The issue of tipping while traveling is intricate and debated, particularly regarding hotels. Tipping customs vary globally, and in addition, many individuals tend to impose their own cultural practices concerning tipping, which alters expectations over time.
Expectations for tipping with hotel room service can be quite perplexing. When ordering food or beverages through hotel room service, the fees and tipping norms beyond the listed price of your order can lead to confusion.
In the United States, it is typical for room service to come with an excessive amount of fees. For instance, during my last stay at the St. Regis Deer Valley, my room service bill included a $5 delivery fee, a 25% service charge, and a separate line for a gratuity. That’s certainly a hefty load of fees, but what’s even more troubling is that a significant portion of the service charge doesn’t actually reach the service staff. According to my findings, out of that 25% charge, only 10% is allocated to the employees, while the remaining 15% goes to the hotel. Personally, I find this practice unethical, yet it appears to be rather common.
It’s rather astonishing when broken down — the food and drinks totaled $68, but the final amount was $98.42, an increase of 45% over the “base” price, and I’m expected to tip on top of that? Clearly, the United States epitomizes the extreme of tipping culture, but the mix of a delivery charge, service charge, and gratuity really discourages me from ever ordering room service again.
Beyond the United States, the experience is generally not as severe, although it still varies significantly depending on your location and the specific hotel:
– Some hotels impose no charges for room service (this has often been true in France), but they might include a line for adding a tip on the bill.
– Some establishments (such as those in Japan) may have a 10% service charge for room service but don’t provide an option for tipping.
– Some hotels might enforce a minor delivery fee or service charge while still allowing an additional tip.
Should a hotel guest have offered a tip in this scenario? OMAAT reader Morgan posed the following inquiry:
I’m currently staying at The Sofitel Frankfurt Opera. After arriving from my flight, I was exhausted and hungry, so I ordered a club sandwich from room service. The waiter (who was exceptionally friendly and courteous) delivered my food, placed it on my desk, asked if I required anything else, and then handed me a receipt to sign and note my room number, which also contained a line for a tip.
I was uncertain about how to proceed, so I left it blank and returned it. This leads me to my question, which I’m unsure if you’ve addressed – do you tip room service personnel at hotels outside the US (and if so, how much)?
I’m Australian, so tipping is unfamiliar to me, but I do tip when I’m in the US. However, at a luxury hotel in Germany where I’m paying over 350 Euros a night, I’m just not certain.
I think this encapsulates the intricacies of tipping while traveling internationally — navigating one’s own cultural practices, the customs of the country being visited, and the shifting expectations from hotel staff based on guest behavior.
Morgan hails from Australia, where tipping isn’t typically anticipated, and is visiting Germany, where the same applies. Morgan didn’t act improperly, and I don’t find the decision not to tip inappropriate.
What would my stance be? As an American, I lean toward tipping in uncertain situations, as that’s how I’ve been raised. Assuming there isn’t a substantial delivery fee for the order, I would likely tip around 10% in this case, akin to what I’d leave if dining in a restaurant in Germany, given satisfactory service.
I’m not asserting it’s the ideal approach, but personally, when in doubt, I search online for the general tipping practices in a given country and apply a similar guideline for room service.
It’s worth noting that such advice often lacks clarity. Frequently, a search on tipping etiquette in a particular nation might state “tipping isn’t mandatory, but a tip of X-Y% is appreciated for good service,” or something along those lines. So, it seems like tipping is anticipated to some degree, as hopefully, most restaurants (or businesses at large) provide decent service?
I want to stress that I genuinely don’t believe there’s a right system in place, and there are few standards regarding what constitutes an appropriate tip for room service. I don’t think Morgan