Do you tip the valet? When you drop off or pick up or both? Just once?

[Anonymous]

I am going to a hotel where valet parking is the only option.

Do I tip when I give my car/keys to the valet person?

Do I tip when I get my car from the valet person?

How much do I tip?

What if it is a place with in/out privileges (long hotel stay)? If I ask them to get my car 3 times in one day, do I tip each time?


Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Tip a couple bucks each time they bring you the car.

[Anonymous]

The more you tip the quicker they'll bring your car. If you tell them in the morning when you drop it off "I'll be needing my car again in two hours" that'll help them. Tip about 5.

[Anonymous]

I tip only when I get the car. Usually $3-5.

[Anonymous]

Pick up only. How often is up to you. I would probably tip a couple of dollars each time a new valet brings the car, but not tip any individual valet more than once over the course of a day.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone.

So when I go to retrieve my car, do I hand them the $ as they are heading out to get my car (to make them move faster?), or do I wait until they actually deliver the car to me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone.

So when I go to retrieve my car, do I hand them the $ as they are heading out to get my car (to make them move faster?), or do I wait until they actually deliver the car to me?

Give them the money as you are getting into the car.

[Anonymous]

Hand them the money as they hold the door for you, or give you your keys when you retrieve the car.

[Anonymous]

If you have a "nice" car, tip generously (you decide...but generally it's 10-20 bucks) when you drop the car off. When you retrieve the car, tip the person the same amount who brings you the car once they bring it out to you.

If you will be in and out many times, a couple bucks each drop/pick is appropriate.

If you drive a beater/rental, a couple of bucks is fine.

[Anonymous]

Tip $5 upon arrival. Hand over car key (detach from rest of your keys like your house key). Tip $2 every time you get the car out. Where is the hotel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tip $5 upon arrival. Hand over car key (detach from rest of your keys like your house key). Tip $2 every time you get the car out. Where is the hotel?

I usually do this. I tip $5-10 when I arrive (more if I'm going to be getting the car back out a few times or soon after arriving) and then $2 each time they retrieve the car for me. If it's a short stay and I won't be getting the car out until I leave, I usually give $20 when I arrive and $20 when I leave. My brother worked as a valet attendant in college at a hotel and his #1 pet peeve was people who didn't tell him they'd be getting the car back out soon after arriving, so I'm pretty good about letting them know that I'll need it again in x hours.

Some hotels will have signs that say tipping isn't necessary and in those cases I test the water. If the attendant refuses the money in the beginning, I'll try again at the end of my stay, which is when they usually are more receptive to accepting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone.

So when I go to retrieve my car, do I hand them the $ as they are heading out to get my car (to make them move faster?), or do I wait until they actually deliver the car to me?

Give them the money as you are getting into the car.

Yeah they'll open your door and sort of wait for a tip.

[Anonymous]

I usually tip when I drop off the car and I get some great service.

Recently I parked at a restaurant and attraction that had valet parking because my MIL was walking with a cane and couldn't walk far. I tipped nicely and they told me that the car would be available in the turn-around when I needed it. We got back and they had put our car in the turn-around as expected and we could just walk up and get into the car. It was convenient and she didn't have to wait to get in and sit down. If you tip when you drop off, they'll treat you well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tip $5 upon arrival. Hand over car key (detach from rest of your keys like your house key). Tip $2 every time you get the car out. Where is the hotel?

Baltimore, downtown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip $5 upon arrival. Hand over car key (detach from rest of your keys like your house key). Tip $2 every time you get the car out. Where is the hotel?

I usually do this. I tip $5-10 when I arrive (more if I'm going to be getting the car back out a few times or soon after arriving) and then $2 each time they retrieve the car for me. If it's a short stay and I won't be getting the car out until I leave, I usually give $20 when I arrive and $20 when I leave. My brother worked as a valet attendant in college at a hotel and his #1 pet peeve was people who didn't tell him they'd be getting the car back out soon after arriving, so I'm pretty good about letting them know that I'll need it again in x hours.

Some hotels will have signs that say tipping isn't necessary and in those cases I test the water. If the attendant refuses the money in the beginning, I'll try again at the end of my stay, which is when they usually are more receptive to accepting it.

I bet your HHI is not under 150k. You sound well off more than generous.