Tipping in luxury hotels

[Neil]

I am looking for some advice and info from my fellow V-Flyers if you please.

With our upcoming trip to SFO and LAS getting ever closer, I am now in full holiday planning mode. As it is a special holiday for us, we are staying at the Skylofts whilst in Vegas, a place that seems to be classed as a 'luxury' hotel(well it bloody well better be for the price they charge!). Anyway, reading some other sites, there was a post by someone who said that they tipped over $1500 during their stay at the Skylofts [:0]

As someone who is not a fan of tipping, and therefore not very 'up' on who/how much I should tip, I was wondering if there is an expected amount to tip at 'luxury' hotels and how different tipping should be compared to so 'regular' hotels?

Also, who do you I tip, as there seems to be so many different people offering services, and as the butler seems to do an awful lot during your stay, do you tip every time he provides a service or just once at the end?

This is quite confusing for a boy from Hull, so ANY help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,Neil

[RichardMannion]

Go down to your local Lidl, buy one of those big jars of mints.....

[Neil]

Originally posted by RichardMannion
Go down to your local Lidl, buy one of those big jars of mints.....

And throw the whole jar at you?

Thank you for your help Richard, anyone else got any helpful info...

I'm terrible with tipping in Hotels.
More than often they'll add a 'gratuity' which probably never goes to the staff but makes feel better like I've done my bit.

In hotels in America (regardless of whether they're luxury or not) I'll generally tip the people who deliver service whilst I'm there. Normally becuase I feel embarresed if I don't.

Bar Staff - usually a dollar, plus any change left over (more if they're good or I'm there for the night).
Doorman - a dollar or two if they get me a taxi.
Porters - a Couple of dollars if they have to bring bags to the room.

And thats pretty much it [:)]

I think it was probably a high roller or someone who was very lucky who tipped $1500.

[Darren Wheeler]

You know the world has gone mad when Neil gets a butler!!

Give them a Netto gift voucher.

[Decker]

I generally leave at least $2 a day for housekeeping. Dollar or two for doorman getting cab. $2 a bag for bellhop. Dollar a drink for barkeep.

[mitchja]

No more than a couple of Dollars each here too.

I sometimes leave a Dollar bill everyday in the room for housekeeping. It sometimes gets you a few extras.

It always make me smile when you check-in to a hotel and they ask you if you need help with your bags. Errrrm, well I've managed to carry them for the last 3000 miles from my home, so I should be able to cope with the last few hundred yards to my room!!

Regards

[Neil]

Hmmm so it seems that it's pretty standard whatever the level of property. It is just this butler guy I am worried about now.

You know what neil, i think it easy to get carried away with leaving tips everywhere as i have done in the past because i didnt want to leave anyone out and secondly the states has a high-tip orientated culture for waiters-waitresses.
So what i do regardless of class of hotel whether in the the states, mexico or anywhere else, i leave 5GBP (10 USD) on the bed everyday for the maid and 5GBP in the fridge for the guy refilling the fridge (that generally gets me more beer than soft drinks)and the same for food services. I think this is fair, but then i am a carret cruncher from norfolk so this might not mean much!

Cheers

Alex

Originally posted by av_norw792
You know what neil, i think it easy to get carried away with leaving tips everywhere as i have done in the past because i didnt want to leave anyone out and secondly the states has a high-tip orientated culture for waiters-waitresses.
So what i do regardless of class of hotel whether in the the states, mexico or anywhere else, i leave 5GBP (10 USD) on the bed everyday for the maid and 5GBP in the fridge for the guy refilling the fridge (that generally gets me more beer than soft drinks)and the same for food services. I think this is fair, but then i am a carret cruncher from norfolk so this might not mean much!

Cheers

Alex

I do the very same as you Alex - plus $2 for a drink from the bar or 20 - 25% for table service, and $5 for bell boys. I tend to tip a butler $50 per day - give it to him/her (most seem to be ladies on my last few trips) at the end of the week via a sealed envelope.

Hope this helps.

HG

Holly Molly!

I meant just normal services, maids waiters etc ect.

Im well outside your league boys! I said nothing about butlers!

Butlins here i come.

Not sure if this helps Neil, but I have been reading a lot of info about Sandals hotels in the general research for our upcoming trip, and for the people (mainly American) who have Butler suites they average out at Tipping $20 a day for the Butler. They unpack your luggage, make any dinner reservations for you, set you up with towels and loungers at the pool, give you a mobile phone to contact them if you need anything, book shows, excursions and transport etc for you....

