Tipping in US hotels- help

[Jeri]

This is a great little rundown; I appreciate it, and I feel good hearing it, since it jives with what we've been doing for years. Before we go on vacation to a resort, we just run by the bank at home and get $100 worth of $5 bills and keep them in purse or pocket to give to the bell person or the housekeeper (per day). And I'm glad to hear it should be left with a note for them, because I've been doing that, too. I guess it's just common sense.

I've worked in hotels for...well, most of my working life. Regardless of how much the room costs, please, *please* tip the room attendant! Believe me, the one who cleans your toilet in a $350/night room probably isn't getting paid any more than the one doing it in the $26/night room. It's best to tip daily and leave it clearly marked for the room attendant. I generally leave $3 to $5 per day.

In general maid service is daily but most hotels don't change the linen every day anymore. There's often a card telling you about that hotel's 'Green' program and how to let them know whether you want the sheets changed or fresh towels.

Other than that, a couple of bucks if the doorman hails you a cab or gives you directions, a couple of bucks per bag for the bellperson, 15-20% for food and beverage and I have no idea how much for wine stewards or Maitre'D-types or a concierge (though I think that last is 10-15% of the total). While it used to be customary for finer hotels to insist that a bellperson accompany you to your room, that's not generally the case any longer.

Hope that helps!

Jan

 

[Alidar Jarok]

BTW, I'm going to echo that the standard tip for restaurants should be 18-20%. Obviously, if the service is poor, tip less, but there are good reasons for such a seemingly high number. Keep in mind that minimum wage has been increased in recent years from $5.15 to I think 7-something now. However, the minimum (and usual) wage for a server has stayed the same. Waiters and Waitresses usually make $2.23 an hour. That's about $5 less an hour (and they usually get less hours and can get cut when they least expect it). They pretty much depend on tips.

It is true that there are standards of quality they should maintain, but, if you're happy with the service you got, a 20% tip isn't unreasonable (especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

 

[Kestra]

(especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

I'd much rather this happened, and we eliminated the obligatory "tip".

 

[Jan]

Another question tho, what time do the cleaners usually come? I ask as I'm staying for 8 nights, and maybe the odd day I might just wanna sleep in a lot, ie. not get out of bed or do anything until the afternoon. Do I have to get up for them, or can I just leave a sign out telling them I don't want/need it cleaned?

I probably sound like an idiot here but I just wanna be thorough

The only stupid question is the one not asked!

Maid service can be any time from 7:00 AM to as late as 7:00 PM, depending on the workload and the hotel. As a general rule, the housekeepers will start on the rooms that have checked out in order to get them ready for new guests and they'll do the stayover rooms afterward or in between check outs.

There should be a Do Not Disturb sign on the back of your door, either a card that slips into the key slot or something that hangs on the doorknob. If you don't have one, ask the desk for one.

Every once in a while (seldom, but it does happen) some rude person will snitch your sign as a prank or to use themselves after you've hung it out. Not much anybody can do about that. But if you know you won't want anybody to service your room until after a certain time each day of your stay, you can usually let Housekeeping know and they'll do their best to accommodate you.

Whatever you do, though, if you put your Do Not Disturb sign out, don't forget to bring it back in when you *do* want service.

Jan

 

[Alidar Jarok]

(especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

I'd much rather this happened, and we eliminated the obligatory "tip".

Yeah, but it would turn off most people (especially some people who are basically too cheap/poor to tip at all and just pay for the meal). Restaurants can make money off of those people even if the server is left feeling slighted for their hard work.

It's not obligatory, though, it's expected. If you are truly dissatisfied with your service, you can tip less or not at all. But perhaps it's also a good idea to speak to a manager so he or she can fix the situation so others might not have to deal with the same poor service.

 

[Jan]

By the way, something I don't think has been mentioned here is that some restaurants have an automatic gratuity. While it's most common for larger parties, some places have it as an automatic add-on. Check the print-out you get. Even if it is added automatically, if you don't feel that you want to pay that much the cashier can and will adjust it. And of course, the server will love you if you add to it.

