Hotel tipping?
#16
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 57
So glad to see this post today. This has been a source of friction between my spouse and me...I always tip housekeeping, usually $3 a day or so. My spouse thinks it's unecessary. Bottom line, I figure folks in the lower paying positions often need the extra income and while we may not be rolling in it, we're not cleaning rooms either! That said, until now, I have always tipped at the end of a stay rather than daily...although a bit of nuisance to do this every day, I will try to do so in future.
#19


Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: TK*G, UA*S, PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Life Platinum
Posts: 4,717
Originally Posted by Traveller
I always leave the maid a few dollars a day. Why would I tip the guy who gets my car $1.00 for 2 minutes of work and ignore the maid who does 1/2 hour or more a day on my room?
Having said that, I usually leave some token of appreciation at the end of a stay, but not much.
HTB.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: MIA
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Posts: 10,943
Originally Posted by htb
Maybe because you already paid $100+ for the room plus 10-15% service charge? It should be up to the hotel to pay the employees (an appropriate amount) and check if the work is done right. It should not be up to the individual, already paying, guests.
Having said that, I usually leave some token of appreciation at the end of a stay, but not much.
HTB.
Having said that, I usually leave some token of appreciation at the end of a stay, but not much.
HTB.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Earth (PIT)
Programs: Airline/TSA Avoidance Platinum, Hotel Disloyalty Silver, Hertz 1.7*
Posts: 5,277
Originally Posted by htb
Maybe because you already paid $100+ for the room plus 10-15% service charge? It should be up to the hotel to pay the employees (an appropriate amount) and check if the work is done right. It should not be up to the individual, already paying, guests.
Having said that, I usually leave some token of appreciation at the end of a stay, but not much.
HTB.
Having said that, I usually leave some token of appreciation at the end of a stay, but not much.
HTB.
#22




Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Ex Platinum & 1MM, DL PLT, Marriott LFT PLT, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,542
Originally Posted by bdabird
So glad to see this post today. This has been a source of friction between my spouse and me...I always tip housekeeping, usually $3 a day or so. My spouse thinks it's unecessary. Bottom line, I figure folks in the lower paying positions often need the extra income and while we may not be rolling in it, we're not cleaning rooms either! That said, until now, I have always tipped at the end of a stay rather than daily...although a bit of nuisance to do this every day, I will try to do so in future.
#23


Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: TK*G, UA*S, PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Life Platinum
Posts: 4,717
Originally Posted by CrazyOne
10-15% service charge? Is this common somewhere? I haven't stayed that many places outside the US, but in the places I have stayed both here and abroad I've never paid 10-15% service charge for a room.
- Taipei, Taiwan, Holiday Inn
TAX: 5% PER NIGHT INCLUDED IN RATE EFFECTIVE 3 NOVEMBER, 2005 THRU 4 NOVEMBER, 2005
SERVICE CHARGE: 10% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE EFFECTIVE 3 NOVEMBER, 2005 THRU 4 NOVEMBER, 2005
EXCLUDES GRATUITY - Tokyo, Japan, Interconti Tokyo Bay
TAX: 5% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE EFFECTIVE 3 NOVEMBER, 2005 THRU 4 NOVEMBER, 2005
SERVICE CHARGE: 10% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE EFFECTIVE 3 NOVEMBER, 2005 THRU 4 NOVEMBER, 2005
EXCLUDES GRATUITY - Beijing, China, Interconti Financial Street
SERVICE CHARGE: 15% PER NIGHT NOT INCLUDED IN RATE EFFECTIVE 3 NOVEMBER, 2005 THRU 4 NOVEMBER, 2005
EXCLUDES GRATUITY
Even if the service charge is not (expressly) included/added to the room charge, I'd like to believe that I pay the hotel for providing me a clean room. I will complain to the hotel if the room is not clean. If the tipping franzy continues we may even end up tipping the person who checks us in, or the person passing the room key when we return to the hotel. They all do some kind of personal service, but again: I expect that I pay for that with the room rate.
HTB.
#24




Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
Originally Posted by htb
Even if the service charge is not (expressly) included/added to the room charge, I'd like to believe that I pay the hotel for providing me a clean room. I will complain to the hotel if the room is not clean. If the tipping franzy continues we may even end up tipping the person who checks us in, or the person passing the room key when we return to the hotel. They all do some kind of personal service, but again: I expect that I pay for that with the room rate.
HTB.
HTB.
Room service sometimes includes a service charge (and this should be indicated on the bill that comes with the food); no additional gratuity is required.
#25
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,724
I'm looking at going to Hong Kong, which supposedly doesn't have a sales tax.
But they have a 3% hotel tax AND most hotels seem to be imposing a 10% "service charge." But it also says that doesn't include gratuity.
So what exactly is this service charge?
But they have a 3% hotel tax AND most hotels seem to be imposing a 10% "service charge." But it also says that doesn't include gratuity.
So what exactly is this service charge?
#27
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA USA; Kerry Ireland
Programs: AA EXP 1mm; DL Plt; Marriott Gold; Hyatt something or other; Hilton Gold
Posts: 761
Doormen: only if they go out of their way to help (beyond opening a door - i.e., cab, helping with bags, or something else of merit)
Housekeeping: I always leave a couple bucks/day, in a lump sum, after checking out; will give to the staff member if I see them.
Concierge: Like doormen, only if they go above and beyond with a request.
Valets/Bellmen: Yep, I tip when they deliver something to the room.
Had a convo in Europe recently with a hotel employee who stated flat out that they see Americans as "poor tippers" - Tipping is by no means a requirement, nor is it an expectation. But I feel good about it, so I do it when merited, and it usually seems much appreciated, which makes me happy, too.
Housekeeping: I always leave a couple bucks/day, in a lump sum, after checking out; will give to the staff member if I see them.
Concierge: Like doormen, only if they go above and beyond with a request.
Valets/Bellmen: Yep, I tip when they deliver something to the room.
Had a convo in Europe recently with a hotel employee who stated flat out that they see Americans as "poor tippers" - Tipping is by no means a requirement, nor is it an expectation. But I feel good about it, so I do it when merited, and it usually seems much appreciated, which makes me happy, too.
#28




Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
Originally Posted by tdo-ca
Had a convo in Europe recently with a hotel employee who stated flat out that they see Americans as "poor tippers" - Tipping is by no means a requirement, nor is it an expectation. But I feel good about it, so I do it when merited, and it usually seems much appreciated, which makes me happy, too.
Americans IMHO are the most inclined to tip of any countrymen. And it is (also IMHO) done excessively.
#29
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA, Jetblue (love it for the transcons), Northwest, HHonors, Marriott Rewards, Avis PS, UCLA fan!
Posts: 97
Hotel Housekeeper: back-breaking work
These days, hotels are trying to out-bed one another with bigger mattresses, duvet covers and bolsters, and the souped-up sleepers are wreaking havoc on housekeepers' backs and arms. At the Oakland Marriott, that was cause for a protest.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...NGOEGA9TE1.DTL
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...NGOEGA9TE1.DTL


