Tipping for bellman

[mrbillonooo]

Would someone that works at one of the resort hotels please answer this for us.
When we get to the Beach Club and have our bags taken from our car to the room, do we tip then, tip when they are brought to the room or both?
thanks
mr bill :sohappy:

 

[RonAnnArbor]

You always tip when it arrives in your room, no matter what hotel you stay in, anywhere internationally.

 

[justducky78]

Tip when the bags arrive in your room. Usually $1 per (average sized) bag. If it's a REALLY heavy bag or he somehow goes above and beyond - tip a little more.

 

[mrbillonooo]

thanks...but how do the guys/girls at the front door get their share??

 

[RonAnnArbor]

You do not tip a doorman unless they hail you a cab. Their jobs (and salary) are higher in the hierarchy than the bellhops.

 

[DisJosh]

I have a question to add here...

When I leave my bags with the hotel when checking out on the last day and then return to get my bags. Do I tip this person? All they do is find my name on a tag and roll my luggage out. Is that tip-worthy? I didn't on my Jan. 5 trip but did on my Sep. 05 trip because I felt bad for not doing it in January. :hammer: lol

And what about "mousekeeping?" I tip...but should I? I know someone who took a college course in ummmm I don't recall but he insists tipping them is not necessary.

 

[RatherBinDisney]

To answer both of your questions:

When you return to get your luggage 9 times out of 10 it will be a bellman getting your luggage and a tip would be admirable. See the comments posted above.

As for "Mousekeeping", I myself am a Director of Housekeeping and deal with "Housekeepers" on a daily basis. Housekeepers have the hardest job in the industry in my opinion. They make more than a bellman but are often overlooked for the service that they provide. A 2$ to 3$ tip for stayover service would be acceptable and a $5 and up tip for when you checkout would be nice. Problem is normally no one gets the oppurtunity to see the Housekeeper so alot of the times they are left out. If you see them talk to them. Alot of times they will do little extra nice things for you that you normally wouldnt expect.

 

[DisJosh]

To answer both of your questions:

When you return to get your luggage 9 times out of 10 it will be a bellman getting your luggage and a tip would be admirable. See the comments posted above.

As for "Mousekeeping", I myself am a Director of Housekeeping and deal with "Housekeepers" on a daily basis. Housekeepers have the hardest job in the industry in my opinion. They make more than a bellman but are often overlooked for the service that they provide. A 2$ to 3$ tip for stayover service would be acceptable and a $5 and up tip for when you checkout would be nice. Problem is normally no one gets the oppurtunity to see the Housekeeper so alot of the times they are left out. If you see them talk to them. Alot of times they will do little extra nice things for you that you normally wouldnt expect.

Makes sense to me. We did see our housekeeper alot on our last trip lol. She was very nice. The only thing that irks me about them is that when you have the privacy please" or "do not disturb" sign on the door they'll still knock AND call the room!! That may just be a Disney thing??? Or a Pop Century thing??

 

[RatherBinDisney]

Yeah, our "Mousekeeper" during our last stay just walked right in with our privacy sign on the door. I was kinda taken back. Where I work, if your a stay over with your privacy sign we often call the room and speak to the folks or leave a voicemail asking when would be a good time. No one should be entering any room with a privacy sign on the door, at any time.

 

[Peg J]

I'm so glad you brought up the housekeepers questions. I always like to give a tip for all the hard work they do, especially the over and beyond character scenes they do with the stuffed animals, pj's, etc. But I always wondered if the tip actually gets to the right person. I've stayed at WDW many times and have been able to hand our tip to our housekeeper the day we're leaving, but that's not always possible. Is there some sort of system that the right person always gets the tip if we leave it in the room? We usually stay for 7 or 8 nights. Thanks so much!!

 

[DisJosh]

I'm so glad you brought up the housekeepers questions. I always like to give a tip for all the hard work they do, especially the over and beyond character scenes they do with the stuffed animals, pj's, etc. But I always wondered if the tip actually gets to the right person. I've stayed at WDW many times and have been able to hand our tip to our housekeeper the day we're leaving, but that's not always possible. Is there some sort of system that the right person always gets the tip if we leave it in the room? We usually stay for 7 or 8 nights. Thanks so much!!

The rooms are usually cleaned in the same order everyday. Ours on our last trip seemed to be around 10am. Although the day we checked in it wasn't ready until 4pm.

 

[mkt]

My properties housekeepers will never receive tips when they still have dirty due outs at 9pm. I comped more meals and lowered enough rates last night due to rooms not being ready until the evening to pay my salary for a month.

Then again, I'm against our HR departments hiring practices for housekeepers and some of my hotels HK SOP's (2 years exp, must speak english, supervisors can only inspect rooms, no temps allowed, etc).

[/rant]


back on topic... tip your bellman at least $1 per bag... $2 or more if they're exceptionally heavy or if your room is located in BFE relative to the lobby/bellstand. If you receive any exceptional service, way above and beyond the call of duty (bellman changed your flat tire for you, gets you impossible-to-get reservations at a hot restaurants, front desk agent gives you an upgrade), make with a good tip... or you may not experience that caliber of service again.

And now for the doorman... some hotels it's a member of the bellstaff, just getting the doors, but not always. The bellman will generally split their tips with the doorman, and the doormen/bellstaff almost always will get a kickback from taxis they call, so that's their gratuity.

 

[mkt]

The rooms are usually cleaned in the same order everyday. Ours on our last trip seemed to be around 10am. Although the day we checked in it wasn't ready until 4pm.

which is fine if 4pm is the check-in time

 

[RonAnnArbor]

Just to also give everyone a heads up...there is another really really long posting on tipping at WDW resorts if you do a search -- you'll get lots and lots of pointers from seasoned travelers, not only to WDW but tipping guidelines in general.

 

[DisJosh]

which is fine if 4pm is the check-in time

Don't get smart with me pal. Check in time was 3!

I'm just used to getting my room on arrival despite a later check-in time. It's their fault. WDW has spoiled me. Seriously, I've never had to wait for a room at WDW. This last trip was the first time. I'm over it...I think. lol

 

[Ringo8n24]

What about if you have extra items they have to put on the cart to bring in when you check in? Does each little thing count as a $1? I am talking about we usually have a couple of suitcases, a shopping bag of snacks and toys for the little one, and an maybe one other miscellaneous item such as a hanging item or two. Each still a dollar? I usually add extra to the tip to make sure, but was just curious what is everyone else's opinion.

 

[RatherBinDisney]

For the smaller items it's your own call. Generally my wife and I have two large suitcases and two carry on's we take with us just about everywhere we go. I usually give $5 for the bellman to handle those items. Now if the bellman actually takes us to our room and points out several things the property has to offer and is really friendly he may get $10. It's all really up to you. The genral rule is $1 per large suitcase, you can take it from there.