• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Travel Tips / Tips on Tipping: A Family Vacation Tipping Guide
Tips on Tipping on Family Vacation

Tips on Tipping: A Family Vacation Tipping Guide

January 14, 2019 //  by Liana Moore//  4 Comments

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

We all know how much to tip at a restaurant. But do you know who and how much to tip on family vacation? Mountain TravelingMom didn’t realize, until a few years ago when she went to work for a resort hotel, that she should be tipping housekeeping. Oooh, faux pas! Since then she’s consulted a few sources to come up with a comprehensive vacation tipping guide for vacation within the United States. Other countries have different tipping etiquette than the United States, so be sure to research your specific international destination.

Certainly we can appreciate the Skycap who takes our luggage curbside with a tip.
Tip the Skycap who takes your luggage curbside and helps ensure its delivery to your airplane $1-3 per bag. Photo: Liana Moore / Mountain TravelingMom
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

A well-deserved tip can make all the difference for someone working minimum wage to support their family. And, a kind note to go along with it can make their day. From valet service and bellhop to housekeeping and shuttle drivers, here’s a handy tip chart to alleviate any confusion. This guide will help you decide how many bills to bring.

Family Vacation Tipping Guide

Airport Skycap

These workers lift heavy bags and help us get to our flights on time with less hassle. Don’t forget to tip them. $1-3 per bag is appropriate.

Bellhop

Plan to tip $1 to $5 depending on how many bags and how much trouble it saves you.

The valet readying Mountain TravelingMom's Silvercar by Audi, making travel easier and earning a tip.
The valet readying Mountain TravelingMom’s Silvercar by Audi as they departed Royal Pacific Universal Studios Florida for Disney World Resort. Photo: Liana Moore / Mountain TravelingMom

Valet Service

You know to tip the valet service. But do you know when to tip? American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests tipping $1-5 when your car is delivered. They say that giving a tip when your car is parked is optional. We’d suggest that $1 is a bit low and that you should start at $2 or $3.

Front Desk

There is no need to tip the front desk unless they take on extra tasks for you. There are times that a front desk agent may double as a concierge. Or, they may retrieve packages for you. There is any number of additional tasks they may help you with and then you would want to tip.

Housekeeping

This may be the one area of services most overlooked, yet most deserved. Housekeepers work extraordinarily hard. And, isn’t cleanliness the most important part of any vacation? So, how much should you tip housekeeping? The AHLA suggests $1-5 per night. However, if you aren’t tidy or are a large group you certainly want to err on the higher side. Or, if you are staying in a condo and they are helping to wash dishes or other services outside of their scope of work, you certainly will want to leave a larger tip. And, really, these are the people who will most appreciate it.

What else should you know about tipping maid service? Your housekeeper may change daily. So it is actually a good idea to tip daily, rather than at the end of your vacation.

Should you request items delivered to your room such as an extra blanket or toiletries, make sure to give that person $1-3 for their trouble.

On a cruise, this person is a room attendant. And, the cruise line will likely recommend an amount that they may add to your final bill. Mountain TravelingMom was grateful for their room attendant on their Disney Cruise. Keeping a small space tidy is a difficult task. And, the kids’ stuffed animals tucked into bed was an appreciated extra touch.

Housekeeping ensures that your room is clean and neat. Don't forget to tip them! Photo: Mountain TravelingMom/ Liana Moore
Housekeeping makes sure that your room is spotless. They work hard and deserve a tip. Don’t forget them! Photo:  Liana Moore / Mountain TravelingMom

Concierge

How much to tip the concierge really depends on the service provided. Start at $5 for a fairly basic service and go up from there for help landing hard-to-score reservations.

Room Service

Generally, room service delivery should be tipped similarly as a restaurant at 15-20%. But many hotels and resorts will add a tip onto the bill. So, look at the bill before tipping. If it is included, consider adding a little extra.

Shuttle Driver

Consider tipping $1-2 per person for a hotel courtesy shuttle driver. If the driver does something extra,  consider giving more. They may make an extra stop for you.

