You Rang?
Most Americans aren’t comfortable with servants. So the thought of a butler we’ve never met unpacking our suitcase is vaguely disturbing. Is it our egalitarian nature, or is it that we simply do not like the idea of a stranger deciding where to put our underwear? Discomfort aside, more and more upscale hotels, like the St. Regis line from Starwood Hotels and Resorts (most notably in New York, Rome, Beijing, and, coming later this year, Los Angeles), have instituted butler service providing guests with their own man (or woman) Godfrey.
The apartments atop the Hotel Arts in Barcelona are typical. Says Arts butler Frank McGregor: “Upon the guest’s arrival, I escort him from the lobby to one of the apartments, letting him know that I am there to arrange all details of his stay, from housekeeping to the services of a bellman and concierge.” The butler is the one to see if you need restaurant reservations or theater tickets, as well as a shoeshine. But, says McGregor, “our job is to make a guest feel at ease, not force him to accept every service we provide.”
If renting a villa, you might end up with an entire household staff. Goldeneye, Ian Fleming’s former estate in Jamaica (which is now for rent), comes with a houseman who takes care of all food services, from setting and clearing the table to pouring wine and making breakfast. He is the most visible member of the staff, and the one you’ll feel closest to at the end of your stay, says Hope Markes, Goldeneye’s general manager.
There is also a house-keeper who works an eight-hour day, cleaning the villa and providing extra linen when necessary; a cook, who prepares lunch and dinner and is on call from 10 to 10; and a groundsman, who checks the pool three times daily. “We ask guests to fill out a questionnaire stating their preferences, especially for food,” says Markes, “but staff is also there to carry out any reasonable request,” among which she includes working late to host a party, running to town on errands, or giving special attention when laundering a favorite blouse. Can a guest dismiss a staff member? “No,” says Markes, “but we would automatically replace anyone who wasn’t working out.”
Miss Manners (a.k.a. Judith Martin) says, “Let people do their jobs,” and paraphrases De Tocqueville: “The dignity between servant and master in America is based on each knowing that their positions could be reversed tomorrow.”
Tipping the Balance
I know they don’t tip in this country, but I can’t help leaving a few bucks.”
“The concierge was a big help with those tickets, but I have no idea how much to give him.”
“Valet parking is $5; do I still tip?”
Why is the art of tipping—and it is an art—such a problem, even for the most seasoned traveler? The answer is there’s more than one answer, and that makes us uneasy. The custom even horrifies Miss Manners, who insists that tipping brings out insecurity on the part of the tipper, greed on the part of the server, and tyranny on both sides. But you will agree with Miss Manners that “tips are an expected part of some people’s income, so we must tip.” She also reminds us that our wages are not docked for having a bad day.
Like death and taxes, tipping won’t go away. But here are some guidelines—from hoteliers, restaurateurs, and other experts around the world whom we polled—to ease the pain:
Do I tip both the doorman and the bellman? Yes—$1 for the doorman, and $1 per bag for the bellman. At luxury hotels, go with $2 for the doorman, $2 per bag. But never tip front-desk staff who escort you to the room.
What about the concierge? For services rendered, tip from $5 (for mailing letters and finding phone numbers) to between $20 and $50 (for getting impossible reservations for dinner or tickets for a sold-out show). Some guests tip even if they’ve received no service—but that’s usually to make their presence felt for the next time around. If only one service is performed, tip on the spot. If using a concierge throughout your stay, you may leave an envelope on which you have printed a specific name—a nice courtesy—but know that most tips are pooled among all concierge staff. And don’t ever pre-tip; it looks like bribery. Do, however, consider a gift—an elegant pen or chocolates, always with a special note—in lieu of money.
How about butlers? Surprisingly, tips are rare for butlers, although when tips are given, they average around $20.
And the chambermaid? Daily or at the end of the stay? Guidelines from the American Society of Travel Agents recommend $1 per night for stays of more than one night. But at a high-end hotel in expensive cities like New York or Los Angeles, $3 to $5 a day is more like it, depending on the accommodation. Tip daily to make sure that the right person is getting the money, but tipping on the spot isn’t necessary if you return while the maid is in the room.
How about the person who delivers a fax or a message? Most times, messages are just slipped under the door, so don’t get flustered if you meet the messenger face-to-face. A dollar will do, and even that’s not necessary.
And the room-service waiter? Check the menu. Room service, sometimes a hefty 15 to 20 percent, is often included in the tab. You don’t need to tip but may want to offer a little more, especially if the same waiter shows up night after night. If getting ice delivered, give a buck or two.
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