Not that it's come up here, but it's also worth mentioning that servers are going to have taxes withheld from their paychecks based on the assumption that they would be tipped most of the time. It's been a long time since I was involved in the payroll for tipped employees but it used to be that if they didn't report tips that added up to 8% of the revenue they produced, the difference between what they reported and that 8% would be withheld anyway.

Another thing that's more and more common these days is a 'Service Fee'. Often that will include things like phone calls, movie rentals, shuttle services, etc. Something I've never seen it cover is any kind of tip or gratuity.

Jan

Jan

 

[nevermore]

I guess I don't go to those kinds of bars. If I go to a bar, chances are I'm sitting AT the bar and getting good service.

If I AM at that kind of busy bar, I usually have a tab running on my credit card, so I just tip 20% at the end of night.

I always run a tab and tip well at the end (20% min). Tipping is part of the cost of going out; people who are too cheap to pay for the service they receive when they go out should just buy a sixer of natty light and head home.

(especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

I'd much rather this happened, and we eliminated the obligatory "tip".

Again, you're paying for a service and you get what you pay for. If they raised server's salaries to minimum wage thereby eliminating tips and the possibility of actually making a decent living by doing well, you would get the level of service you get at Burger King. You have fun with that. I'd rather just figure the cost of a tip into the cost of my night out like I would the cost of a taxi or a cover charge.

 

[Spot's Meow]

BTW, I'm going to echo that the standard tip for restaurants should be 18-20%. Obviously, if the service is poor, tip less, but there are good reasons for such a seemingly high number. Keep in mind that minimum wage has been increased in recent years from $5.15 to I think 7-something now. However, the minimum (and usual) wage for a server has stayed the same. Waiters and Waitresses usually make $2.23 an hour. That's about $5 less an hour (and they usually get less hours and can get cut when they least expect it). They pretty much depend on tips.

I just wanted to point out that this isn't true in all states. In California, for instance, servers receive at least the regular minimum wage as everyone else ($8.00).

 

[Nick086]

I only tip good if the guy waiting on me is cute.

 

[JiNX-01]

Thanks for the help guys


Another question tho, what time do the cleaners usually come? I ask as I'm staying for 8 nights, and maybe the odd day I might just wanna sleep in a lot, ie. not get out of bed or do anything until the afternoon. Do I have to get up for them, or can I just leave a sign out telling them I don't want/need it cleaned?

I probably sound like an idiot here but I just wanna be thorough

Yes, just leave the "privacy please" or "do not disturb" whatever it is on the door handle and they'll leave you alone. And if you don't need it cleaned, and just need new supplies (soap, shampoo, etc.) just call housekeeping -- during the day -- and let them know. American hotels are going green so they'll probably have a sign asking you to hang towels and wash cloths to dry for reuse while you're there.

BTW, tip the cleaning staff at a hotel even if they charge less than $100 a night. The people who clean those rooms are supporting themselves and maybe families on minimum wage plus whatever tips they can get. Please don't stiff them.

 

[Kestra]

(especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

I'd much rather this happened, and we eliminated the obligatory "tip".

Again, you're paying for a service and you get what you pay for. If they raised server's salaries to minimum wage thereby eliminating tips and the possibility of actually making a decent living by doing well, you would get the level of service you get at Burger King. You have fun with that. I'd rather just figure the cost of a tip into the cost of my night out like I would the cost of a taxi or a cover charge.

I find that's often the level of service I receive anyway, hence my preference.

 

[Andrew_Kearley]

BTW, I'm going to echo that the standard tip for restaurants should be 18-20%.

Fuck me, are you all made of money over there...???!!! 10% would be the most I'd tip in a restaurant here. I've never been in a hotel with a porter, but I'd never even think to leave a tip for the housekeeping staff. Nor for bar staff, Christ the drinks cost a bloody fortune, especially in a hotel bar. Wow, it's just a completely different culture.

 

[Holdfast]

When I've stayed in the US, it's usually been a couple of bucks a day for the maid (I'm a tidy person anyway, so they can do my room fast - if you're messy, it's only fair to up your tip as compensation, because if they have to clear their assigned floor in a fixed time). Other random hotel staff - between a dollar and five bucks, depending on what precisely they're doing for you that's extra. If the concierge does you a favour of some sort, compensate them adequately (this isn't really an automatic tip though, more a true payment for an extra service).

