I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and enjoyed the extra hour of sleep (or time spent anyway you pleased). Today’s Manners Monday post was actually prompted by a reader, Amber Y., who wrote me a message on my Facebook wall last week and requested more information on how much to tip for various services (things that go beyond just restaurant tips).
Every classy woman should be armed with the knowledge of what to tip and when. So, today we’ll explore various venues and general amounts that are appropriate as it pertains to everyday tipping etiquette in North America. We’ll explore international tipping as well as holiday tipping at a later date so this post doesn’t become insanely long. 😉
Hotel & Travel Services:
1. Door Man- $1-$4 for carrying luggage or anything that involves them going out of their way for you and is not in their description. $1-2 is recommended for hailing a cab for you.
2. Bell Hop-$2 for the first bag and $1 for each additional bag thereafter. For each additional service (such as room delivery), tip $2-3.
3. Housekeeping- $2-5 per day depending on the level of service. Always include a hand written note that thanks the housekeeper and indicates it’s for them. It’s best to do this on a daily basis as you may likely have a different person each day.
4. Concierge-$5-10 if they got restaurant reservations of special tickets for you. Add an extra $5 if the tickets or reservations were hard to come by. Of course, you need not feel obligated to tip for having them answer a few questions for you.
5. Taxi Driver-A minimum of $1 for very short rides, 15-20% of the cab fare. If they are assisting your with luggage/bags, add $2 for the first bag and $1 for each thereafter.
6. Sky Cap (air travel) –This is a specialty service for air travelers to make life easier, $2 for the first bag and $1 for each bag thereafter (as with other venues) is appropriate.
Tips on Tipping:
It’s important to remember that tipping is a personal gesture and at the discretion of the giver, while guidelines are set, if you have been extremely disappointed by someone’s service provided or delighted when someone has gone above and beyond, your tip should reflect. A lady knows that certain things are done in private and the act of tipping is no exception. Tipping should be done discreetly, it was never intended to be an opportunity to appear as the big spender nor should you compare amounts with others, everyone’s experience is different. Also, be mindful that for many in the service industry, their tips are the bulk of their income as hourly compensation can often be meager and as such tips are always greatly appreciated.
Today, it seems that even when someone has experienced horrific service, many feel compelled to leave the standard 15%. In such cases, it’s best to speak to management and make them aware of the issue (without causing a scene or fuss of any sort), only then can they help correct what you were displeased with and speak to the person in question. It is considered poor taste to leave pocket change or nothing at all upon receiving services, especially within a restaurant environment, for poor service a tip of 10% of the check’s total should be the absolute minimum. Other members of the restaurant are often affected (in many restaurants bus boys, dishwashers, food prep and chef receive a portion of the server’s tip and they should not be penalized in the process).
***A note on gift certificates and Groupon or group coupon deals. Even if your gift certificate covers a large portion of your meal or spa service, tipping is always made on the full value of the services or meal before tax and not on the portion that remains after your gift card.
Have you had someone provide exemplary services and have re-warded them as such for their thoughtfulness and/or skill? I’d love to hear what they did to make you so happy, please share the positive vibes in the comments section! 🙂
Thank you for reading!
XO
Great post as I always wonder if I am tipping enough when at hotels. Restaurants I usually do the 20% but if it is bad service, I will do less than that or maybe nothing. Nothing is rare but if it is really bad, I am not afraid to not leave a tip. From what I have read above, I am doing it the right way. Thanx !!
I have a question…I am going on a cruise next week, tips each day are supposed to charged to my credit card, about $12 a day and I am assuming this is for housekeeping, restaurant but do I also need to tip any staff on the ship extra cash for services, like room service etc? Thanks! Kelly
Hi Karla! I've always wondered if you are supposed to tip the bagger boy at the grocery store whole helps you take your bags to your car? Good post!
