Tipping ???

[tmtg]

I'm from canada so I'm not used to the tipping rates in the US, and am wondering how much money in US i need to tip for various thing. I'm on the meal plan so I don't need to tip for meals, but I know that I need to tip room service/cleaning, ?bag people at the air port ?, and various other things that I'm probably not thinking of.

Does anyone know how much money i'll need to budget for tipping and the rates?

Thanks a lot!

 

[LoveStitch]

We usually tip $3 per day to the housekeeper for the two of us (2 adults who don't make much of a mess). We always leave it directly on the pillow, because if it's left anywhere else housekeeping isn't supposed to pick it up because it may just be some of your own money that you left out by mistake.

We also tip $1 per bag to anyone who helps us with our luggage. And if we ask for something to be brought to our room (like extra hangers, for example), we usually give $1-$2 to the person who brings it.

 

[NewJerseyDVCMembers]

Tipping for meals is usually 15% for good service, 20% for really good service. Bellman, porters or anyone else who helps with luggage usually get $1 to $2 per bag. It is nice to tip the bellman who take and store your luggage, but the person who actually delivers the bags to your room is the one who should be tipped.
If you are using a car service it is standard to tip 20%. However only give 10% of the total to the driver who takes you there and the other 10% to the driver who takes you back. It is usually not the same person.
We usually leave the room spotless when we check out, and we don't get daily service, so we leave $5 for a five night stay (we're DVC members, so we don't use housekeeping daily). If you are getting daily maid service or leaving a DVC room in a "dirty" condition, leave $2 to $3 dollars for each day. Leave the housekeeping tip at the end of your trip when you leave the room. Also, if you have unopened food and beverages, leave it in the fridge, housekeepers will take it. Only unopened items!
If you are using Magical Express it is nice to tip the bus driver if he/she takes the luggage out. We usually give the driver $3 regardless of the amount of bags (Usually no more 4 to 5 bags).

 

[tmtg]

Are you suppposed to request housekeeping when you checkin?? If you do, then isn't it better to tip daily instead of in one lump sum, so that the housekeepers do a better job (instead of just being surprised at the end by a tip)?

btw thanks for the prompt replies!

 

[crjack]

Any time we travel and have housekeeping we tip daily. Staff can change, especially if we check out over a weekend, so we try to tip daily so the person who happens to work on check-out isnt the only one compensated. In some cases, that may be the only day that person has our room and they get a week's worth of tips.

 

[LoveStitch]

If you're staying DVC, then you would request daily housekeeping if you wanted it (at an extra charge). For regular hotel stays, you get daily housekeeping.

We also tip daily (non-DVC stays), for the same reason crjack listed...housekeeping staffs change, and if you're there more than a few days, you probably will have more than one person cleaning your room. We tip each day so the person(s) cleaning gets their fair share.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Any time we travel and have housekeeping we tip daily. Staff can change, especially if we check out over a weekend, so we try to tip daily so the person who happens to work on check-out isnt the only one compensated. In some cases, that may be the only day that person has our room and they get a week's worth of tips.

Daily tipping of housekeeping staff is correct for this reason. There are four of us and I generally tip five dollars U.S. per day. Mostly because it is easier to keep up with $5's than $1's. However, one dollar per person per day is considered adequate.

One to two dollars U.S. per bag is correct for the bellman. The doorman who helps unload your car at check-in isn't customerily tipped, but I usually give him/her a tip if we have a lot of bags...and we don't travel lightly as a rule!

If you have a car and use valet parking, tip one to two dollars U.S. for the driver who brings your car each time you have your car retrieved. If it is raining, a tip to the driver who parks your car would be appreciated, but otherwise isn't necessary at drop-off. When dinning, the 15% rule of thumb is customery for adequate service and more for better service, less for inadequate service.

Tipping is, of course, optional and should be relative to the service you receive no matter what type service that is.

 

[ncbyrne]

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php
This site covers just about any kind of tipping you can think of.
Scroll down for vacation type tips.

 

[tmtg]

wow that does cover everythin thanks!

 

[kaytieeldr]

If you have a car and use valet parking, tip one to two dollars U.S. for the driver who brings your car each time you have your car retrieved. If it is raining, a tip to the driver who parks your car would be appreciated, but otherwise isn't necessary at drop-off. When dinning, the 15% rule of thumb is customery for adequate service and more for better service, less for inadequate service.

It should be noted that, with certain exceptions, the charge for valet parking at Walt Disney World resorts is $7. This fee is NOT in place of a tip - it goes to Disney, not the valets.

 

[plummer925]

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php
This site covers just about any kind of tipping you can think of.
Scroll down for vacation type tips.

Fantastic link - thank you!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

I'm on the meal plan so I don't need to tip for meals,
Thanks a lot!

Ok, I am confused reading this because I have never done the meal plan but you should still tip on the meal plan, right??? I mean you only pay for the food on the meal plan not the tip?

Please clrify, no one else addressed this peice in their replies. Thank you!

 

[LoveStitch]

Ok, I am confused reading this because I have never done the meal plan but you should still tip on the meal plan, right??? I mean you only pay for the food on the meal plan not the tip?

From the Disney Dining Plan FAQ's:

How much does the plan cost?
It is $37.99 for adults and $10.99 for children 3-9 years old. This is the cost per night of stay and is required for each night of your stay. The price of the plan includes tax & tip.

I've never done the dining plan, but it does sound like tip is included for your full-service meal.

 

[LoveStitch]

I read a little farther, and found this:

Is the tip really included? What percent do they give the server? Can I tip more?
Yes, the tip and tax are included. As of 2006 the servers receive 18% tip on the total of the bill, so they are willing to show you how to best use the plan because it increases their tip. And yes, you can tip your server additional $$$ and may be a great thing to do for wonderful service.

 

[plummer925]

I read a little farther, and found this:

Is the tip really included? What percent do they give the server? Can I tip more?
Yes, the tip and tax are included. As of 2006 the servers receive 18% tip on the total of the bill, so they are willing to show you how to best use the plan because it increases their tip. And yes, you can tip your server additional $$$ and may be a great thing to do for wonderful service.

I did this with the old vouchers from a few years ago (which was essentially the same as the dining plan but sit down meals had to be for lunch). I tipped additional if the service was great (and it's Disney - I tipped additional for every meal! I just LOVE their service).

So - yea, the gratuities are included for 18% but I personally tip above 20% for great service, so I tend to leave an extra $5-10 depending on the level of service. One example: At Cinderella's Royal Table, it was our anniversary so the server gave us an extra beverage - our soda was included in the voucher - he gave us each a smoothie (he was SO nice!) - he got an extra $10 tip!

 

[swilshire]

I'm on the meal plan so I don't need to tip for meals

We almost always tipped extra for decent to good service on the meal plan. Most of the servers were excellent and deserved more that the minimum tip included with the dining plan. Only a couple of times when service was poor did we skip this.

Sheila

 

[tmtg]

We almost always tipped extra for decent to good service on the meal plan. Most of the servers were excellent and deserved more that the minimum tip included with the dining plan. Only a couple of times when service was poor did we skip this.

Sheila

Oh don't worry I do this as well, but I didn't need help on this matter since I do it very regularly