Hotel Butler Service: How Do You Use It? Is It Valuable Or A Gimmick?

Lucky,

I once stayed at the St Regis Istanbul - in a suite - and ordered coffee via the butler an hour after check in. They asked me to sign for it though, and I asked, is this not complimentary? they said no.

Upon check out they said coffee and tea is only included upon check in and anytime after check in, they will charge. Since I ordered 1 hour after check in, they said it was chargeable.

Is this correct?

Well said. They are almost always redundant and great now I have to tip this guy $50. One time I asked them to get my ibuprofen at a super high end resort and they said no. Like..you’re worse than DoorDash dude .

Agood butler should be someone to talk to who has both time and deep local knowledge. So, for example, they won't just tell you which restaurant to go to and book it like a concierge. They'll get under the skin of the kind of person you are and even recommend best dishes, best table to request, and best time to eat. Then they'll base the next day's recommendation on your feedback. Repeat for everything else you might want to do: best running route, where to buy jewellery from a local artisan, etc.

That's my experience, anyway.

It's a bit of a wank IMO. I've used hotel butlers to press a shirt or steam a jacket, but otherwise I don't call them. Guests who have a butler at home usually travel with an entourage in tow, and do other guests use the packing/unpacking service, particularly when they have to affirm to a customs agent that they packed their bag themselves and are aware of all the contents? Nah, hard pass. I can manage, I'm not travelling with as much luggage as Madonna FFS.

Well said. I feel exactly the same.

Meh, rarely have I needed something pressed upon arrival…but it is nice when needed and included. St. Regis tends to do well with this. “The best address…” Don’t miss the nightly sabering!

It's useful for people who are rich enough to have staff but not rich enough and/or don't want to travel with that staff. But to know how to make use of them you need to be used to having staff.

If you are a regular at a property, you and butlers get to know each other. That's when interesting things can happen. But, if one doesn't get to this level of relationship, one doesn't understand what is possible. It's like knowing the doormen. All of a sudden, the house car is available in those times when you really need it.

In a broader sense, if you haven't ever had this level of a relationship with a butler, you won't know what is possible with a butler at any property, whether or not you're a regular.

Butler service is a bunch of bs.

We discovered a butler training resort ( and placing ) in Mexico for wealthy South Americans. In the end we became different people that were better groomed than imagined. And I've said this here before, I think of Victor evertime I draw a bath

One time I was staying at the Venice St Regis and lost my phone charging cord but didn't realize until evening after many stores were closed. The butler service went out to buy one for me and put it in my room while I was at dinner. I appreciate how I didn't have to spend time & energy figuring out how to replace it.

Yes, that is correct.

I used Butler Service when a business meeting was running considerably late and I had a flight to catch. The Butler packed all my belongings perfectly organized and protected and had a delivery messenger bring my two bags to my meeting location. I added a well deserved tip to my hotel invoice along with a complimentary note to the Manager about the Butler's service.

Had a funny experience at the St Regis in Florence with my family. Butler knocked our door to introduce herself and insisted to take my shirts to press. Problem was that it was peak of summer and we were on vacation so I had no formal shirts to be pressed, just polos and t-shirts. She seemed disappointed and figured out that there was not much we needed from her. Lastly she gave her WhatsApp number and offered to book us restaurants which actually was very helpful.

Lee, gets it …. Gene, never will because the proletariat never do.

Can one assume that you never travel with your DJ the 1990Bot? …. 🙂

Helpful in cruise ships that have a lot going on and when having a second set of hands is a plus.

You get free coffee in room at a Holiday Inn Express. Just saying.

There is nothing worse than the forced hotel room tour some butlers give you. It’s not helpful, it’s not a good use of time, and it doesn’t make me feel welcome or comfortable in my room. I’m not completely incompetent and am capable of finding my way around a hotel room all by myself. Please just give me the keys at check in and let me walk to my room with my own luggage. There is such a thing as too much service.

The blue collar and inexperienced traveler loves butler service at Sandals resorts. They may feel uncomfortable staying at a true luxury resort, but feel more right at home at a mid-market Sandals where they can wear shorts and a baseball cap to dinner.

Not everyone is as sophisticated and superior as you. Lots of people like Sandals-type resorts because it's a vacation they can afford, and they really enjoy it.

I've never, ever experienced any forced hotel room tours in my travels, but I appreciated being asked if I've stayed with them before. Either I say yes, I'm all set, or no, and I end up asking a few questions, usually about the thermostat(s).

Many airlines ask this in first class cabins, as some of the product controls are pretty unique/not as logical as one might think. The newer version of the SQ suites comes to mind.

I rather like being asked.

I use the butler service at places I frequent. I'll say that it does take some time to figure out what they really do or don't do.

At the Oriental in Bangkok, there's a butler call button, and it's always been followed by a knock at the door in 60 seconds or less. I love what they can do - I give them a pile of laundry, make a mental note of things that need to be treated specially, and they take it, and after they're gone they fill out the form, and I never think about it again until it's returned. I can tell them that I'll need a house car at 10:00 a.m. and they take care of the rest - all I do is show up at the desk and I'm all set. They ensure I get the same driver every time (I even have his direct number on my mobile phone).

It's largely the same for the Raffles in Singapore, though I use a car service when I'm there.

I'll suggest this: If your hotel claims to have butler service, try it. The worse that can happen is that they don't live up to the promise, but it can't hurt to attempt using it, because when it works it can definitely make things run smoother.

Do you mean a resort that acts as a training ground for butler's, or a resort that trains the guest how to be a butler?
I have to say I am a tad curious about this.

Husband and I love to use the service to have a chilled bottle of wine waiting for us after a day out. Or to get us reservations at a specific restaurant. Or to stock the room with goodies/products that aren't necessarily in the mini-bar but we don't want to run to a Sainsbury or other convenience store or whatever - for instamce, my deodorant was a solid but still confiscated at the airport so we had the butler get some from Boots. Some of the things are generalized concierge-like services, others are more personalized. We've used them at resorts in Mexico and in Europe, and at hotels in London. They're a service. You just need to ask and you'll find out what they are willing to do.

I find the butler service useful. Imo, better to use that funding/resources for (1) lounge staff (2) texting services (e.g., tell valet I need car ready in 20 mins or please charge my EV) (3) a hotel car that drives you a short radius. Otherwise, I find any reason for an in-person butler totally overreaching.

If I've been checking-in and out of numerous hotels during a trip to several countries, I appreciate the room door. I'm usually tired and don't want to spend the mental bandwidth to learn which switches turn on/off which light, where the coffee is located, etc.

@Santastico - missed seeing you on here for a while. Glad you could make it work at the St. Regis. Florence is a great place.

More generally, I don’t understand why someone would want to see this? It’s so tedious.

I think the butler is a nice way of saying the service attendant. They basically do the same job but there is some more perks that does not cost the hotel much such as the daily morning coffee delivered. What is unclear often is beyond that what drinks or requests they will charge to do. Some of the services people ask to be done are routinely done by other members of the team.

Mostly gimmick now. We loved St Regis before when it was real and not under Marriott.
There was real butler service.