# Hotel tipping: how much and \*when\* **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 4, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960 "2003-12-04T15:55:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/1 "2003-12-04T15:55:47Z")
We’re tentatively planning a trip where we stay in a fancy-schmancy hotel, and I’d like to avoid a tipping _faux pas_. I can Google search answers on approximately _how much_ to tip bell hops and the like, but exactly at _what point_ is it appropriate to offer a tip? For example: Valet parking: does one tip when dropping off the car, or picking it up? Or both? Bell-hop: One tips only after the bags are in the room (or in the car, on checkout), correct? Or not? Concierge: suppose I ask the concierge to locate movie tickets (or whatever) for me at some reasonably close theatre. Do I tip upon asking, or after the service is performed? What if I’m talking to this person over the telephone as opposed to face-to-face? Or is it _gauche_ to call the concierge as opposed to meeting him in person? Help me appear suave and sophisticated! ---
**Author:** ![leenmi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@leenmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leenmi)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/2 "2003-12-04T16:16:04Z")
Tip when the service is done. valet: when the car is delivered to you. Bell-hop: never used one, but when the bags have been placed in the room. Concierge: at the end of your stay. Have the money ready. Don’t be fumbling with your wallet or a wad of cash. Don’t make a big deal of it. Have it in your hand and ready and give it to them when you say thank you. If they are not present, such as maid or concierge, put it and a short thank you note in an envelope marked for them and ask the registration desk to see that it is delivered. If you don’t have small bills on hand, don’t panic. Don’t apologize or make a show of having intended to tip them. Say thank you and walk away. Make it good the next time you use their services. Act like you know what you are doing. You are the guest of the hotel. You do not have to tip. You should, but you don’t have to. Do not feel uncomfortable or out of place. If you are paying the bill, you are in place. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/3 "2003-12-04T16:31:06Z")
Bellhop is usually one dollar per bag. (So pack light!) Give it to him after he has placed your bags in the room. Valets we have usually tipped two dollars each time he had to fetch the car, and the first time he parked it. Have the money in your hand, like\*\* leenmi\* said, and just casually extend it to them. I suggest two dollars per day for the maid. You can just leave it in the room. (Some hotels provide envelopes for this purpose.) Don’t stiff the maid, please. They’re the hardest-working people in the entire hotel, and they’re paid next-to-nothing. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/4 "2003-12-04T17:15:44Z")
Be sure to leave the tip for the maid on a daily basis so that the person who actually cleans the room gets the dough rather than whoever happens to be there on your last day. ---
**Author:** ![Jake4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bc8723/32.png) [@Jake4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake4)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/5 "2003-12-04T18:02:17Z")
Where do you leave the daily money for the maid? If I were a maid and saw a buck lying around, I wouldn’t take it, for fear of being accused of stealing. Do you leave a note? ---
**Author:** ![susie426](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@susie426](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susie426)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/6 "2003-12-04T21:18:11Z")
I usually take a piece of notepaper (provided in the hotel room usually) and write “to housekeeping [or maid service-whatever you want to call it], thanks” and fold it once around the $$. It’s always gone when I come back after housekeeping had been there! ---
**Author:** ![susie426](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@susie426](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susie426)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/7 "2003-12-04T21:22:22Z")
oh yea, I also leave it somewhere really obvious…like on the nightstand or bathroom counter. If I happen to have a lot of mess (lots of bathroom towels, garbage, etc) I tip more than if the room was more or less as _clean_ as when I got there. ---
**Author:** ![Photog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c77e96/32.png) [@Photog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Photog)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/8 "2003-12-04T22:46:13Z")
I had an experience once where I left a tip for the maid ($5) on the first day, and then again on the second day. On the second day, I happened to return to my room before she had finished and she asked me “Sir, did you leave a $5 tip today?” to which I replied “Yes, why is there a problem?” She answered “No, but you left $5 yesterday.” I didn’t understand her concern, so I didn’t persue it any further. I assume she asked because she didn’t want to be accused of stealing. But why would she think she would be? Is it just that I left too much (I see **Lissa** has suggested $2/day)? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hotel-tipping-how-much-and-when/216960/9 "2003-12-04T22:53:59Z")
For tipping the maid, I usually leave the money folded in a sheet of that writing pad paper they have in the desk, with the words “Por Ustedes” written on it.