Who? When? How much?
Tipping on vacation can get confusing. There are so many people that help your travel run smoothly but it is tricky to know how to show your appreciation for them.
Below you will find a quick reference sheet for travel tipping. Keep this sheet handy for your next vacation.
Airport Shuttle: $1.00 to $3.00 per person.
Taxi Cab Driver: 20% of cost
Uber/Lyft Driver: 20% of cost
Limo Driver: Some companies include gratuity in the initial fee, but if your ride was a pleasant experience, offer an additional 15-20%
Hotel Valet: You do not have to pay the valet until you pick up your car. At that time, you should offer between $3.00 and $5.00.
Hotel Bellman: Generally, it’s nice to offer a couple of dollars, but if you have many bags and this person worked hard to get you things safely to your room, offer $5.00.
Front Desk: Normally the front desk staff does not expect tips, but if a staff member goes out of their way to help you with reservations or other things, it’s nice to thank them with $5.00 to $10.00.
Hotel Concierge: These individuals can offer directions to a good restaurant, or even get you tickets to a sporting event or musical show. Be sure to pay them between $5.00 to $20.00, depending on the amount of help that they gave you.
Hotel Housekeepers: $3.00 to $5.00 per day.
Room Service: Sometimes the tips is already added to the meal cost. Be sure to check your receipt to decide if you want to add an additional tip on top of the charge.
Massage Therapist: 15-20 %
Pool Staff: Tip $1.00 per item if a staff member brings you a drink or towel.
Bartender: The general rule is to tip $1.00 to $2.00 per drink. If you are running a tab, tip 15-20% of the total bill.
Buffet Servers: You should tip these individuals between $3.00 to $5.00 for refilling drinks and clearing plates from the table.
Restroom Attendant: If you are visiting a large city and happen to visit a business that staffs restroom attendants, be sure to tip them. These individuals can offer you mouthwash, mints and other essentials, and deserve to be tipped at least $1.00 to $2.00.
Public Tour Guides: There is no need to tip national park or government employees. But regular business tour guides should receive $3.00 to $5.00 per person for up to a half day tour and between $5.00 to $10.00 per person for a full day.
Boat Captain and Staff: If you charter a boat, most captains don’t expect a tip, but giving the crew 10-20% is a good idea.
Cruise Housekeeping Crew: Leave a short note and $5-10 depending on the length of your trip.
