The Complexities Of Tipping For Hotel Room Service: What’s Appropriate?

The topic of tipping while traveling is complex and controversial, especially when it comes to hotels. Tipping norms differ around the world, and on top of that, many people “export” their own culture when it comes to tipping, and over time, that changes expectations.

I’ve written in the past about all kinds of hotel tipping topics, from tipping housekeeping, to tipping hotel concierges, to tipping in hotel club lounges. In this post, I’d like to talk about tipping for hotel room service, based on a question a reader asked me. First let me address the topic more broadly, and then I’ll get to the specific question…

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Hotel room service tip expectations are complicated

When you order food or drinks via hotel room service, the fees and tip expectations beyond the “sticker price” of what you’re ordering can be complex.

Here in the United States, it’s common for room service to come with an outrageous number of fees. Just to give an example, the last time I stayed at the St. Regis Deer Valley, my room service order came with a $5 delivery charge, plus a 25% service charge, plus an additional line for gratuity.

That’s obviously a lot in fees, but what’s even worse is that most of the service charge doesn’t actually go to the people providing service. As I learned, of that 25% charge, 10% goes to the employees, while 15% goes to the hotel. Personally I think that’s unethical, but as it turns out, that’s actually quite common.

It’s really pretty wild when you break it down — the food and drinks cost $68, yet the total was $98.42, 45% more than the “base” cost, and then I’m expected to tip on top of that?

Obviously the United States represents the extreme of tipping culture, but the combination of a delivery charge, service charge, and gratuity, really makes me want to never order anything from room service ever again.

Outside the United States, the situation typically isn’t nearly as bad, though it still varies quite a bit, both based on where in the world you are, plus the type of hotel:

• Some hotels charge no fees for room service (I’ve often found this to be the case in France), but then might have a line on the bill where you can add a tip
• Some hotels (like in Japan) might have a 10% service charge on room service orders, but no option to tip
• Some hotels have a modest delivery fee or service charge, and then still let you add an additional tip

Should a hotel guest have tipped in this situation?

OMAAT reader Morgan asked me the following question:

I’m currently staying at The Sofitel Frankfurt Opera. After arriving on my flight I was tired and hungry so ordered a club sandwich from room service. The waiter (who was super friendly and polite) brought my food, placed it on my desk, asked if I needed anything else, and then handed me a receipt to sign and write my room number, and there was also a line for a tip.

I was unsure of what to do so left it blank and handed it back. This gets me to my question, which I don’t know if you have written about or not – but do you tip room service staff at hotels outside the US (and if so, how much)?

I’m Australian so tipping is foreign to me but I of course tip when I am in the US. But at a luxury hotel in Germany where I am paying over 350 Euros a night I’m just not too sure.

I think this perfectly sums up the complexities of tipping when traveling internationally — you have your own culture, you have the culture of the country you’re visiting, and you have the evolving expectations hotel staff have based on how guests act.

Morgan is coming from Australia, where tipping isn’t really expected, and traveled to Germany, where tipping also isn’t really expected. Morgan didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t think not tipping was inappropriate.

What would my approach be? Well, I’m an American, so I’m definitely more on the side of being used to tipping in situations where I’m not sure, just because that’s how I’ve been conditioned. Assuming there’s not a significant delivery charge for the order, personally I’d probably tip around 10% in this situation, which is similar to how much I’d tip if I were eating at a restaurant in Germany, assuming the service is good.

I’m not saying it’s the correct system, but personally if I’m not sure, I Google what the general tipping expectations are for restaurants in a country, and apply a similar standard for room service.

Admittedly that advice often isn’t very clear either. So often if you search online about tipping etiquette in a country, it’ll say “tipping isn’t expected, but if you receive good service, a tip of X-Y% is appreciated,” or something like that. So, umm, it sounds like tipping is expected, then, because hopefully most restaurants (or businesses in general) have decent service?

Let me emphasize that I truly don’t think there’s a correct system here, and there are few norms around what’s appropriate for room service tips. I don’t think Morgan’s approach was any more or less right than my own, and I don’t think the room service attendant was offended by the lack of a tip.

So even as someone who considers myself to be a hotel expert (or at least an “expert guest,” based on experience), my message to Morgan is that “your guess is as good as mine.”

But hey, I’m also always happy to learn, so I’d love to hear how others in the community approach tipping for room service when traveling abroad.

Bottom line

Hotel room service tipping etiquette is complicated no matter where in the world you are. In the United States it’s tricky because you often have a delivery charge, service charge, and are then expected to add a gratuity on top of that, so your meal starts to feel more like extortion.

Meanwhile outside the United States, hotels have a wide range of policies. Some have a delivery charge, some have a service charge, and some allow tips. However, in countries where tipping isn’t otherwise expected, it can be hard to figure out what the right approach is.

What’s your take on tipping for hotel room service based on where in the world you are?