I just enjoyed a surprisingly wonderful stay at the Hyatt Harborside at BOS. I was particularly impressed with the front desk clerk who assisted me at check in and again today at checkout. I am usually very generous with my hotel tipping--it usually pays for itself in the long run--but it didn't occur to me until I had left that the best and most friendly service I had received during my stay was at the registration desk. Is it appropriate to tip for good service at the desk? Do you tip at checkin or check out or both? How much?

Yes, only the other day I was also very impressed with the hotel check in desk at a hotel I stayed in. Not only did they give me a form to fill in and hand me a key, giving clear and concise directions to the lift, they also swiped my credit card in case of extras and allowed me to pay for the bill in the morning. I know that's what they are paid to do, but how could I resist leaving a twenty euro note behind?

Like the OP, I am also generous with my tips in hotels and see clearly that they pay for themselves in many, many ways. Having said that, I'm not sure I could think of any of these ways off the top of my head, so perhaps others could fill in this detail for me.

I have just seen a child run past my window, smiling as the sun has just come out. I shall pop out shortly to give him some money for brightening up my day too. Would ten pounds be appropriate, do you think? I might have stopped at a fiver but I gave my last one to the lad in the supermarket who told me where they had moved the chopped tomatoes to.

Front desk clerks don't expect tips. Their pay doesn't assume they'll get any. The best thing you can do for one is to mention him or her, by name, to the hotel manager. If you see the same one on multiple visits, a small gift could be appropriate (bottle of wine? chocolates?), but I'd personally avoid cash.

Why the snide reply Mr. H?
Perhaps if you don't have anything constructive to add, you shouldn't add anything at all. Or may I suggest Omni as an alternate forum to peruse.

To the OP, I've only tipped a front desk clerk one time. She really went the extra mile to make sure my party was well taken care of. Way beyond what her job entailed.

In Vegas, it may get you an upgrade.

First, welcome to FlyerTalk!

Just fill out a comment card with the employee�s name. I believe Hyatt has an internal program to reward employees.


I must say that was a great post! And I do accept tips from FTers that I compliment. My PayPal username [email protected].

Made me smile. Perhaps I should send you a tip?

I'm British - your thanks are quite enough.

I actually thought that reply from Mr. H a very amusing and effective use of reductio ad absurdum to make his point.

But then again, to employ lazy cultural stereotypes, those from the other side of the Atlantic do tend to tip everything that moves, and those on this side tend to be ruthless in use of sarcasm.

Right--generally I wouldn't even have a passing thought about tipping the front desk, hence my inquiry. But this gentleman helped me with an early check-in, offered up both a physical amenity as well as points, and even though I was on a ineligible discounted rate, added the 2K point booking bonus. In some ways, as reflected in some of the responses, I didn't want to make an inappropriate gestures.

All of the other people I tip at the hotel are just doing their jobs too--the housekeepers clean my room, the shuttle drivers take me to and from the hotel, and the concierge makes a dinner reservation. The tip is to reward prompt, pleasant, and thoughtful service. As for the benefits that I receive, sometimes they are small and other times large: chocolates or other treat left by housekeeping, jumping the taxi line with the bellmen, or going the extra mile for reservations at the concierge. Some hotels actually track this sort of stuff, and upgrades and extra courtesies are meted out accordingly.

Either you are getting all this extra special treatment with the hotel's blessing - in which case the desk clerk was just doing his job - or it looks as though you are colluding in theft of the hotel's goods and services. Perhaps your country is different from ours, but that could get you sent to prison here.

Queue jumping is a very bad habit and thinking you are entitled to do it by bribing the doorman is vulgar, IMO.