where I was required to tip, except for some snipey restaurants that demand 20% for groups of six or ten,or whatever. Tip what you (don't) want, we will too. De gustibus non disputandum.

Do you think I should still tip when they charge me $6 for a beer in the executive lounge ? And clear someone's dishes and garbage yourself before you sit down on that table ? No matter what they are paid, I would tip like in a restaurant, extra tip if you bring me a second pepsi before I request.

I rarely gave money to homeless on the street anyway, but quit completely when someone my spouse worked with said that he made $150.00 and up on his days off by begging at the Randolph Street train station in Chicago. I've also learned to look for pick-pockets when "street performers" are attracting a crowd.

I do tip waitstaff, hotel maids, bellstaff etc. Usually 15% for normal service and 20% at nicer restaurants with good friendly service. Bellman and maids usually $5.00.

And, the exec lounge concierge - only if they provide a service.

You probably saw people paying for their drinks if it wasn't an open bar. That is why they gave their room numbers.

I don't normally tip the concierge in exec lounge unless they give above board service, but I will. If I do it I do it willingly, because I think they've deserved it.

Re: maids, etc, usually I do because has been discussed ad naseum on a zillion FT forums they don't make much & do depend on some extra $$. Again, that's my choice.

Others in both instances don't feel the same way, so be it. To each their own.

BTW - for all those of you who say America should raise their rates etc so they don't depend on tips, you're probably right. But that's a separate issue which probably has been discussed on Omni. But

Let's go the other way.

I was in a country last year where (unbeknownst to me; should have done my homework) the norm was NOT to offer tips - so those servers are used to nothing. Presumably they're paid decently? Well, for 2 weeks not one server said to me sorry, your 15% isn't the norm here - they ALL accepted it. Hmm, wonder if they reported that as income or thought their salary was enough?

BTW - when I had major surgery a few years ago I hired a maid from a Holiday Inn (referred by a friend who knew the family; both parents working 2 jobs to put kids through school) to clean my place - it was more lucrative for her to actually take a vacation day & clean my place than what she was paid. And before you all say she got double dipping, maybe yes since she got vacation pay (which was signif less than I paid her), but oh my goodness - she was in my place for 7 hours - I actually started to feel weird (thinking I was the dirtiest person in the world!) & when I walked into the master bathroom she was on her hand/knees w/ a toothbrush cleaning the rings around the spout of the shower!! Trust me - most folk aren't that good - she earned every tip. And if she's that good at my place presumably the same at Holiday Inn.

Back to the orig ? - go w/ what works for you - neither is right nor wrong. Cheers.

I tip when someon performs a service for me, more of course if it is above and beyond.


If that waiter/waitress brought me food or drink yes I would tip them. If they did not do any of that and I was required to get my own food or drink then no, I would not tip them.

Typically in the executive lounges, I get my own drinks and fill out the honor bar slip, so therefore I do not tip anyone...however in the morning if there is a server helping with breakfast, stocking the buffet, cleaning and resetting tables, & serving, I may leave a few dollars...

That's why I always leave my housekeeping tip under the blankets.

Tipping!
 

I do not know why people are upset about having to tip.

Well, today I went to my family doctor and I made sure I tipped him. When he gave me a prescription, I made sure I tipped the pharmacist and his technician. I then tipped the driver of the public bus as I boarded who drove me to my bank where I tipped the bank teller, manager and security guard. As I left the bank I bought several newspapers and magazines at a newsstand and promptly tipped the attendant. Then, I walked into a major department store and make sure each of the five associates received a tip for their assistance with my purchases. A homeless women offered to help me by carrying my purchases and I promptly tipped her when we arrived at the bus stop. When I got off the bus after tipping the driver, a boy scout offered to help me cross the street and I gave him a tip. When I arrived home, the postal carrier was there and gave me my mail. I gave him a tip in return. Later, the cable man and telephone woman came to make minor repairs, and each left with my gratitude and a tip. The city santitation workers collected my garbage and I tipped them before they departed. My cat was up a tree and the fire department came to rescue her assisted by the city police. Each was thanked by a tip.

How could I pay for all this - I had stolen someone else's ID - just like the TV comercials portray.

On the serious side, tipping has gotten out of hand. Let their employers pay decent salaries out of the exorbitant hotel rates they charge. At least these are reimbursable from employers.

Always overtip... it's the thing to do. If you can't afford to tip, you probably shouldn't be staying at a high-end hotel. At least, that's how it's going to look to the staff trying to serve ya. :)

Since it has been mentioned, there are places where tipping is not considered wonderful, and could even be considered a bit of a putdown. Some places it is cultural, and in a few it is enabled by strong labour laws requiring a living wage. In some places there is a "service charge" - sometimes it goes to the service staff, sometimes the entrepreneur's pocket - I usually inquire to determine what it actually means. (Don't you love the US proliferating room service fees, none of which goes to the delivery staff in most instances?)

In the US, people who are "expected" to be tipped often "enjoy" state laws that allow them to be paid significantly less than minimum wage, and some service people are at best marginally compensated (money and benefits.) As much as I enjoyed hernande's post, I don't recollect civil servants, public transit employees, commissioned salespeople, doctors and the like (or even airline pilots) being among them, however, so I don't worry about tipping them.

So, I tip accordingly, and guided by local custom - much along GDIW's guidelines. But not if the service is poor (I, instead of the lounge attendant, is bussing others' rubbish and dirty dishes, etc. or the hotel has hairs in the shower, etc. :p) And IMO it is a great idea to leave the hotel maid tip under the pillow - it is CW that hotel staff vie for those tips, and will commonly resort to skullduggery to pirate them, like a bell staffer's snatch of your tip left in the bathroom whilst loading your luggage onto the cart.

You, of course, will do your thing - but since the OP asked, this is what I do...