Tipping question
 

I am staying at a Hilton today... they gave me a comp breakfast coupon at checkin for a continental breakfast at hotel restaurant. {first time in all my stays!}

Although it is complimentary, is any tipping required, if so, what is appropiate amount and how {leave on table..}?

Unless that coupon explicitly states that gratuities are included, appropriate tip would be whatever you would tip for this breakfast if you had to pay for it.

Speaking of tips, what does everyone else typically leave in the envelop in the room that some hotels provide for the housekeeper? Just trying to guage how much to leave, if any. What do the rules of Ettiquette say about this? :-)

holland -- This issue has been discussed before. You may want to see these threads: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002527.html http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/003747.html

Also, this topic is better suited for the General Travel Talk, and the abovereferenced links were taken from that forum. And welcome to the Board!

I leave $2 a day, each day. I leave it daily so they know I appreciate the work the housekeepers do. It's backbreaking working changing 10 (and more, sometimes) beds a day. They may only earn minimum wage, some of them. So what's an extra dollar or two?

This question can not be answered if you do not tell which area of the world you are talking about.

Peter42, more true words have never been spoken. The exporting of American customs (and missionaries) continue to contaminate the innocent.

In my feelings americans seems to sometimes think, that since they tip so generously they are entitled to act as they like.

In many parts of Asia and the South Pacific tipping is not customary and may even insult people.

In Europe you mostly round up or give 5 to a max of 10 %.

The amount of tipping required on cruises for instance is that ridiculous, if I pay $500 for a cruise and the "required" tips amount to $200, than the relation is just wrong, as it means that the $500 is just fake, since it does not include the wages.

Do remember that in France, service is usually included in the price paid (15% in most restaurants). I have never known Europeans leave money in the room unless particular service has been rendered. If one is staying in a resort for a period of time then that would be different. I have only once had envelopes left for me telling me how they enjoyed servicing my room that day. That was in Florida. Whether she thought that I expected to roll up and make the bed, and clean the bath myself, I do not know. Service is so hard to define, I would rather that service be included in the price I pay in restaurants rather than this dreadful "Thank You, Kimmy" nonsense. Do they do that to Americans as well as to us? In Europe, that would cut very little ice

Well, that's why FlyerTalk is such a treasure...it opens our eyes to things around us that we weren't aware of.
I knew about the service charge (if that's what it's called) being added to the bill in restaurants in Europe. But I didn't know that no tip was expected in the room. It just never occurred to me.

As for the envelope left in your room telling you how much the housekeeper enjoyed servicing your room that day, I suspect that was just something management dreamed up to make the guest feel more welcome. Evidently it fell short of expectations.

<< As for the envelope left in your room telling you how much the housekeeper enjoyed servicing your room that day, I suspect that was just something management dreamed up to make the guest feel more welcome. >>

Then why would it be in the form of an envelope?

Oh, I get it now. Thanks, JS. Well, that is odd and wouldn't make me feel more welcome. Just the opposite.

Except that it's not "required" and, as such, there's no way I'm going to pay 40% extra for something which touts the all-inclusive nature of a cruise as one of its main advantages!

Unfortunately, US businesses have got used to trying to con the consumer by being allowed to add taxes, surcharges, tips, etc, on to the amount they advertise, and some of them wish to push this as far as possible.

If something is advertised as $X, that should be what I pay, in total. It's as simple as that. Anything else is fraud.

Unfortunately on those US ships, the waiters, busboys and room pesonnel are not really paid
by the ship.

Kremmen, While I understand that you do not want to pay more than the advertised price, I would never consider not paying gratuities to the cabin stewards and waiters. These people are not compensated well by the cruise lines. Sure, they have their living expenses met and a very small salary. They are often working to support their families back home.

They work very hard and long hours. I have taken 1 or 2 cruises per year for the last 4 years. Each and every attendant working for tips has earned it. They have been gracious and have considered my comfort above all else. I will not deny them their gratuity whether I agree with the cruise line's policy or not.

I would either take it up with the cruise line or stay home. These hard working people are dependant on gratuities and that's just a part of the cost of cruising. Shame on the cruise lines if they do not make that clear up front! That even goes for the lines who advertise a "no tip" policy like Holland America. Their employees seemed just as in need as any other line I have sailed with.

I could never imagine not leaving these devoted employees a tip. I agree that tipping is a controversial subject, but it is still customary in the USA. I want to reward those who serve me selflessly even if their company does not pay them as it should.

I am with paradocs that I tip the people on cuise ships, but I am also totaly with kremmen, that the amount of "basically required" tipping should be only a small amount compared to the price for the trip, otherwise it is a fake price - imagine the airlines would say - tip every FA another $20
or so :-)

My, that seems excessive. My usual tip for stewardesses is just $2. Isn't that the norm?



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Craig

According to the cruise example the total tip for a flight would be 20-25% of the fare...

The normal tip for FAs is zero, except for very very special circumstances.

[This message has been edited by peter42 (edited 02-22-2001).]

I also tip the cruise ship staff who provide personal services to my family and me. For example, I follow the guidelines of the cruise ship with regard to cabin stewards and waiters. However, I draw the line at maitre d's, restaurant managers and people like that who come around and say hello occasionally and then expect a large tip (on the order of $50 for a week).

First of all, these people have done little or nothing for me (or that is apparent to me). Second, they are essentially management staff who should be paid directly by the cruise line.

In general, tipping on cruise ships is out of control, but I do not penalize the underpaid staff because of my feelings on the matter.

Bruce

That's what they are employed to do. If tips are optional, they are for exceptional service, above the level expected. What you've described is people doing their job.

If tips are not optional, they should be included in a published charge, as indeed happens in some situations.

