For the first time in my life I decided to splurge on an expensive hotel in Maui, the Four Seasons. When we arrived our bags were taken, I didn't have any cash because I wasn't expecting to spend any money. Someone brought the bags to our room a bit later and I could tell they wanted a tip, but I had nothing. So I thanked them, they turned around and said "wow!" and slammed the door on their way out. I'm sure most people tip the bellhops, but this is almost a $1000 per night hotel, I would expect that the price includes some service. It shouldn't be required in my opinion. After this I got some cash so I could tip people and realized it's not appreciated, it's expected. I gave $5 to the person that took 1 minute to pull the car around, and they didn't even say thank you. It was just expected. To me, you're paying the 35-50 dollar parking fee for that service and the tip should be appreciated. I noticed other people at the resort tipping for little things, like being walked to their chairs by the beach. What are your thoughts on this? I feel like the service is the only real benefit to expensive hotels, you've already paying more for it. It's almost like you're paying for it twice.
Welcome to tipping culture, it's stupid as fuck.
This makes me uncomfortable too. I feel like an imposter, may be these expensive hotels are for wealthy people who don’t care if they have to spend $100-$200 on tipping each day.
Sounds about right
Yeah, but then it's like your double paying for the service. The room itself isn't much better than any other mid level hotel. The extra money is already for the service lol. I'm sure if you go to a mid level hotel and tip 100-200 a day you'll be treated like a king rather than any other guest at a top level hotel. I don't think we'll be doing it again. Also the food here is insane. Easily 300 dollars a day.
"... I decided to splurge on an expensive hotel ... I wasn't expecting to spend any money. ..." Hahahahaha hahahaha hahahaha GTFO
With luxury/expensive things, you either play the whole game, or not at all. It's similar to the young millenials that splurge on a 3 series then cry about higher cost of oil changes and insurance and repairs and premium gas etc. Learn to tip you cheap ass, or go stay at a motel.
I should rephrase that. I wasn't expecting to spend any cash to check in. And I_am_VTSAX, we have a 328, M340 and Mercedes C63s and don't ever complain about higher costs, thanks.
Tipping is YOUR choice. Demanding for a tip is NOT their RIGHT.
There may be people who will disagree with me and say I'm cheap making half a million while the doorman hardly makes it through the week. I earned my way to this place and I did not snatch anyone else's place. I come for the exotic experience and I pay the hotel for that, not to make the tip demandsters happy. It's the hotel's job to grease it's employees.
For that attitude we always stay at cheap or medium price hotels. They really appreciate if you tip. Better spend on the person who will appreciate rather than luxury room. My wedding ring got stolen in MGM Grand in Vegas. That was a company paying for a trip, I didn't know about such attitude for hotels and we didn't leave any tips. We were new to US and didn't know. The cost of the ring was 200$, 1 night at the room - 2500, we spent 2. Glad I was able to upgrade my ring:)
Some all inclusive resorts like Sandals have a no tipping policy and will fire staff for accepting a tip. Other resorts don’t pay their staff at all and the bellhops, etc.. work just for tips. I much prefer the first type of resorts. Tipping is a tax on generous people and allows cheapskates to be freeloaders. Tipping needs to die or at least only be for exceptional above and beyond service not normal expected service.
Agreed. I wish they'd do the same with food too. Just charge more for the room if they need to, pay the people well and have reasonably priced food. I feel like I'm being raped every time we get a meal here. The breakfast buffet is not great, I'd give it a 3 out of 5, but it's 52 dollars per person. If I remember right coffee was 17. I'd feel much better paying more for the room and not deal with that for every meal. But I guess they do it to get people in. More people will come here if they don't see that, the resort fee, the parking fee, etc. All of this bs adds up to be more than a mid level hotel though, as a somewhat unexpected expense.
My takeaway from this thread - all service workers should not expect tips from Indians and give them crap service.
Well, the OP didn't have any cash on them in the 1st instance. Why the bewildered "wow". Tipping is a courtesy, not an enforcement.
This dr. Jones guy/girl has a thing against south Asians. Seen a couple of anti Indian comments the last couple of weeks.
I wouldn’t tip at a place where they are charging me $1000 a night. They have already made an insane amount of profit from my patronage and I wouldn’t tip a single dollar extra.
You also wouldn’t be able to afford such a place. If you can afford it, you can afford the tips
why not just make the night 1010$ then so tips are covered
Tipping is a courtesy, not an enforcement, absolutely! It is also a cultural thing. For example, tipping in Japan is usually seen as offensive. Here in US, it has almost become a necessity. Most of the entry level workers, especially in the hospitality industry dont make enough and their salaries are directly dependent on tips. The reaction from the bellman was uncalled for and absolutely unprofessional, no doubt. For the future though, it might help if you're a little prepared. Cultural understand only makes us better. A smaller tip and perhaps saying, I'm sorry, I dont have any cash might be another way to go about.
Absurd, the entitlement is nauseating
Yeah, fuck the entitlement of the guy who is trying to get by on probably near minimum wage. Our sympathies should really be with the guy who can afford to drop a grand a night on a vacation. Admittedly, the system is kind of stupid. But if you can't afford the thing+tips, you can't afford the thing. You can't blame the people on the bottom for how these things work. Lobby the legislature for things like an end to alternate minimum wage for tipped employees so people aren't as dependant on them.