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Tips on Tipping—Part 2

Today we’re talking about tipping. When I’m on the road I often end up trying to figure out whom to tip, how much to tip, when to tip and how to deliver a tip.

In my previous blog we covered tipping tips for cab drivers, bellhops, and valets. This blog will cover the other members of the hotel industry that make the bulk of their salaries from guests’ generosity.

HOUSEKEEPING STAFF

Most people I have spoken to about tipping admit (sheepishly) that they often forget to leave a gratuity for the person who cleans their hotel room each day. It’s easy to overlook since you don’t usually encounter them directly. However, their efforts are apparent each time you return to your room and the bed is made and the bathroom is restocked with fresh towels and toiletries. I would advise leaving a tip of at least $2 per night—-more if you leave a big mess behind.

I find the tricky part about tipping a housekeeper is that it is hard to know if the housekeeping staff pools all of their tips or the individual cleaner gets to keep the entire tip. If you don’t want to inquire about the set up with hotel management I would suggest leaving a cash tip in an envelope on a desk or pillow with the words “Thank You Housekeeping” on it.

ROOM SERVICE

Check the menu’s fine print before automatically handing out a tip to your room service attendant. If the menu states you’ll be charged a “room service delivery fee,” and a separate “service fee,” then your tip may be already be included in your bill. If you don’t see it in writing assume that the tip is not included and give your attendant a gratuity of at least 10 percent.

CONCIERGE

If you use the service of the concierge, expect to have a wad of cash ready to dole out. Typically, a concierge will receive $5 to $20 for services, which include (but aren’t limited to) making hard-to-get dinner reservations or for getting much sought after theater or concert tickets. If you are asking your concierge to complete services that are beyond the standard “dinner reservations,” say for example, arranging for your room to be filled with dozens of long-stemmed roses to surprise your spouse—-you may consider a heftier tip.

Related Articles:

Tips On Tipping

Hotel Rooms-Smoking or Non-Smoking: The Choice Is No Longer Yours

Hotels–How Clean Are They?

Airport Hotels–Vacation Destinations

Travel Tip: Beware of Hotel Cribs

Travel Tips–Hotel’s Unwanted Guests

Traveling with Children: Finding the Best Hotel Room

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About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.