By tipping in more and more circumstances, you are just encouraging these unscrupulous employers to pay lower and lower wages. Will Americans end up tipping FAs? Pilots? Checkout-chicks? Everybody they ever meet in the context of receiving goods or services?
[/QUOTE]

Kremmen I am with you - the wage should be the big part of their income, tipping is above that for exceptional service,
eventhough I am forced to tip the cruise stuff at the moment. But thinking of this now, I may only cruise with NCL and other inclusive price cruise lines in the future.

If I get a unexpected upgrade or some very special treatment by a gate agent or in the AC I always give them a book of Starbucks Coupons. I figure that they were simply kind to me and that NEEDS to be rewarded. If I pay for the upgrade then no coffee b/c I have not been given anything special.

I firmly believe that if someone goes beyond the job requirements for my behalf, then I owe them the recognition. It's simply good Karma. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Right Dudemon, tipping is for going the extra
mile, not for the normal service!

Regarding NCL's tipping policy, the recommended tip is usually about $10 per day per passenger and is not included in the cruise price. It is, however, automatically added to your shipboard account so that you can pay it along with your bar and excursion charges, by credit card, at the end of the cruise. I like this new policy, it eliminates the need fo sorting smaller bills into multiple envelopes. However, it certainly is an "assumptive close." NCL states emphatically that this is a service provided as a convenience to passengers, and that the purser's office will gladly adjust the amount up or down at the passenge's request.

peter42, don't give the airlines any ideas!!!
This could help them make up for the now-illegal fuel surcharges http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

I find that flight attendants, GA's and other staff appreciate a bit of German chocolate as a gratuity substitute. I even got upgraded to Envoy class on USAir after giving a GA a 1DM chocolate bar! (see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum51/HTML/000707.html)
yonatan

(edited for spelling)

[This message has been edited by yonatan (edited 02-23-2001).]

If I recall the travel brochures here right,
the tip for NCL is included in the package deal here in Germany.

Why is it that employers in the USA are allowed by law to pay the waiters, stewards, bartenders etc. less than minimum wages, expecting the customers to make up for that by tipping. The amounts that I pay for similar meals in big cities in the rest of the world turn out to be 20% cheaper than the cost of eating out in the USA. Does anyone know the history behind this 'policy'?

First of all, the Federal minimum-wage law applies only to businesses engaged in interstate commerce, so all restaurants do not have to comply (although many states have similar laws, some with higher minimums, in fact). In those cases where the Federal law does apply (national chains, for example), the rule is that the sum of wages plus tips must equal the minimum wage. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference. Requiring employers to pay minimum wages on top of tips would presumably overcompensate these employees, but that's a value judgment, of course.

Bruce

[rant]

Because the minimum wage laws are made by the US Congress, which acts in part to the benefit of the public, and in very large part to the benefit of those who fund their next campaigns. The restaurant industry finds it extremely beneficial to continue the current system: this applies not only to owners, but also to the majority of those who receive a large portion of their wages through tips.

Don't forget, the lawmakers who came up with the minimum wage rules are the same ones who developed the tax laws. Next time you read about the baseball star who's making $11 million/year, remember that you are subsidizing him. Teams can afford to pay those salaries because of corporations paying ungodly amounts for their corporate boxes (or even just season tickets), and those amounts are tax deductible. (If you want to take your kids to a game, you cannot, of course, use that as a tax deduction -- it's only businesses that write it off.) And, if 100 corporations deduct, say, $1 million each for the corp boxes at you local ballyard, then the rest of us taxpayers get to make up that $100 million. And if there are 30 major league ballparks, plus another 30 NFL stadiums ...

[/rant]

Phew, that feels much better. Thanks for asking!

Thanks for the info. And I'm glad you could get it off your chest http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

The law is also quite interesting regarding the payment of Social Security and Medicare taxes on tip income -- in particular, the employer half of those taxes. If anyone is interested -- that may be wishful thinking -- send me an e-mail. It's not worth posting here.

Bruce

Empress: Back to top. Leave him or her a couple of bucks. I always leave 20-30% usually two-three bucks on bfast.

I usually leave a couple bucks for free meal. 2 loonies on the pillow for the maid too ( greenbacks in the US). Also the RoomService people get the short end of the stick as people assume that the Service Charge $2-3 on the check is a tip. It is not.

When I'm not sure, I ask. Staff are always great at telling me when it's included of not.

I tip normal for OK service (15-20%), but give me poor service and watch out. Can you say Zero. I think that's a fair deal.

I'm happy to part with a couple bucks for an enjoyable experience. If others want to blow the issue out of proportion they can.

What's a couple of dollars, tho ..... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

i generally will leave a $1.25 tip for breakfast if eating alone in these parts. since an average breakfast tab here is $5 or so, it's a generous 20%. life is fairly cheap here, so it goes farther than you think.

on a comp Hilton breakfast, i've traditionally left $2-$3. and yeah, i do love how it is in France; i always am very amused when the table-full of 'merrikuns leaves 20% over the bill. i got to explain that to a very confused French waitress once. given how boorish the group was, though, i think she almost deserved hazard pay.

We are all in the same boat. For years in the US, we left 10% without thinking. A friend who worked as a watiress put us wise one day (let's face it if you are foreigners abroad, people automatically expect that you don't know local custom and practice and make allowances). We were less amused to be presented with a bill (in Charlston, South Carolina)in an establishment where the food and service was dreadful which read "15% gratutity NOT included. I am not making this up. We wrote back "15% Service NOT provided". I was furious! I might add that this conduct was not, from his accent anyway, local and was in stark contrast to the courtesy and friendliness everywhere else.