Courtesy Car Driver

Some luxury hotels include free rides in their private house car as a part of your stay. This is a private ride and you should tip more. We suggest $5 to $10 per ride.

Taxi, Uber, Lyft or Private Shuttle

The recommendations differ greatly here from 10 – 20%. You may need to factor in the cost. If you’ve taken a $5 Uber ride, 20% may still be on the low side. Surge pricing has become more reasonable. But there is still a valid reason for surge pricing. A driver may have to spend a lot of time getting to a destination, and then getting out of there. When what should be a five-minute drive takes forty-five minutes, I certainly wouldn’t scrimp on a tip.

Have questions on how to use Lyft or Uber when traveling with kids? Check out advice from Frequent Flyer TravelingMom, Leslie Harvey.

Tip activity or tour guides 10-20%.
Plan on a tip for any activity provider or tour guide. 10-20% is appropriate. Photo: Liana Moore / Mountain TravelingMom

Tour & Activity Providers

Recommendations for tour guides and activity providers vary. 10 to 20% is a safe guideline. If it is a group tour, or shorter in length you can probably tip on the lower end. But for private tours and day-long activities, you will want to tip on the higher end. The more personal the service the more you should tip.

More Tipping Guide Tips

Remember that. for someone working an hourly wage, a tip can make all the difference to them and their family. Include tips in your vacation budget. Bring cash with some in smaller bills so that you are prepared.

Increasing a tip is an excellent way to reward good service. Yet if someone goes above and beyond, a note to the manager or mention in a review could mean a lot to them too.

If you are receiving a discount, make sure to tip on the full price.

And finally, when traveling outside of America make sure to check guidelines for that specific country. It is possible to offend in a different culture with tips.

Tipping Etiquette: Do you know whom to tip and when on family vacation? From valet service and bell hop to housekeeping, here’s a handy tipping guide. #tipping #familyvacation

TravelingMom Tip: Protect yourself while traveling with Medjet. 2020 Medjet Members hospitalized with active COVID-19 infections are now eligible for Air Medical Transport within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Learn more about how to become a Member here.
FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Travel Tips

You May Also Like

  • Visiting beautiful Bermuda? Learn all you need to know about its attractions, what to expect, and how to navigate the island.
    Budget Travel Tips for an Affordable Family Trip
  • TravelingMom Editor Cindy Richards offers family travel tips on "The List."
    Get Family Travel Tips on 'The List'
  • 6 Tips on How to Plan Your Multigenerational Family Vacation at Disney World
    Tips on How to Plan Your Multigenerational Family Vacation at Disney World
  • This guide will help you make the most of your Honduras Family Vacation
    Guide for Your Honduras Family Vacation in the Bay Islands
  • Is a digital detox possible, even on a family vacation in Aruba?
    Digital Detox on a Family Vacation in Aruba
  • Using a Family Vacation Photo for Your Christmas Card
Previous Post: «Two girls pose with Olaf at Disney World - TravelingMom Is Memory Maker Worth the Cost at Walt Disney World?
Next Post: Getting A US Passport: What You Need To Be Prepared For International Travel Getting A US Passport: What You Need To Be Prepared For 2»

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments on “Tips on Tipping: A Family Vacation Tipping Guide”

  1. Rosie says:
    October 6, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    Please don’t overlook any Activities staff that cares for your children!

    Reply
  2. Christine Tibbetts says:
    January 15, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    These specific suggestions are really helpful to read all together. Certainly helps shape a realistic budget for the entire trip. Planning ahead for small bills is wise too, as per your suggestions.

    Reply
    1. Liana Moore, Mountain TravelingMom says:
      January 24, 2019 at 1:33 pm

      Thanks, Christine! Glad you found it helpful. Remembering smaller bills for tipping is the one area of travel planning where my husband bests me.

      Reply
  3. Janet says:
    July 2, 2013 at 11:49 am

    This is a great post for anyone thinking of taking a family vacation soon. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine exactly how much to tip, but this article is really helpful!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications
  • Site Admin

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom · All Rights Reserved