How to Tip a Bellhop
Tip whenever a bellhop provides a service, which might include carrying your luggage, showing you the room, opening blinds, showing you how to operate the air conditioner or putting large pieces of luggage on the luggage stand.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
-
-
1
Keep small bills available for the purpose of tipping.
-
2
Let the bellhop carry your luggage, even if it is one small bag.
-
3
Tip the bellhop $5, in a first-rate hotel, plus $1 for each piece of luggage.
-
4
Give the bellhop $5 for opening the room and showing it, even if you have no luggage.
-
5
Make the exchange seamless. The money should be surreptitiously passed in a handshake or small, minor exchange.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You don't have to call the bellhop when you check out, unless you want to. If you do, he or she will expect another tip. Tip $2 per bag or a $5 flat tip.
The word "tip," which originated in England, was originally an acronym for the phrase "to insure promptness."
Be sure to tip as services are provided; don't wait to put the bellhop's tips on your bill.
Related Searches
Comments
-
kjjagg
Dec 04, 2008
A response to the "confused by the switch off"... I work at a 5 star Hotel in North Florida and we do that. But what appears to be a switch is necessary at big hotels. Just as at a drive thru one window may take your money and the next window provides your food order, so it is with us. ie; The Bellman provides services INSIDE the hotel, where-as the Doorman provides services on the frontdrive. It may be confusing but when you think about it, it really causes a smoother flow and is an intelligent handling of staff. The Doorman are ALWAYS on the front drive (not disappearing doing a check-in) And the Bellman are ALWAYS inside for Prompt check-ins/outs. I would add that for tips I would suggest (for our line of work) that $5 should be the minimum. $5 is the new $1. It's like a penny for a gumball machine, prices have gone up.. -
PSaxeman
Sep 19, 2008
I added this note to my previous comment, but it must have been too long and got cut off. One thing that is rather tacky and inappropriate to do if you stay at a hotel that provides bell service is to use the bellman's cart to take your own luggage. You wouldn't use an engineer's tools to fix your TV or the maid's vacuum to clean your room. Bellman are service providers just every other person in a hotel. Even if you don't tip them, let them do their jobs. No bellman wants to search the hotel for his carts in order to perform his job duties. We are there to serve you, but please, at least be considerate.
-
PSaxeman
Sep 19, 2008
I added this note to my previous comment, but it must have been too long and got cut off. One thing that is rather tacky and inappropriate to do if you stay at a hotel that provides bell service is to use the bellman's cart to take your own luggage. You wouldn't use an engineer's tools to fix your TV or the maid's vacuum to clean your room. Bellman are service providers just every other person in a hotel. Even if you don't tip them, let them do their jobs. No bellman wants to search the hotel for his carts in order to perform his job duties. We are there to serve you, but please, at least be considerate.
-
PSaxeman
Sep 19, 2008
As other posters have noted, the amount you tip should be based on the level of service provided. However, since tips are a major part of a bellman's income, a rude bellman will not be very successful in the industry. As a result, MOST bellmen are friendly and polite. As a bellman at an upscale hotel in Palm Springs, CA, I can also tell you that most guests tip the bellman. The standard tip is around $5 if the bellman is friendly and you have a typical load of luggage (4 to 6 items). Of course this usually varies depending on how much the bellperson does for you and what his/her attitude is like. In any case, a bellman with a bad attitude that doesn't provide good service doesn't deserve a tip. Also, we always get a certain percentage of people who don't tip, so don't feel embarrassed if you don't have extra cash to tip the bellman. It's part of the job and we usually get enough tips
-
Nicolo
Aug 26, 2008
I am confused by the switch-off. One bellman will come to my room and bring my bags down, then switch-off to another bellman who will load my bags into my car. I get irritated by this because I am thinking it is a ploy for more tips. I don't have a problem tipping well, but am confused about how to handle the tip. I don't think paying twice to get my bags from my room to the car is appropriate. Can anyone shed some insight on this?
