Tipping when having complementary breakfast

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kyle

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Ok, I've always wanted to ask this.

In countries where tipping might be appreciated for good service (or even mandatory for no service), do you tip when after having a complementary hotel breakfast where everything is included (i.e. you don't have to pay anything after the meal)?

And if you do tip, how do you go about doing it?

Or is there an unwritten rule about no tipping for complementary meals?

:confused: :confused: :confused:
 
kyle said:
And if you do tip, how do you go about doing it?

I'd say if there's a tip jar, tipping for good service would probably be appreciated.

If not, it's probably not a big deal. If you really feel enclined to tip (for excellent service), you could always tip the person providing the service.

At the hotel I stayed at in the US this year, we had complimentary breakfast (included in all room rates), but there was a tip jar near the exit.

Cheers,
- Febs.
 
kyle said:
And if you do tip, how do you go about doing it?

Or is there an unwritten rule about no tipping for complementary meals?
Most of the hotels I stay in usually include a buffet for breakfast and I have never considered tipping in this situation.

Must remember to notice next time.
 
I view gratuity like taxes on an airfare.

You pay the taxes on award (free) flights too.
 
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In the USA it is considered the right thing to do for a free breakfast.I usually leave $1 per person and it is rare to see any more being given.
However many do not tip, even the americans.I have never seen any staff complain about this.
 
For me it depends on the situation. If its a buffet and all the staff are doing is collecting the dirty dishes, then I probably won't tip.

When I travel in the USA, I generally receive complementary breakfast at places like Hilton Garden Inn due to my HHonours Diamond status. This comes in the form of vouchers for each day.

If the wait-staff are service me coffee, taking an order etc, then I will tip. Usually for basic coffee pouring etc I will just leave cash on the table when I leave. I look at what the cost of the breakfast would have been if I was paying and leave what would be considered a normal tip for that amount, say 15% rounded to the next dollar. So that generally means one or two dollars for most places I stay.

At places where a hot breakfast is cooked to order, such as Embassy Suites, I will generally least a dollar bill for the cook on the counter when collecting my cooked meal. In that situation I do not leave anything on the table when leaving. At Embassy Suites the rest of the breakfast service, including coffee, is self-serve so its only the cook that gets the tip. If I choose to just have toast, juice and coffee, then no tip is left.

When travelling in the USA I receive a generous per-diem allowance that is designed to cover all meal costs. So if I receive a complementary breakfast by virtue of my hotel chain status I am happy to depart with one or two "dead presidents". If breakfast is included in the room rate (and I don't mean just donuts and coffee as you might get at a Best Western or Hampton Inn, but a real "Bed and Breakfast" room rate) than my per diem is reduced by an amount deemed to be for breakfast. In that case I do not tip as I see it as being included in the room rate.
 
If it's a self-service buffet, and completely covered by the room rate, I don't tip-I'm doing all the work!

If they keep your coffee full or bring you drinks or special orders, then maybe leave a token tip. American waiters pay taxes on their reciepts, I think it is 10%. So if you have a $100 dinner bill, they are deemed to have earned $10 and this is reported to the IRS (tax office) so if you don't tip, they are out of pocket the tax. AFAIK, a free breakfast wouldn't be included in their gross reciepts for the day unless they do up a reciept and deduct it from your room charges so it is free to you.
 
In my student days I did waitressing work at a 5 star hotel.

On the breakfast buffet shift most Americans would leave a 1 dollar or 2 dollar coin on the table that I would find when I cleared the table after they left.

Most Australians wouldn't.

If things were really busy, I definitely used to take this into account when working out which tables to get coffee for next!
 
Thanks for all your responses.

The only problem I have with leaving money on the table is that someone else might get to it before the waiting staff do. :evil:
 
kyle said:
Thanks for all your responses.

The only problem I have with leaving money on the table is that someone else might get to it before the waiting staff do. :evil:
I have not heard of that happening in the USA. People seem to respect the tipping system in the USA.
 
Some people would leave the coins under a plate.
 
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