How to Tip for Spa Services

By going to the spa we hope to release our frustrations and calm our nerves. A time at the spa can be relaxing and beneficial to our well-being. While the masseuse is massaging your back, pressing out the sores and knots from stress and frustration while you concentrate on your favorite dream or focus on how much better your body feels, you shouldn't have to counter-act the tranquil experience with thoughts like, "Now how much is this going to cost me and what do I have to tip on top of that?" Below are some tips on tipping for a spa service.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cash

1. While in the waiting area before your spa service, pay attention to the signs behind the counter. Some spas have a tip and payment policy listed. Otherwise, ask a representative at the front desk.
2. It is important to ask someone at the front about the tipping policy because some locations think it rude to tip directly, and the tips are combined and given to staff at the end of the day.
3. Enjoy your spa experience, don't spend your time of tranquility worrying about what tip is expected.
4. Remember that the staff is also given a wage, and that if your spa time was not enjoyable or you hurt afterward you are not obligated to tip.
5. After your spa time, take notice of what others around you are adding for tip. Mostly, take notice of how you feel and what you think tip should be based on the service.
6. Take costs and quality into consideration for value. For instance, if a massage is normally $60-$100 and I go somewhere because they brag of their lower cost massage for $40, I am going there to save money. Tipping $20 is half the price of the massage and would not seem feasible to me. However, this is really a matter of preference. Just remember you are paying for a service and you shouldn't have to pay for it twice, so unless you are loaded the tip should not be half or more than half the cost of the service.
7. If the location's policy allows, give the person who gave you the spa service a cash amount for the tip after the service and just before you leave.
8. Otherwise, add a tip to your payment for the service before you leave the facility. Some locations still require a cash tip, while others do not mind you adding it to the receipt. So just be sure to bring $10-50 in cash. You can treat yourself to lunch or dinner with what you don't use, or buy gas for your car.

Tips & Warnings

• Call ahead to the spa location you will be visiting and ask about their tipping policy.
• Ask the spa if they require a cash only tip and when they recommend tipping. This policy varies among spas.