Etiquette experts have revealed how to tip like a professional traveler when staying at a hotel – and which services require an extra tip.
Tipping is a subject of fascination and concern for many, as evidenced by one of the most iconic movie scenes, when Kevin McCallister hands a bellhop a stick of gum in Home Alone 2.
Fortunately for travelers, expert sources can provide advice on when to tip, how to tip, who to tip, and how much to tip.
‘People really want to tip. They want to do the right thing,” Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert and author, told CNBC. “But there’s some confusion about what the etiquette is.”
From housekeeping to the doormen, experts recommend a price between €1 and €5 – nothing that will break the bank, but a gesture that will be greatly appreciated in the eyes of hospitality workers.
Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman says tipping can be confusing, though people generally want to ‘do the right thing’
In one of Home Alone 2’s standout scenes, main character Kevin McCallister hands a bellhop a stick of gum instead of cash
Etiquette experts and organizations such as the American Hotel and Lodging Association have developed guidelines for tipping in hotels
“You’re not going to protocol hell if you’re off by a dollar,” Gottsman added.
Specialists at the Emily Post Institute, a fifth-generation family business that provides etiquette advice and training, recommend housekeepers pay $2 to $5 per day.
For other staff members, such as a doorman who helps with luggage, the experts recommend a tip of $1 to $4. If the doorman hails you a cab, add $1 or $2, and if they go further, consider $1 to $4 extra.
If a bellhop helps you with your luggage, EPI experts recommend $2 for the first bag, then $1 for any additional bags.
Gottsman recommends taking tips into account when budgeting for a trip and bringing one- and five-dollar bills for this specific purpose.
She recommends leaving a $1 to $2 tip per bag brought to your room. People with one or two bags should tip at least $5 to make the trip worth the baggage handlers’ time.
More requests result in a larger tip. “If you ask for extra towels, a hair dryer or more ice, tip the housekeeper accordingly,” Gottsman said.
Valet drivers should be paid $2 to $5 if they arrive with your car.
If the hotel has not yet added a gratuity, tip room attendants the same way you would a server or bartender, 15 to 20 percent.
Lizzie Post is co-president of The Emily Post Institute, a family-owned business that provides etiquette training for businesses
The EPI generally recommends tips for hotel staff ranging between $1 and $5
The amount should be proportional to the effort, Gottsman said. There’s no need to tip someone when they open the door; a simple thank you would suffice. But if the door staff calls a cab or offers an umbrella, consider tipping between $2 and $5.
Likewise, you don’t have to break out the cash if someone at the front desk gives directions. But Gottsman encourages leaving a small tip, from $5 to $20, if a concierge can arrange reservations or special services.
In addition to etiquette experts, several organizations have established guidelines for tipping.
One of the best known is the American Hotel and Lodging Association, a trade organization that represents the interests of hotel owners.
They recommend a tip of $1 to $2 per person or $4 to $5 per party for shuttle drivers. As Gottsman said, it is preferable to tip valet drivers $1 to $5 when your car is delivered. However, tipping when your car is parked is optional.
They recommend a slightly higher tip, between $1 and $5, per bag, especially if the luggage is heavy. Tip same if you ask for bellhop service at check out.
Tip $1 to $2 if the door staff calls a cab. When they unload your luggage, tip in proportion to the quantity and weight.
A $5 to $10 tip is recommended for concierge staff, depending on how involved the service is. This can also be paid out in one go upon departure.
Gottsman recommends tipping $1 to $2 per suitcase brought to your room, and at least $5 for just one or two pieces of luggage
The amount should be proportionate to the effort. Answering a question about directions may not warrant a tip, but securing hard-to-get reservations may.
FairHotel, which stands up for hotel owners and staff, offers additional guidelines for catering staff, such as toilet staff and tour guides
For housekeeping, $1 to $5 per night is appropriate. To avoid confusion, this should be left in an envelope or with a note.
The organization also recommends a tip for “special item delivery,” such as an extra blanket, about $2 for one item or $1 per item. There is no need to tip if someone fixes something or loses something.
Room attendants, bartenders and waiters should all be tipped between 15 and 20 percent. For room service, this fee may already be included in the bill.
Another organization that provides guidelines for tipping is FairHotel, whose guide and app helps travelers find “socially responsible properties” with unions.
FairHotel has additional guidelines for services you may not have even considered, such as restroom attendants, who should be paid between $1 and $3.
They say street performers should be tipped between $1 and $2. For tour guides, this amount increases tenfold, between $10 and $20.
If you book a room upgrade, FairHotel recommends a $10 to $20 tip for the front desk.