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| Hotel room attendant // Photo by Marriott International |
In response to Marriott's recent program with Maria Shriver to encourage travelers to tip hotel staff, etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore offers her top recommendations for who to tip while traveling.
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Whitmore says, "I'm in favor of tipping housekeepers at hotels. When I travel, I leave $2-$3 a night. I place the money in an envelope on the bathroom counter marked, "Housekeeping - Thank You!" Housekeepers are some of the hardest working staff members in a hotel and many make less than $10 per hour. They deserve to be appreciated."
Her key recommendations:
Tipping in Airports
- Taxi drivers: 10 to 15 percent of the bill.
- Car service: 20 percent of the bill. In some cases, the tip is included. If you’re not sure, ask.
- Shuttle drivers: $1 per bag.
- Skycaps: $1 to $2 per bag.
Tipping in Hotels
- Doorman: $1 to $2 per bag for moving your bags from the car to the bell cart. Tip $1 to $2 dollars for hailing a taxi for you.
- Bellman: $1 to $2 per bag and $1 to $2 for every delivery to your room.
- Concierge: $10 or more for special services such as securing you a hard-to-get reservation to a popular restaurant.
- Housekeeper: Tip $2 to $3 per night, add an additional $1 to $2 for special requests. If you have the same housekeeper throughout your stay, place the money in an envelope labeled "Housekeeping" at the end of your trip and leave it in a location where it can be easily seen, such as on a pillow. If there are multiple housekeepers, tip each day.
- Room service: 15 to 18 percent of the bill before taxes. Tipping is optional if a service charge is included in the bill.
- Valet: $2 to $5 each time an attendant retrieves your car.
- Spa service: 15 to 20 percent of the bill.
Tipping in Restaurants
- Coatroom attendant: $1 to $2 per item.
- Maitre d': $10 to $100 depending on the restaurant, occasion and level of service you expect. Present the tip before you sit down at your table.
- Wine sommelier: Gratuity is optional but recommended for extremely attentive or helpful sommeliers. A tip of 5 to 10 percent of the wine charge is appropriate.
- Restroom attendant: 50 cents to $1 for handing you a towel or if you use any products displayed on the sink.
Jacqueline Whitmore is founder of the Protocol School of Palm Beach and author of Poised for Success: Mastering The Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals.
http://www.etiquetteexpert.com/
http://jacquelinewhitmore.com/