Hi Kelly! I've been on several cruises with an array of cruise lines and they all typically run the gratuities the same way. You'll be notified of the amount (which I can see you have been-$12/day) and that is the amount you would essentially be tipping at the end of the cruise (it gets billed via your credit card automatically)-the last evening of your cruise and sometimes a day or so later. It's also the same evening that any billing inquiries etc., are made known to front desk.You do not need to tip the baggage handlers unless who take your bags for transport you are hiring a porter when claiming bags and getting from the baggage area to transportation at the end of your cruise. In terms of dining, you'll typically have the same server and assistant server every evening and if they provide fabulous service, you may want to tip extra-we usually do. You'll want to give them each their tip at the dinner of the last evening of your cruise. Anything in the spa would also be separate of course. Room service is included in the ship's daily gratuity fees of $12 but if they've done an outstanding job and have attended to multiple room requests, something extra for them is always nice. Have a blast on your cruise! :)~Karla
Hi Erin! Thanks for your question. Many stores (like Publix here in the south) have their staff trained not to accept tips, it's the store's way of going the extra mile. Since each store is a little bit different, you could inquire at the customers service desk. If they are allowed to accept tips, for a regular to large size load of groceries $1-2 would be acceptable or whatever you see fit. 🙂
Thanks Rosemary! 🙂 I think a lot of people get confused with what to tip at hotels. Once when we gave a tip to our bell hop he also let us in on the best places to eat in the area, particularly a perfect Sunday brunch find. I've found that most hotel staff will go out of their way for you after they know you appreciate them.
Kelly, if you are interested I also wrote a post on Cruise Ship Etiquette here: http://theclassywoman.blogspot.com/2009/10/cruise-ship-etiquette.html
Great post! So helpful!
Thanks Karla! That is what I had heard, that they were not supposed to accept tips but I have never been sure if that was the case or not.
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂
Here is my dilemma … my hair stylist works by herself out of her home. Would I still offer a tip, seeing as she keeps her entire fee? What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Laura, thanks for your question! 🙂 Even though she works out of her home, you should still tip her. Remember that tips were never meant to be an action of a paid percentage out of obligation or based on the level of overhead a company has, they were meant to be a gesture of showing appreciation for wonderful service on top of the cost of that service rendered. So, if she provides wonderful services to you from her home, regardless of the fact that her expenses may be minimal, I would give her a tip as you see fit. She will still have some expenses for products and tools and the trade off as an in-home stylist is that she won't have nearly the same amount of clients or foot traffic so I'm sure she would appreciate it. P.S.-I'm originally from Toronto, it's nice to 'meet' another fellow Canadian in blogland. 😉
4 years ago my sister and I went to NYC for my 30th birthday. Since then I've stayed at the same hotel 3 or 4 times a year for other trips to the city. The concierge has been the same man every time, and every time he remembers my birthday and asks about family or other things that may have previously been mentioned. The fact that he takes the time to note these things in a hotel that probably has thousands of guests every weekend really means a lot. He alwasy asks what night I'd like a reservation at my favorite restaurant (and he never asks for the name of the restaurant) and lets me know if there's anything special going on in the hotel that I might be interested in or to steer clear of! I've written notes to both him and the hotel manager on several occasions, so that might also account for the fantastic service, but even so, he really helps to make me feel welcome. I always slip him an envelope with a handwritten thank you note and a very nice tip!
Hi Sylvie! Thanks for sharing your experience here, I loved reading about it. How lovely that the concierge remembers you even after serving many people daily. Those are the kinds of establishments that I enjoy going back to-they make you look forward to the visit. 🙂
Coming from a service industry, people sometimes don't realize how much you rely on your tips. This is a great post!xx
It's so true, Jesse! I've always said that I think everyone needs to be a server in a restaurant at least once in their lives for a couple weeks. You see things from a different perspective afterwards and realize that it's not an easy job, especially when a restaurant is really busy. It allows you to have more grace for servers when they might be having an off night.
Thanks Karla … great tip! I have lived in Toronto twice, but am currently in Guelph … love your blog!
Great post as I always wonder if I am tipping enough when at hotels. Restaurants I usually do the 20% but if it is bad service, I will do less than that or maybe nothing. Nothing is rare but if it is really bad, I am not afraid to not leave a tip. From what I have read above, I am doing it the right way. Thanx !!
I have a question…I am going on a cruise next week, tips each day are supposed to charged to my credit card, about $12 a day and I am assuming this is for housekeeping, restaurant but do I also need to tip any staff on the ship extra cash for services, like room service etc? Thanks! Kelly
Hi Karla! I've always wondered if you are supposed to tip the bagger boy at the grocery store whole helps you take your bags to your car? Good post!
