Would someone mind educating a poor novice traveler on the role of the concierge and the proper etiquette for tipping the concierge? I am embarking on my first trip to Europe in January...I don't want to ask the concierge for more than I should and I have no idea how to go about compensating them...thanks for the savvy advice in advance.<BR>Happy New Year!<BR>Diane

Hi Diane,<BR>The concierge is entrusted with doing the utmost to make sure you enjoy your vacation. In the typical fulfillment of daily duties, the concierge can book an appointment for you (hairdresser, for example), obtain transportation (calling a taxi for you), make your dinner reservations, get concert/play tickets for you, and in the event of an emergency, help you seek dental or medical attention. A concierge will also make arrangements for your dry-cleaning, shoe polishing, clothing alterations, if your hotel does not already furnish the service.<BR><BR>Tipping can be a dicey business. (As a matter of fact "Dateline" did a story on the duties & tipping of concierges in NYC hotels a few months ago.) A lot depends upon how often you've called upon the services of your concierge, and how difficult the tasks are for the concierge to perform. Picking up the phone to make your dinner reservation, for example, even if every night of your stay, rather pales by comparison to obtaining tickets to a sold-out performance of the opera. (But certainly IMO, both sets of acts should be rewarded with a tip!) Perhaps some of the others here have specific amounts & could advise you about them.<BR><BR>In any event, Bon Voyage!<BR>BC

BC said it all! But I would like to say that when you stay in a nice hotel and the concierge goes out of his/her way to make things nice for you, as in flowers in your room for a special occassion, going beyond the call of duty for something only for you-you should give them a big tip...

Thank you both...this is extremely helpful, I am still unclear as to when to pay (for example: if I am handed theatre tixs do I pay then or at the end of my stay?) and how much to pay??? Is there a proper %?<BR>Diane

Diane,<BR>When you check out, either hand the concierge the tip in an envelope, (my preference) or discreetly fold the money into the hand when you go to "shake hands" farewell, and say "this is to thank you for taking good care of us". I have tipped anywhere between $20 and $100, but if my concierge got me expensive theater tix, I would also add probably 10-20% of the price of the tix to the total tip. Hope this helps!<BR>BC

I bought a Thank you card and put the money in it and gave it to the concierge as we were leaving-he had helped me sneak in champagne as a surprise for my husband on our anniversary In Paris our conceirge went out of his way to get us a cab on a busy night when we had reservations at a "hot" new restaurant, when they (concierge)are good, they are very good!