Hotel tipping advanced guide: 3 suggestions

You just checked into your hotel after a long day of travel. The valet whisks away your rental car, the bellhop brings your bags to your room, and housekeeping leaves you wondering how they make those perfect origami swans. Then you ask yourself: Who am I supposed to tip?

Tipping at hotels shouldn’t feel like navigating a secret rulebook, especially since hospitality workers in many countries depend on a gratuity to supplement their wages. But with no universal calculator, tipping etiquette leaves even seasoned business travelers scratching their heads about how much to tip at a hotel. 

Whether staying at a luxury resort or roadside inn, this guide explains who to tip, how much, and when it’s truly optional. 

How much should you tip housekeeping? 

Hotel housekeeping is one of the most demanding jobs in the hospitality industry—yet it often goes under-compensated. The average hotel housekeeper makes just $34k a year, a figure that hardly reflects the physically taxing work. 

From scrubbing bathrooms and making the bed to emptying trash and restocking towels, housekeepers are responsible for making your room feel comfortable and welcoming. Beyond the visible touches, their work contributes to your safety and well-being, providing a clean space throughout your stay.

Tipping is a simple and meaningful way to acknowledge good housekeeping services. A standard guideline is $5 per day, but it’s thoughtful to leave more if your stay requires extra attention—like cleaning up spills or vacuuming up sand from a beach day—or if the housekeeping staff adds an extra layer of care.

You can leave a tip for housekeeping in your room when you depart to cover the whole stay. Or, if you receive daily housekeeping services, daily tipping ensures you recognize rotating staff. Always place the cash in a clearly labeled envelope or attach a note to avoid confusion. 

What other hotel staff should you tip? 

It's not just hotel housekeeping that keeps guests comfortable. From valets to front desk concierges, a team of hotel staff works hard to help you unwind after a long day on the road. 

Valet

Many hotels provide a valet service to remove the stress of finding parking or remembering if you’re parked in 4B or 6C. Typically, valet services come with a fee, but tips are still a significant part of their income:

• Hotel valet tipping etiquette: Tip the valet when they retrieve your car, not when they park it. 
• Recommended amount: $5–10 per retrieval. If they brave lousy weather conditions or you drive a hard-to-handle truck, consider adding more to show appreciation for their care. 

Shuttle service

Hotel shuttles are a lifesaver for airport runs. Shuttle drivers literally go the extra mile, especially if your airport is far from the hotel:

• Shuttle service tipping etiquette: Always tip after a ride, particularly if they handle your luggage. 
• Recommended amount: $2–5 per person or $10–15 per group. A little extra is appreciated if your driver has to carry several heavy bags. 

Luggage attendant

Luggage attendants take your bags from reception to your room. Whether they carry bags themselves or use a luggage cart, a small tip per bag is the norm:

• Luggage attendant tipping etiquette: Tip when luggage attendants deliver or retrieve your bags. 
• Recommend amount: $2 per bag.

Concierge

Concierges tend to earn more than most other hotel staff, but they still deserve your tips. From securing last-minute table reservations at the best restaurants to procuring forgotten travel essentials, their resourcefulness keeps you focused on the purpose of your stay:

• Hotel concierge tipping etiquette: After they complete a request. 
• Recommended amount: $5–10 for routine requests, like making a reservation. For more involved travel services, like securing exclusive access to a conference room or pulling strings to impress a client at a hot new restaurant, business travelers tip anywhere from $20–100.

Room service

Have you ordered food and drink to your room? Tipping etiquette mirrors that of a traditional restaurant. However, many hotels automatically include gratuity in the bill if the number of guests is large enough:

• Room service tipping etiquette: If gratuity isn’t included, tip when your food arrives. You don’t need to tip when someone collects your tray. 
• Recommended amount: 15–20% of the total bill. 

Spa

A massage or facial at the hotel spa is a luxury, and tipping your therapist or technician is standard to the experience:

• Spa treatment tipping etiquette: At the end of your treatment. 
• Recommended amount: 20% of the total service charge.

3 hotel tipping suggestions

A lot of behind-the-scenes work goes into every business stay. Here’s how to make sure you show your appreciation:

• Factor in the cost: Tipping quickly adds up. Prepare your travel budget ahead of time to ensure you have enough to cover tips, meals, and amenities.‍
• Carry cash: Tipping is still a cash transaction. Although you can often tip with a card, it takes time for the hotel staff to receive it. Bring small bills when you travel so you can show your gratitude on the spot. ‍
• Tip at the right time and place: When and how you give a gratuity depends on who you interact with. For housekeepers, leave the tip in a visible spot with a note or envelope to make it clear it’s a gratuity. For others, hand them the tip directly after service with a simple “thank you.” 

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FAQs

When should you tip more?

Always consider the difficulty of the service. For example, if housekeeping has to clean up a larger-than-usual mess or the concierge pulls strings to secure a last-minute reservation, increase the tip to acknowledge exceptional effort. 

Are you obligated to tip housekeeping if they don't clean your room?

If you opt out of housekeeping, leaving a small tip at the end of your stay is still considerate. It shows respect and thanks staff for cleaning up after you check out. 

When is it okay to not leave a tip?

If the hotel includes gratuity in your bill, skipping the extra cash tip is perfectly fine. Regarding subpar service, consider whether it was within the staff's control. For example, a valet who’s delayed while handling a crowd still deserves a tip, but a rude concierge who fails to deliver on promises might not.