For drinks, a generous tip with the first drink is helpful at a busy bar, then a more modest tip subsequently and a bonus at the end of the night if standards remained good. If you're running a tab, just bung 10% or so on at the end.

Restaurants in the US - 15%, move up by 5% if service was genuinely good, drop by as much as you feel appropriate if the service was below average. If you used the sommelier extensively (and were happy with the recommendations), add in a bit more to reflect that.

I don't believe in automatic tipping generally, but in the US, things work sufficiently differently to the UK, that you do need to play the game a bit. And to be fair, the level of service is usually far more attentive than the UK. Not always good, but almost always more attentive.

 

[Venardhi]

I'm very generous when service is good, but I feel no obligation to reward bad service with a 15-20% tip. Bare minimum, I'll put down a few dollars for any sit down meal (even if they avoid eye contact all night, leave me with a cup of ice to chew on for 20 minutes and forget that side of blue-cheese dressing for my fries), and a dollar per mixed drink at a bar. If you're good to me, 25-30% isn't unheard of, which at a higher-end place can be half a day's pay for me. I'm frankly dumbfounded by friends who will plunk down 20% for a bad meal and bad service just because they feel like it is expected of them.

 

[Timby]

I'm frankly dumbfounded by friends who will plunk down 20% for a bad meal

Bad service, sure. But if you get served a bad meal, and you don't say anything to your server about it and instead eat it without complaint, you have only yourself to blame, and if the service is good, it's unfair to dock a server's tip because of the kitchen's mistakes.

 

[Maestro]

When I see the suggestion of 18%-20%, I think we're going overboard. Hell, I remember when it was 10%, and 15% was considered absurdly high.

 

[Jeri]

Twenty percent is standard and easy to figure out, as well; and 30% in New York.

I heard a story where a NY waiter chased a departing diner down the street, yelling what was wrong with the service, because he didn't tip 30%.

 

[JiNX-01]

BTW, I'm going to echo that the standard tip for restaurants should be 18-20%.

Fuck me, are you all made of money over there...???!!! 10% would be the most I'd tip in a restaurant here. I've never been in a hotel with a porter, but I'd never even think to leave a tip for the housekeeping staff. Nor for bar staff, Christ the drinks cost a bloody fortune, especially in a hotel bar. Wow, it's just a completely different culture.

Take it up with management. Hotels, restaurants and bars in this country pay as little as they can get away with.
My goddaughter makes $2.25 and hour (no, that's not a typo) plus tips as server in a restaurant chain that's about 4 steps above McDonald's (in the sense that you eat off plates and the food is cooked after you order it). The only circumstance that gets her more money from her employer is if her tips don't bring her total hourly income to equal the federal minimum wage.

 

[Captain Ice]

(especially considering that restaurants would probably raise prices if they had to pay servers more).

I'd much rather this happened, and we eliminated the obligatory "tip".

Yeah, but it would turn off most people (especially some people who are basically too cheap/poor to tip at all and just pay for the meal). Restaurants can make money off of those people even if the server is left feeling slighted for their hard work.

It's not obligatory, though, it's expected. If you are truly dissatisfied with your service, you can tip less or not at all. But perhaps it's also a good idea to speak to a manager so he or she can fix the situation so others might not have to deal with the same poor service.

Having been in the restaurant business, I can tell you that raising the servers wages to what I would consider a decent living wage will almost double the price of your meal. As it is in a restaurant, your labor rate is about 20-30% of your cash outlay. Also, if you raise your prices to offset this, you are going to lose a number of your customers. Prices will have to rise enough to cover this as well.

My general rules of thumb.

Valet - $1 every time he/she brings your car out for you.
Bellhop - $1 per bag carried. $2 if it's heavy.
Waitress - 15%-18% standard (depends on how I have to round things off to get an even amount)
Barkeep - 15% or so on the tab.
Housekeeping - $2 a day. Will have to remember the note - good idea. I've been leaving this the last day on the table.
Concierge - I never use this service so I do not know.

 

[Timby]

Waitress - 15%-18% standard (depends on how I have to round things off to get an even amount)
Waiter - 15% or so on the tab.

I'm going to have to ask you to explain the gender discrimination.