Bubba

I'm planning my first trip to NYC in the fall. I have two questions:
1. If a hotel doorman hails a cab for you, do you tip the doorman?
2. In order to arrive at an 8:00 PM Broadway show on time, what time should you plan on making dinner reservations?
Thanks.

nyer

1) Yes 1 or 2 dollars
2) Plan to be sitting by 5:30-5:45 finish by 7PM and head to the Theater

Frank

Bubba: If you are having dinner in the theater district, which I strongly recommend, make sure you are seated by 6PM. You can generally leave the restaurant by 7:30PM and have plenty of time to make an 8PM curtain if it is a short walk between the restaurant to the theater. If you are having dinner far enough away to need a taxi, make a 5PM reservation and be out of the restaurant no later than 7PM.

On the tip, I would give the doorman $2 minimum, maybe $3 if it's a better hotel.

xx

Why would you give the doorman $3 for a cab? I've stayed in some very swell places in NYC and the most effort to hail a cab consists of waiting for one to drive by and then hailing it. I can do that! I'll give them $$$ if some effort is forthcoming, if its raining, if they help with luggage or if they actually go down to the corner and find a cab for me. Standing on the curb next to me and waiting - no tip.

Jenny

Some people are cheap, some are not. Your choice.

If the hotel doorman hails the cab & opens the door for you, and you choose not to tip, then YOU ARE CHEAP. You may not like it, but it's true. Your choice.

nyc

If a doorman hails a cab for you, definitely tip. Normal day, no luggage, $1 is fine. Raining, had to go down to the corner, helps with luggage, then $2-3.

duh!

If any homeless guys(exerting more energy than the doorman does blowing his whistle) opens a door for you,make sure to give him $2 or $3 too.The doorman is doing his job, but the homeless man is going above the call of duty to assist you. Do not be cheap,be generous like Jenny and frank. He will really be thankful. God Bless.

Frank

Duh: If you can afford to spend a few nights at a good hotel, and eat at some nice restaurants, and go to a show or two, and pay for airfare, etc. how much do you think doorman tips add to the sum total? It always amazes me how some people will nickel and dime on tips for doormen, taxi drivers, bellman, etc. When you consider the difference, between being a cheapskate and being a sport, might add $20 or $30 to a several thousand dollar trip, I'd rather be consider a sport. To each his own.

P.S. I give a few bucks to the homeless guys also.

duh!

Frank- I am in damn good physical condition, and carry my own bag. Each time I've been at a hotel that has doormen, there has also been a line of taxis waiting to pick up guest. All the doorman does if blow a whistle for the next cab, then try to grab my bag and help me. I have no use for his service, and RESENT him trying to force the service on me. I'm fully capable of doing that for myself, thank you.

I do not tip for "services" that I not only didn't request, but have attempted to refuse. I am generous where I've requested & received service, and I tip the maid, who really does toil, unlike the doorman. And I do try to help unfortunates, but I don't count the doorman as in that category.

Rachel

Well, "duh!", then you are cheap. Please do not attempt to rationalize your cheap behavior. Please do not get defensive -- you clearly know the truth or you wouldn't get so worked up defending yourself. Just accept the simple fact that you are cheap and move on.

duh!

Rachel-
I am not defending only myself, but all of us who know what service we want, and are willing to pay for them, but refuse to be fools who get intimidated into paying for all kinds of extras that we neither need nor want. Those of you so weak-willed to shell out to each open palm feel free to do so. I'll give mine to a street musician whose efforts I appreciate.

ryan

Bubba,
One tip on pre-theater dining, let the waiter or waitress know that you have show tickets. A good waiter at a restaurant in that area should make sure that you are on your way in plenty of time.

BTW, cabs can sometimes be pretty hard to come by at that hour of the night in midtown. Especially, if it is a rainy day. I wouldn't count on there availability if you planned on cutting the time close between dinner and curtain.

Edward

The next time you rudely stiff a doorman, whose salary is lowered to reflect tips from kind (normal) people, be sure to tell him how strong-willed you are and that you won't be intimidated by him or the horrible society that forces such services on the weak-willed.

I'm quite sure the doormen will appreciate hearing your lame justification for being Cheap.

(It must take such a strong will to be a rude jerk.)

Rebecca

Amen, Edward. Like waitstaff at restaurants, service employees like doormen are compensated assuming a certain level of gratuities. When cheap idiots like "duh!" stiff them, they're taking money out of their pockets and food out of their families mouths. But that won't stop some people from being a-holes. Duh!