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Next weekend we are going to Adrian's work christmas party. We are also staying in a posh hotel for the night paid for by the company.

The hotel has valet parking... so we roll up (in the Camry ) get out, give em the keys and check in.

I've never been anywhere so upmarket before, should we tip the valet? If so how much?

I really dont know the "rules" for this sort of thing. I know its very common and even expected in some areas or the world.

Help me please!

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Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Its pretty UNCOMMON here, and is is only a CAMRY

If it was a Monaro i'd slip him a tenner so he didn't ding it

Its not compulsary to tip over here, its not even expected in most places, But if you did, unless it was a BRILLIANT meal, or something where someone put in a lot of effort to make you happy, i'd not go over $20 for anything.



One time i do remember a group of us tipping big was when we had a car accident (biker ran into us head on, dope he was) and the restaurant stayed open for 2 hours later than they normally would and the waiter was INCREDIBLY nice, they were even fielding phonecalls from us on the road as mobiles didn't work there and nobody knew where we were.

That same restaurant, the same waiter, the year before, my brother was fishing down at the jetty below the restauant, and we were watching him from the restaurant window. When it came time for cake (it was a joint birthday celebration) this waiter walked 'waiter style' down to the jetty with my brother's cake and sparkler on a plastic plate SINGING happy birthday!

Thats the above and beyond behaviour that i think is worthy of recognistion and a good tip

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

its pretty much expected here - because most people that valet, serve food, etc all work below minimum wage. Last time i checked that wasn't really a problem in australia, so I wouldn't bother unless you really wanted to.

then customary is 15% tip.

I read the title of the post and Imagined you out cow tipping for some reason....errr.

I know in the states it is expected that you tip just about everyone, even if they aren't so good...ugh. I probably wouldn't go much beyond 5 usd. But I'm a cheapo.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I read the title of the post and Imagined you out cow tipping for some reason....errr

me too

Whatever you do have someone logical @math do the tip, do not tip half the check @hard rock just cause you thought your server was nice and went out of his way. *note to self, have more caffiene before attempting thinking*.

The way I see tipping is the old way. If they do an exceptional job then they deserve a good tip, if not, well they should get their act in order and here have a nickle.

^_^
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Hi,
Tipping used to be at 10% of the tab. With todays inflation
rates it is generally accepted to be 15% (bottom) and 20%
tops. In the old days, if you received poor service, you
left a mere penny behind on the table to note your
dissatisfaction.

I drink iced water with lemon, and Susan prefers iced tea
with her meals. When we initially ask for our drinks,
we ask for extra lemons (to which Susan generally comments
offhandedly, that "He's a sourpuss."
If they bring sufficiant lemon, or extra lemon with
each refil, they automatically get $5 and the tip.

I've never eaten in a place that had valet parking, but
from what I've seen, it seems to depend upon the age,
type of vehicle, and the abilities of the driver.
For me, I'd give them a 5$ bill. If I were driving a
a 200,000$ sports car or something similiar, I'd be able
and expected, to tip more.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Lindy, As your question was about tipping valet parkers, I do allot of work at hospitals and such where it is common for them the have valets. Usually I only tip them a couple of bucks. If the valet is extremely nice I might sling him a 5 spot (5 US $) but no more than that.

Now that is a common everyday example. In your case where it is an upscale event, 10 US dollars is more than sufficient no matter how courteous the valet is.

Then again, since everything is paid for, you might want to splurge and share the wealth with someone else, after all this is for a Christmas event, and thus a giving event. If they are curtious and do a good job, what the heck, give them a nice tip, and share in the holiday spirit that you will be there for in the first place. It can't hurt, and after all, you will be there as a tip/bonus/Christmas gift, from his employer.

Tis the season for giving. . . . .

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Due to the nature of my job I often use valet parking at some of the most up-market hotels in the city and only tip them under exceptional circumstances. If I'm there for an evening function I get charged for the valet service when I leave, and if I'm staying overnight it's included in the bill.

I think things work the same way here as in Australia - a tip would only be given to the valet if he or she did an exceptional job. Valets here are paid a much higher wage than their US counterparts and a tip is not expected.

An interesting cultural note: When I first began working in a service industry some years ago we were offended if people tried to tip us. We considered it rather patronising that these rich people seemed to think we needed their charity! Locals never tried to leave a tip, it was always American tourists. Poor things must have been very confused by our reaction!

In the US it's considered very rude not to tip.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.