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.