Anyone have suggestions for tipping a hotel concierge in Italy? They will be making several dinner reservations for us. I am thinking 5 euros per reservation...too much, not enough?

ttt because I'd like to know about that in Paris

I've tipped between 20-30 euros for my stays in Paris (anywhere from 3-5 nights). That's for daily restaurant reservations (some days for both lunch and dinner) contacting them in advance and often making changes before and during my stay.

I think that's fine for basic hotel reservations. Would tip more if 1) the concierge gets yo into a place that has no availability or 2) does a lot of work with you considering many different options with details of menus etc.

I agree with nyt. If it's just a matter of picking up the phone and making a reservation, that's one thing. Spending time finding availability within your itinerary constraints or calling in favors is another thing altogether.

Thanks...there were 4-5 reservations and I provided all the contact info for them. Essentially, it is just picking up the phone and calling. Nothing too time consuming and no "impossible to get into" places.

I agree there is a difference and the tip should reflect that. I did all the research on where we want to go, chose the restaurants and checked to be sure they are open the days we want to go. I provided a list with the date and preferred time and all the address and phone number info. I was just glad they would make the reservations for us, as I speak no Italian.

Thanks for your responses.

Hi den,

> Nothing too time consuming and no "impossible to get into" places.

A fiver at the end of your stay is more than sufficient.

You are in Italy, where people don't expect an additional gratuity for doing their job, not in the US where they have to rely on additional gratuities.

This is something I struggle with...the difference between US tipping standards and those in Europe!

What's a concierge?

Technically, a hotel concierge is a seperate position from a hotel receptionist or front desk staff.
The latter deal with checking you in and out, preparing the invoice, or doing other more adminstrative, everyday business.
The concierge assists you with restaurant recommendations or reservations, concert tickets, knows when it's best time to visit the sights of the city, where to find a place to play golf ot tennis, and should have a thorough knowledge of events and activities etc. etc.
A bit like an almost "personal" assistant - just one that you share with the other hotel guests.
Usually, only more upscale hotels have a real concierge. And it is a position that requires more experience and a bit of jack of all trades attitude as he/she would be expected to have a solution for any wish a guest may have. Like finding a dog walker to walk your pitbulls ;-)
So, if the hotel has a certain standard, making reservations at a regular restaurant (one that has no waiting list or is otherwise hard to get in) is probably among the most common, most effortless, almost boring tasks for a concierge.
Due to the inflation of fancy titles, also regular front desk staff often gets called concierge these days.

Is there an accepted percentage? Is 10% of hotel bill enough/too much?

It's never a percentage and in most cases, 10% of the hotel bill would be far too much. It's based on the services provided and how much effort went into them. For very basic assistance such as directions, booking a taxi, a simple restaurant reservation, there's no need to tip at all.

Patty is spot on.

Are you guys kidding? I would HATE to tip anyone who is making more money than me. I gotta subsidize someone that's better off than I am?

It isn't welfare, in certain professions it is just part of the normal and expected compensation for that job. And when people take certain jobs, it is with the expectation that they will get a certain portion of their income in tips. In the US, that is the law, actually, as official tipped professions (which are designated by each state) are allowed to have alower minimum wage. Many guys who drive buses or do bus tour guiding for tourists in some countries depend on tips to make a decent living.

So if you are somehow objecting to doing something that is normal because someone earns more than you, than following that logic, you shouldn't be going to those kind of places, like restaurants in the US. If you are going to hotels with concierges, I have no pity for you and your poor little salary as I don't even go to hotels like that.

I'm not saying one should tip a concierge for routine things, as I don't think you should, but objecting to the illogic of that position. And the fact that someone would even think of tipping a concierge 10 pct of their hotel bill means we have been raised on different planets, frankly. And perhaps we have, in parallel universes, as that might be the norm for very wealthy people staying in luxury hotels, I have no idea.

"If you are going to hotels with concierges, I have no pity for you and your poor little salary as I don't even go to hotels like that.

....And the fact that someone would even think of tipping a concierge 10 pct of their hotel bill means we have been raised on different planets, frankly." _____________________________________________

A tad snarky, Christina? Hotels with concierge service are <i>generally</i> more expensive. My question was what percentage to tip. Just for simple math (not real prices) say $200 a night for 5 nights = $1000. 10% would be $100. Too much if the concierge got you theatre tickets, a driver and dinner reservations? Would $50 be more reasonable? or 5%?

My hub did the tipping. I never even knew one was supposed to tip the bartender, so this is a valid question. Plus there are so many DIY-ers, most of us have made arrangements online prior to the trip.

TDudette.. there is nothing wrong with asking.
But you have the answer already in Patty's post above.

IT IS NEVER A PERCENTAGE!

There is no math involved.
You tip per service.
Not a lump sum at the end of your stay.
Not all services require a tip as mentioned above.

It is totally irrelevant if the night costs 150 or 200 or 250 euros. (Assuming that we still discuss tips for concierges in Europe. It may be different in the US and you will know more about that than me)

OK, everyone relax... I will tip a concierge for services rendered, regardless of whether I believe he makes more or less than I. I do believe a tip is expected, the question was what is acceptable or expected in that part of the world. TDudette, fair question, but I agree with above that it is not based on the hotel bill, but more per service and there is nothing wrong with asking. In this case, the hotel is upscale but paid for by Hlton points.

So, I have gotten a few differing opinions, nothing, 5 euro for all, 30 for the stay....so clearly there is no consensus. There isn't a wrong answer, as it is voluntary. I would not feel right not tipping at all and I may wait to see what other services we request from the concierge while there. I believe that if someone provides a service, and a good one, a tip is warranted. if you don't, no worries. It really has nothing to do with what I make or how nice the property, in my opinion. We all travel differently, some make more or less than others...no class warfare here, please.

You got it right.

My point has only been that, other than maybe on a cruise ship, tips for a hotel concierge are based on the actual service rendered.
And not your hotel bill or whether you stay a day or a week.
Unlike housekeeping you don't leave him a tip every day.
That has nothing to do with cheapskating, it's just the way it is.

And you are welcome to tip, say, €5 for a service that usually does not warrant a tip.. it would be a bit unusual, but would make you only appear more generous, not a dork.

An exception from the service-rendered-based tipping rule would be if you already knew that you will need his services again and again, e.g. he makes just one reservation for you, but you tell him that you will ask the same also the next days. In that case, you could (but wouldn't have to) tip "in advance" so to speak.

<i>Assuming that we still discuss tips for concierges in Europe. It may be different in the US and you will know more about that than me</i>

It's the same in the US.

One clarification I wanted to make is that I often do tip at the end of my stay. Many of my requests are made in advance of my stay and most of the hotels where I've stayed have had a team of concierges so I give a lump sum and make it clear that it's for the whole team. If I feel that any one person has especially gone out of his or her way, then I'll tip that person directly but usually I'll have had equal contact with a number of people before arrival.