Planning a trip to Paris in July and will most likely stay at Plaza Athenee. Have heard that it is best to ask the concierge to book restaurant reservations as you get preferred treatment when the request comes from this hotel.

However, i would like to have all restaurant reservations planned ahead of my trip. CAn I call the concierge before i get there and ask for his/her help with this? If so, how do I tip the person?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

For Plaza Athanee prices, they expect to be accommodating. By all means, call ahead. If the person gives you good service, take his/her name, and say something about looking forward to meeting in person when you arrive in Paris. Then tip him/her upon your arrival

Either call or e-mail the concierge in advance of your arrival. If you know where you want to dine, provide a list of places with dates and times and special requests such as no-smoking or type of table. If you want to eat at popular places, I would not waste any time. You can tip after arrival.

I did just that on my last trip to Paris. I faxed the hotel concierge with my restaurant requests and dates (be sure to supply alternates just in a everything is booked) and the concierge made all the arrangements. I got a fax back with all the details signed by the concierge. When I arrived at the hotel I simply asked to meet the concierge who I corresponded with and I thanked him for his help and gave him an appropriate tip. Simple, really!

Thank you all! i am going to give it a shot!

Travel,

I grew up in the hotel business, so use that concierge to the fullest for the price you are paying.

Simply e mail them with all your requests and they should arrange all.

with places like the Plaza Athenee, never hestitate make alot of requests!!!

What would be an appropriate tip for this service?

Seriously, the LAST thing you need to think about is what you should tip. You decide for YOURSELF if it was worth it. After several visits to the Athenee, I found that they are some of the most pretentious staff I have ever dealt with, even the 4 Seasons are hospitable in comparison. IF the concierge does his job and does something special, give him 5-10 euro, but he or she is paid to do these things as part of their job. I own several restaurants, have been in the business 38 years, and when I go to places like the Athenee, I could almost laugh at the bull____. On the other hand, if you feel that you have been treated well and above the norm, throw some euro, BUT DO NOT BE INTIMATED, it can happen.

I'm not staying at the Plaza Athenee and dont usually use the services of the concierge so thats why I was wondering what is an appropriate tip. I realize it is up to the individual but was wondering what others have done.

Totally up to the individual. In States, for $150 worth of concert tickets (an example), I typically give $20 to the concierge if I get exactly what I want. But I have no other data points from other people so I don't know if I am being generous or not. So, I guess, yes, totally up to the individual

Hi kate12
>[I] dont usually use the services of the concierge so thats why I was wondering what is an appropriate tip. <

If the concierge justs makes a few reservations for you a week or two in advance, "Thank you" is sufficient.

If he/she gets you a table at Tallievent on a day's notice, 7-10E.

IMO making "a few" reservations rather than YOU making ANY reservations on your own, at your own expense of time involved, and therefore NOT getting that "preferential treatment" is worth more than a 'thank you' (sorry, Ira).

I side with Dukey. If you've asked the hotel concierge to make you several reservations at top restaurants, tip them more than 10€ on arrival (O assume you will also tell them thank you).

When I spent a week at Le Meridien in Vienna, I asked the concierge to book me tables on specific dates at a half dozen of the top restaurants in town. I tipped her 20€. OTOH, the staff at the (4*) hotel I stayed at most recently in Vienna couldn't book a table for me at one restaurant until I gave THEM the phone number. I did thank them for making the reservation, but I didn't for a second think of tipping them anything.