Hi Kelly! I've been on several cruises with an array of cruise lines and they all typically run the gratuities the same way. You'll be notified of the amount (which I can see you have been-$12/day) and that is the amount you would essentially be tipping at the end of the cruise (it gets billed via your credit card automatically)-the last evening of your cruise and sometimes a day or so later. It's also the same evening that any billing inquiries etc., are made known to front desk.You do not need to tip the baggage handlers unless who take your bags for transport you are hiring a porter when claiming bags and getting from the baggage area to transportation at the end of your cruise. In terms of dining, you'll typically have the same server and assistant server every evening and if they provide fabulous service, you may want to tip extra-we usually do. You'll want to give them each their tip at the dinner of the last evening of your cruise. Anything in the spa would also be separate of course. Room service is included in the ship's daily gratuity fees of $12 but if they've done an outstanding job and have attended to multiple room requests, something extra for them is always nice. Have a blast on your cruise! :)~Karla
Hi Erin! Thanks for your question. Many stores (like Publix here in the south) have their staff trained not to accept tips, it's the store's way of going the extra mile. Since each store is a little bit different, you could inquire at the customers service desk. If they are allowed to accept tips, for a regular to large size load of groceries $1-2 would be acceptable or whatever you see fit. 🙂
Thanks Rosemary! 🙂 I think a lot of people get confused with what to tip at hotels. Once when we gave a tip to our bell hop he also let us in on the best places to eat in the area, particularly a perfect Sunday brunch find. I've found that most hotel staff will go out of their way for you after they know you appreciate them.
Kelly, if you are interested I also wrote a post on Cruise Ship Etiquette here: http://theclassywoman.blogspot.com/2009/10/cruise-ship-etiquette.html
Great post! So helpful!
Thanks Karla! That is what I had heard, that they were not supposed to accept tips but I have never been sure if that was the case or not.
Thank you! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment. 🙂
Here is my dilemma … my hair stylist works by herself out of her home. Would I still offer a tip, seeing as she keeps her entire fee? What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Laura, thanks for your question! 🙂 Even though she works out of her home, you should still tip her. Remember that tips were never meant to be an action of a paid percentage out of obligation or based on the level of overhead a company has, they were meant to be a gesture of showing appreciation for wonderful service on top of the cost of that service rendered. So, if she provides wonderful services to you from her home, regardless of the fact that her expenses may be minimal, I would give her a tip as you see fit. She will still have some expenses for products and tools and the trade off as an in-home stylist is that she won't have nearly the same amount of clients or foot traffic so I'm sure she would appreciate it. P.S.-I'm originally from Toronto, it's nice to 'meet' another fellow Canadian in blogland. 😉
4 years ago my sister and I went to NYC for my 30th birthday. Since then I've stayed at the same hotel 3 or 4 times a year for other trips to the city. The concierge has been the same man every time, and every time he remembers my birthday and asks about family or other things that may have previously been mentioned. The fact that he takes the time to note these things in a hotel that probably has thousands of guests every weekend really means a lot. He alwasy asks what night I'd like a reservation at my favorite restaurant (and he never asks for the name of the restaurant) and lets me know if there's anything special going on in the hotel that I might be interested in or to steer clear of! I've written notes to both him and the hotel manager on several occasions, so that might also account for the fantastic service, but even so, he really helps to make me feel welcome. I always slip him an envelope with a handwritten thank you note and a very nice tip!
Hi Sylvie! Thanks for sharing your experience here, I loved reading about it. How lovely that the concierge remembers you even after serving many people daily. Those are the kinds of establishments that I enjoy going back to-they make you look forward to the visit. 🙂
Coming from a service industry, people sometimes don't realize how much you rely on your tips. This is a great post!xx
It's so true, Jesse! I've always said that I think everyone needs to be a server in a restaurant at least once in their lives for a couple weeks. You see things from a different perspective afterwards and realize that it's not an easy job, especially when a restaurant is really busy. It allows you to have more grace for servers when they might be having an off night.
Thanks Karla … great tip! I have lived in Toronto twice, but am currently in Guelph … love your blog!