My future husband and I will be honeymooning in Hawaii at the Four Seasons on both the Big Island and Maui. We do not typically stay at 5 star hotels where you are assisted by valets, concierge and other special services so we're a bit at a loss as to appropriate tipping.

My question is, we're renting a car on both islands and the Four Seasons website says that both hotels offer "complimentary valet parking". My take is that there's no charge for parking but we will need to tip the valet. If we go in and out several times a day do you tip each time or just once at the end of your stay? How much is considered acceptable? It sounds like it could get expensive if we go in and out several times a day and we're expected to tip each time we pick up and drop off.

My other question is tipping regarding luggage service. I typically give the baggage handler $10 because we usually have two to three bags. Do you think we need to tip more because we're staying at a nicer hotel?

Thank you.

Valerie, I always thought that the rule of thumb for tipping baggage handling was $1 a bag unless that has gone up due to inflation. As far as tipping the car valet again a minimum tip would be a $1 each time he gets your car, if you only tipped in total at the end then do you think that tip will be split with all the attendants who provided service for you during your whole stay? I doubt it so it would look like that the lucky attendent would be the last one and all the others would get stiffed.

Is the rule of thumb really only $1.00 per bag? Even at a nice place like the FS?

I have to admit that if this were a normal trip we'd be staying someplace like a Best Western or Fairfield Marriott so we'd be carrying our own bags and this would be a non-issue. I don't really deal too much with places where we have to tip because we're not in that kind of income bracket.

So is it $1.00 each time I pick up my car and another $1.00 each time I drop it back off?

Forgive me if this is a stupid question. I'm young and stupid I guess!

At least $2-3 for valet. Same for luggage. I self park when I don't feel like tipping. You def. tip when picking up, up to you at drop off.

P.S. It's better to self park at 4S BI as the resort is spread out with parking near each room.

I usually tip $5 for 2-3 bags for luggage handling at hotels, and $2-$3 for valets when picking up a car. I don't usually tip when I drop off a car although sometimes I do upon arrival on the first day.

Hi Valerie, just as an afterthought. Give the Four Seasons a call and see if their resorts there have a resort fee and if so does it include tips? Some of the resorts do and that includes all tips. i.e., no tipping required. But I do know at the Four Seasons on Maui, there is an entrance into the hotel straight from the parking lot. Valet when you get there on the first day - it's an experience involving leis etc you probably will enjoy - and tip $2-3, then when you get your car back tip $2-3 again and just self park for the rest of your trip. Happy honeymoon!

So those of you who say you tip $2.00 a bag or $5.00 for baggage handling -- who do you give the tip to? These days, you'll probably have one person taking it out of the car for you and making a production of doing so, then someone else will wheel it into the lobby, then after check-in a third person will bring it to your room. So who gets the tips? Do you tip three times?

Usually, I tip the person that brings it to the room. But it does get confusing sometimes with so many people handling your luggage.