Since we all travel quite often, I am curious as to what everyone considers appropriate tipping, especially when it comes to hotels.

Specifically, do you leave a tip every day for the maid and how much? Do you tip the "turn-down" service people if you happen to be in the room when they arrive? Do you tip the person who brings your coffee packet when housekeeping did not replenish it and you have to call down to the front desk in the morning when you groggily realize that you have no caffeine?

FF

Approx $3-$5/day depending on the length of stay and quality of the service. Normally I leave at the front-desk in an envelop with the name of the person mentioned in the card in the room.

To answer your specific question - no I don't tip for such services. To me they are part of the room hire. If someone performs a special service, then yes I do. What do i mean by special..room service mainly, and something for the chambermaid if again the service was outstanding. I have to say that in the USA you are far more generous about such matters than Europeans.

And what about room service? The bill for room service typically includes a room service charge on top of the food/beverage costs; in many non-US hotels, the bill also includes a service charge. I usually give a couple of bucks to the person who delivers the order, but I sometimes wonder if I'm paying for the same service twice.

This tipping thing is way outta control. If I ever came back from a trip and filled out an expense report stating $3-5/day tip for a maid (or chambermaid etc) my boss would make certain each and every trip from that instance on would have me staying in a Bates Motel, a really old Motel 6, an Econo-slease etc. And he would instantly disallow that item, and I would have to redo the expense report. And ditto for anyone working for me.

As for "turndown service", I have actually viewed this nice practice as it occurred, and it never seemed to take more than 3-5 min/room. I can easily pull down my own sheets (I often do it at home).......but the occasional comp miniature of a tasty liquor is really a nice touch.

MisterNice

extensive discussion on 'how much tips should I give' from late 2000 on this board: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/002527.html

We only travel on leisure and always leave $3. per night for the maid who should be responsible for leaving the coffee. However, if I call down for any kind of service: a bulb, extra towels or pillows, extra coffee packets, I always give a couple of dollars to the person. I feel if I can afford to travel, I can't afford to be cheap to others.

I rarely tip in hotels as I find that services should be included in the bill. I will tip when something is brought to the room, or when someone does something special. I concur with the person who states that it is very difficult to reclaim these expenses from ones company.

I tip the bellboy only. Everything else only for special services.

I agree.. This is why I love Japan, as tipping is not customary

Do y'all tip the airport parkinglot courtsey drivers?



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Al

If I tipped everyone as much as many people say they tip, I would have to get a second job. It aint them tipee's that are underpaid, its me! Itsa outta control. Why is everyone so full of generousity (or is it really guilt or the need to be "loved"?

And how much do you tip the pilot, the asst pilot, the asst to the asst pilot, the airplane mechanic, the senior FA, the other FA's, the ticket agent, the gate agent etc. And dont forget the car washer guy who washes the cars with the latest rap music blaring at 140 db, the burger flipper, the fries maker, the person who ask "you whanna super-size it?" when refering to the two afore mentioned people, the gas station guy, the guy who brings the gas to the gas station guy etc. Anyone here ever leave a tip in the mini-bar to tip the mini-bar attendent? How about the token seller in the subway? I bet Andy Rooney would have a ball with this topic.

MisterNice

On cruise ships that have mini-bars in the staterooms, they even charge an automatic 15% "gratuity" on top of the price of the goods for anything you take out of there. I wonder who gets THAT tip money.....

I tip roomservice, bellboys, and parking attendants if I have a 2 or more night stay, b/c it is likely I will run into the same person again...so I want to be nice. If it is a one night in a hotel I will never go to again, then I don't. I might even give 2 bucks if the person is extra nice/cool.

I never tip maids cuz to me they are anonymous. And usually I come back to the hotel pretty late, after they have already turned down.

I usually leave 2 or 3 dollars for the maid.
I leave it on the pillow, sometimes in change. They don't make much. I don't mind.

As for the RoomService delivery charge, it goes to the hotel, not the worker. Room Service workers usually get the short end of the stick. I kid you not.

I enjoy good service, I don't mind to pay for it.

In all,I tip for service, not obligation.