I have also read about Butler suites on cruise ships and for a 7 night cruise the Butlers are tipped at the end of the stay about $200 by most of the folks in the reviews I have read - tipping is prety standard in America so I would assume the same amounts would apply to a Butler on a ''home turf'' holiday?

We are staying at The Sandals Grande St Lucian in January, where tipping is forbidden with the exception of the butlers. I guess the reason for this is that they really do go out of their way to make things happen for you and ensure you have the best possible stay.
Whenever I tip, especially in the US I always tip relative to the service I have received. If people go out of their way to help you or make your experience better, then they deserve a reasonable tip. I'm afraid I don't subscribe to the 'it's common prctise to tip so I'm gonna tip regardless' mentality.Bad or unsatisfactory service means no tip in my book.
This sort of rationale is the reason, I feel, that in the US especially, you tend to get a better level of service.


NOC

[Darren Wheeler]

I tip if it's deserved and not just because it's expected. Usually leave 2 dollars a day for the maid, always done each day rather than at the end. The only exception to that is if it's a one-night stay.

Restaurants are done on a bill value (15-20%) depending on service although I have done 0% before now. Taxis, rarely take them. Porters, never use them but 'Bugger off' often offends though. Bar, depends on how long I have to wait and as long as they don't do the old western spit-n-polish on the glass.

Never had a butler before and no plans too, but a true Butler (Gentlemans Gentleman) should do it purely for a job well done.

{Apologies from Decker - hit wrong button and accidentally deleted Hackneyguy's response which correctly pointed out that a Gentleman's Gentleman is a Valet not a Butler}

[Scrooge]

Most of the shall we say better places I have stayed off late have put in place some kind of resort fee, this (depending on the place) covers the tips, however if a staff member goes above and beyond then I try to tip them.

[Neil]

Originally posted by Scrooge
Most of the shall we say better places I have stayed off late have put in place some kind of resort fee, this (depending on the place) covers the tips, however if a staff member goes above and beyond then I try to tip them.

As our 'Vegas Expert'! do you know if such a thing is in place in the Skylofts? Or what is the 'norm' at this place?

Originally posted by Decker
I generally leave at least $2 a day for housekeeping. Dollar or two for doorman getting cab. $2 a bag for bellhop. Dollar a drink for barkeep.

This is correct.

I've been in the Skylofts -- hope you requested McCarren view room -- and they are large so I'd say $5 a day for housekeeping. Leave the $$$ on the unmade bed when you leave each day.

All other amounts Decker sites are perfectly accurate.

Only other add would be if concierge gets you tickets for a show or seats at a restaurant, it's a good thing to tip him/her a tenner.

You won't go broke, and these people live on next to nothing in terms of regular wages. Your tip means a nicer meal or a pint on the night for them. Don't be a stingy old toad.

GJ

[Decker]

Wow GJ we're singing from the same hymn sheet! When staying in apartment sized rooms I also leave $5! I do scribble 'Thank You' on hotel notepads too and leave that under the money on the unmade bed. And I'm with you on the concierge!

[Neil]

GJ giving me useful advice! Well it is much appreciated, so thank you.

I hadn't requested a McCarren View, do I take it from your suggestion we should? May I also ask how did you go about tipping the loft butler? It is them I am most confused about.

Neil

Originally posted by Neil
GJ giving me useful advice! Well it is much appreciated, so thank you.

I hadn't requested a McCarren View, do I take it from your suggestion we should? May I also ask how did you go about tipping the loft butler? It is them I am most confused about.

Neil

The views of the McCarren airport runways are amazing. As a V-Flyer (albeit one in low standing...), you must get one of the rooms that looks out upon it.

As for the other matter, it is customary to provide gratuity to staff directly. If that is not possible, I give a sealed envelope with the gratuity -- and the name of the staff member or their role on the front of the envelope -- to the manager on duty and ask that he be sure the gratuity is presented. One can only trust it will be done. You can tip the loft butler a couple dollars every day, or give him a tenner or so at the end of your stay...if he performs a task for you, say, then give him a dollar or two there and then. I find service is maintained when daily tips are given versus a tip at the end of the journey.

That said, of course, upon departure from Le Sirenuse in Positano every summer, the staff all line up in the front to bid me farewell and I make a point of pressing a gold sovereign into each of their swarthy Italian palms (having shoved 10 Euro notes down their smalls the night before...).

Carry on.

GJ