How much should I tip?

By Amy Bradley-Hole

Travel columnist

updated 7:52 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2007

Amy Bradley-Hole Travel columnist • Profile • E-mail

The act of stealthily sliding money into someone’s palm seems to make most people nervous. Add to that the uncertainty of who gets what, and tipping becomes a source of stress for many travelers, rather than a show of appreciation. Here’s a list of hotel employees who customarily receive tips, along with some suggestions on how much to give them.

Doorman
The doorman is there to welcome you each time you enter the hotel. He will usually help you remove your bags from your vehicle, and will pass them on to a bellman. He is often the one to call a taxi for you, too.
Customary tip: $2 for hailing a cab; $1 per piece for handling luggage.

Valet
Valet attendants park and retrieve your car. They may assist with your bags, helping the bellman load and unload the car. They can also help with special requests. For example, if you know you’ll need your car again very shortly after parking, you can ask the valet to keep the car close, or “stage” it, so it’s easy to retrieve upon your return.
Customary tip: $2 for each car retrieval; $1 per piece for luggage assistance.

Bellman
A bellman’s main job is to help you with your luggage. Bellmen will store your luggage if you arrive before your room is ready, or if you must check out of your room before you are ready to leave the property. Bellmen take your bags upon arrival, wait as you check in and escort you to your room. Great bellmen will check your room before having you enter, give you a room orientation (explaining where light switches are, how the remote control functions, how the phones work, etc.), check for your satisfaction and grab anything else that you might immediately need, such as ice or an extra pillow. Bellmen can often be found making room deliveries throughout your stay. Ever wonder how that package you were expecting magically appeared on the desk in your room? The bellman probably brought it.
Customary tip: $1 to $2 per bag, or a flat $5 plus $1 per bag, for storing bags or taking them to your room; $1 to $2 for a standard delivery; tip extra if you get a great room orientation.

Room-service attendant
These are the folks who get your room-service order from the kitchen to your room. If they’re really good, they’ll uncover your food and present it nicely on the table. It’s common for hotels to tack on a “service charge” or gratuity for room service in advance, so check your bill before tipping. I usually feel compelled to give an extra two or three dollars, because who knows if that employee ever sees any of that service charge? Lyra Beck, corporate director of Hotel Yield and Teleservices for Boyd Gaming, agrees, saying, “Room-service tipping is already included on most bills, but if they set up my tray and show me everything that was ordered, then I'll add an additional $5.”
Customary tip: 15 percent, or at least $2, if no gratuity has been added to the bill; if a gratuity has been added, an extra tip is at your discretion.

MORE FROM TIPS

Tips Section Front

A traveler's guide to shopping abroad Tips for choosing a hotel 7 ways to avoid checked baggage fees No ticket, but they remembered the bill How to get fit on vacation The travel secrets of war reporters The best iPhone apps for travelers Great things to do in the airport Airline safety course teaches life-saving skills How to leverage social media for a better vacation Tips Section Front   Add Tips headlines to your news reader: