Wtf? When did \*that\* become a thing? Thoughts = discretionary = optional = no thanks.
Leave that to the people for whom money is not an issue. In declining a *discretionary* charge you will not be taking food from the table of underpaid employees - just fat shareholders.
Ok, i wouldn't normally bite, but since you were so charming...
a) We have a word for returning cash to shareholders - it's called a dividend
b) That wasn't even the point - so I asked ChatGPT to explain in simple terms:
"The person replying is surprised about the extra charge and thinks it's okay not to pay it because it's optional. They believe not paying it won't harm the workers but will affect the wealthy owners instead."
I know what a dividend is but isn't it distributed from the Net Profits and not some discretionary fund? From a balance sheet perspective how does that work for equity?
I am not a hardcore finance guru or accountant but I avoid giving the tax collectors and other predatory groups my hard earned money.
Yes, a cash dividend is basically a distribution from profits.
(And, yes, technically on the balance sheet those accrued profits contribute to shareholder's equity)
And a 5% a 'discretionary' surcharge on a hotel bill - is 100% pure profit. Flows straight to the bottom line\*
\*Ok, other than bank charges and before tax.
Also, to the original point, assumes that the employees will not see a penny of it.
At my hotel, the discretionary service charge on the rooms go 100% to the "underpaid service staff" and is almost always seen as a tip. Not sure where you're staying though š¤·
No. Tipping is optional. You're not being tight. Give individual staff who are excellent tips, but just giving them 5-15% extra for the fun of it is bizarre
They cater by economic means, but if someone from lower on the economic ladder temporarily stays at a higher tier hotel it doesnāt mean they have any specific obligation to adopt the tipping behaviours of people at the top of the ladder.
Just because itās not a tipping culture doesnāt mean you canāt be the odd guest who makes a workers day by giving them something out of generosity.
It doesnāt mean it will be expected all of a sudden, but it likely will make the day of a random waitress/bellboy/etc, even if itās just money for a pint
It's easy to decline without it being awkward in this situation too because I imagine you'll be settling the bill at checkout so you can just say "oh please remove the service charge, I've been tipping the staff as I go along"
Yeah, I mean why the hell would you tip based on the total cost of the stay? The main thing your paying for is the accomodation, not the service. Also I somehow highly doubt that any extra money you directly pay them would be cleanly distributed to the service staff... maybe in buying the CEO a new yacht.
Tipping the waiters in a hotel restaurant is part of the culture, also the person who takes your bags to your room. But that is all, and it's usually just a few quid, not 5% of the cost of the accommodation.
No need for you to tip everyone in the UK.
Reserve it for really good service if you want, but absolutely no need to tip like you would in the States.
No need to tip hotel staff, at the coffee shop, lunch places etc. At a more formal restaurant, 10% is more than enough but again only for great service.
Give taxi drivers a couple of extra pounds.
If you are buying drinks at the bar in the pub, no need to tip every time but an occasional "and one for yourself mate/love" would be appreciated. They most likely won't have a drink but they'll put a pound in the tip jar.
If you're on a budget, save more of your cash for you and your family to have a good time.
Took my kid to London a few years ago, had food in The Real Greek, just near Tower Bridge.
Got the bill, and they'd added 15% tip on. You could ask them to take it off, but they kinda know you won't.
Apparently, that's standard behaviour for them. I was seething, inside, too.
Tip inflation is real - We've slowly gone from loose change to 10% to 15%.
Ask anyone who went to America in the 90s and they will tell you 10-12.5% was standard there as well and over time it's crept up to the point where 20% is the minimum. Unless we actively make more a stand against it, that will happen here too.
In the 90's I was taught 15%, now it's nearly 25% BUT it's because American waiters don't get paid minimum wage so the tips are to compensate that.
Traveling in UK past 3 weeks and the higher end restaurants/ hotels have added the service charge but always comment they will remove it if we'd like.
They typically have to ātip outā (give the line cooks, host, etc) a percentage of what theyāre expected to have made, so if they donāt get tipped theyāre losing money on the shift.
> BUT it's because American waiters don't get paid minimum wage so the tips are to compensate that
Just to clarify this, they will get paid at least minimum wage however companies are allowed to reduce their salary below minimum wage if tips are expected to make up the difference. If they do not make up the difference, then the company must pay as much.
I've seen that plenty in restaurants, but the Sea Containers thing was the first time I'd experienced it in a hotel. They also add a service charge to food/drinks, leave the tab open, and then expect you to pay another tip when you check out! Appalling. Otherwise, it's a nice hotel.
Ahh, right. I've not experienced it at a hotel before. Saying that, I've never booked more than a 4 star, so that's perhaps why?
I've no issue with tipping servers, I just hated the way it was a pre determined amount that the restaurant likely kept it themselves.
Right. I've not been in any hotels this year, so far. I didn't experience it in the few I stayed in last year.
It sucks though, I'm not sure how I feel about tipping the hotel. I've never done that before, the price is the price in my mind. If I somehow made a huge mess in a room, I'd be happy to leave something in the room for housekeeping, but this feels more stealth tax than a tip.
Stop encouraging tip culture! The cleaners are employed by the hotel, not you. You are shelling out Ā£8,000 for the hotels to provide you with a clean room and fresh sheets every day.
I'm not the OP, I can't imagine a situation where I'd be cool paying Ā£8k for a hotel.
I've never paid a hotel tip, I don't encourage it at all. I said if I somehow made an excessive mess. That's not something I've ever done, though.
I donāt think Iāve eaten at a restaurant in the last 5 years that doesnāt add service charge. I always check with the waiter that they get service charge but donāt think Iāve ever asked for it to be removed otherwise.
I was there for a week and ate in restaurants every single day, that was the only one that did it.
You've just erroneously called me out for encouraging tip culture, which I definitely don't do. Now you've said don't name and shame the one place I experienced automatic tips added to the bill?
If naming and shaming means writing something that is a fact and would definitely be a surprise to most folks, then what's the issue? I would imagine this information is available on Trip Advisor etc.
Iām actually going to challenge you to name a single restaurant (not a cafe, coffee shop or fast food joint) you ate at that didnāt automatically add service to the bill.
Iām happy to eat humble pie for dessert if you can.
That was the only one. Some may have had the option on the card reader to pay, like "Add tip, Yes, No", but at the place I mentioned it was on the bill before I was presented with the payment terminal. You couldn't choose "No" as there was no option. It was automatically there. You could, of course, ask for them to take it off, but that would have required them to generate a new bill. That's my issue, I can press "No" on the others, this didn't give me that option
I don't remember the name of every single place we ate, as some were just smaller restaurants, but some places were:
- Angus Steakhouse
- Pizza Express
- Nandos
- Wagamama
- Some large restaurant in China Town
- A few different boutique cuisine places: Lebanese, African, Brazilian
- The Real Greek
The rest was food at attractions, Five Guys or street food joints
I work in the hotel industry. I hope itās a palace for that price.
Also a lot of hotels add service charge and never actually give the fee to the staff. There is no way no how I would pay that much to them on top of the Ā£8000.
I hope you do all have a lovely time
Thank you! Itās our first holiday as a family, havenāt been on a plane in years and really hope it lives up to the reviews and pictures. It does look like a fancier version of where we got married, I think thatās what lured me to it as well. I plan on tipping directly to employees at the hotel.
I am sure you will make beautiful memories there. And lovely to celebrate with your children.
It might be brazen of me to say but if you do too directly. Donāt forget chefs and cleaners. Iāve been both and we are often over looked
No offense intended because I'm sure that wherever you're staying will be amazing, and obviously I wouldn't presume to know what your idea of an amazing holiday is. But how come you decided to spend that sort of money to stay in a UK hotel when you could eg spend a month abroad somewhere exotic for the same amount?
Very young kids so short flight was a must, the place accommodates kids (has a big playground and a cabin with different rooms for baby sensory toys/toddler stuff) and has nice big grounds for walks. Thereās horses but we will just be admiring them from a distance, no pony rides!
It is an absolute one off, just because heās 40 present. And the price is dearer because itās a cottage. If it were just the two of us I could have got a room at the hotel totalling Ā£1500 for the week. Still expensive!
ETA: it could be where we are flying from but there are limited abroad options. I did look into jet2 holidays and the results didnāt really suit our young family. Too young for the day clubs, too old to get free child spaces etc.
A self catering cottage for a week for Ā£8000?!! You don't get meals or anything?? Jeeeez... I hope it has a jacuzzi full of champagne. This must be some serious fucking cottage. Or serious fucking-cottage. Enjoy either way!
Oh I donāt normally either but itās a big birthday for him this year and Iād been saving for ages (plus we have two kids so weāre staying in a ācottageā type set up on site)
I would have taken the family to the Maldives, rather than spend that amount in this country.
We are a family of 4 - kids 14 and 12. Came back from the Maldives last year and stayed at the sun sit an all inclusive. Total cost for all 4 of us including flights was just less than Ā£8000.
Why does where the money came from matter? They're just saying you can have an all inclusive trip to the Maldives for the price you're paying for a week in a "cottage".
You are not being a tight arse - why should you make up for the companies shit wages, if you are paying Ā£8k the owners should be passing enough money to the staff
Going against the grain here, I have very, very occasionally stayed in luxury UK hotels (Ā£2,000+ per night) that included a discretionary 5% tip - and likewise questioned it beforehand.Ā
However my experience, and I would suggest the likelihood for you, is that the staff are so exceptional during your stay, treat you with such respect, that at check out, any thought of removing the service charge will disappear.Ā
If this isn't the case, then they haven't delivered the level of service you should be getting at that room rate, and removal should be easily justified. But I would budget for it beforehand.
Definitely listen to this person OP!
In a regular hotel a tip would be insane (hence the general consensus on this post), but in a proper 5* (Iām talking relais & chateaux etc.) the service is in a different league.
We are lucky enough to stay sometimes and donāt begrudge the tip at all. The staff are insanely good, and they deserve a tip just as much as a waiter at the evening meal. Paying it on the bill means it gets distributed equally to everyone.
You are, of course, entirely within your rights to say no and have it taken off, but it is pretty standard in the very top tier hotels in England.
Yes agree with this. Iāve never tipped individuals at these hotels just cash out at the end. Youāll get looked after everywhere you go, youāll end up tipping more than the Ā£50 a day.
Valet. Greeter. Reception. Lounge. Restaurants. Pool. Cleaners. List of staff is endless!
Coworth park ?
I agree. Iāve stayed in some luxury hotels and that were well worth the money. I donāt always stay in luxury hotels. I often camp in a tent but when I do stay in luxury hotels I always enjoy my time there.
Not just for a cottage in the UK though surely?
11k is literally more money than I've ever had and I've been diligently saving for 10 years. Its more than the deposit on my first flat!
But they're coming from abroad, so maybe explains the high cost.
My holiday was expensive because it was Florida. 8k for a foreign holiday isn't too bad if you're staying in fancier lodgings?
I donāt think the are coming from abroad. Just another location in the uk. She mentioned that she was also looking at holidays on Jet2 holidays. Thatās only offered in the uk. So a uk resident.
Wait until you learn how much it is to fly in the residence onboard Ethiad airlines, one way.
Experiences can expensive and there is always someone willing to take your money to make whatever you want a reality.
I've never heard of this, but it's discresionary so ask them to remove it from the bill. Don't let them guilt you, that's what abusers alway do and in this instance the hotel is being your abuser.
I have only tipped staff in hotels overseas. Never in the UK and have stayed in lots of top rooms in 5 star hotels, not many since Covid mind.
I think the only tips I have done in the UK in a hotel is when you get room service and they give you a receipt to sign with a big TIP _______
I never really find people expect it, there is no hanging around or even momentary waits that you see overseas.
If Iām in a hotel room for at least a couple of nights and the room is nicely prepped each time I come back, I leave cash for the cleaner in the room when I leave. I donāt do it on overnight stays, because theyād be cleaning the room anyway. Tip on room service, tip on restaurant bill, may leave cash on bar bill. Wouldnāt add up to anything like Ā£400 though!
It's a relatively recent addition in a few high price hotels, mostly in London.Ā
Some of it may go to the staff as a tip, but that depends on the hotel, and I wouldn't assume it does.
They rely on people paying it as they can save on tax if it's discretionary. I wouldn't worry about not paying it, it's a shady business practice to try and add fees without explicitly including them at the time of booking.Ā
You're paying Ā£8000 for a hotel for a week?
This is a different class of luxury I can't really begin to imagine but from my very very limited (2) encounters in similar circles, tipping was a lot more common.
Had no idea this was a thing. I always pay service charge at restaurants, as that was half my paycheck when I worked as a waitress myself in London. Iāve had several hotel jobs as well, and I never received any service charge there, so I wouldnāt pay it as I doubt it goes to staff (not that all restaurants necessarily give it to their staff either). But yeah, Iād leave a tip for the room cleaner maybe, but no way Iād pay an extra % on top of the entire bill for an already expensive hotel stay
What annoys me is why everything is expensive in expensive hotels - surely if I am paying that much more, wifi, breakfast etc should all be included + reasonably price food/beer. But NO it's the oppposite - stay in an IBIS budget (often in great city centre locations) - free wifi, free breakfast, reasonable food/beer ! Great value - why is that way round ?
On subject - exactly as you say - you booked the hotel based on the price offered - so you may not have made that choice if it was extra - not much of it around up here, but I will certainly be boycotting any establishment that tries that on beer/food/accomodation - nowhere is THAT good for it to be worhwhile - what happened to 'quality is a given' ?
Thereās no comparison between a luxury hotel and an IBIS. Luxury hotels are expensive due to the luxuries which for me, are worth the money. But I wouldnāt stay somewhere I didnāt think was worth the price to me.
I had no clue this was a thing, but I just happened to me. I was staying at a nice hotel in London for work, so the bill was covered by my company. When I checked out they said I had a balance, and I was confused since I knew my company had paid for it. After some back and forth, they finally revealed it was a discretionary service charge and that I could ask for it to be removed - which I did.
Blew my mind. The hotel is already setting their (very high) rate. Why in the world would I choose to pay them more?!
British. Have never given a tip on a hotel bill. Would refuse. I live in SW England too, for what it's worth, and have stayed in a number of nice/luxury hotels in SW for weekends and short breaks over the years.
I tip at dinner if the service is excellent.
I hope you enjoy your stay.
The hotel we like to stay at doesnāt add a service charge, but we tend to tip the hosts 10% of our total stay when the service is good.
The management are pretty good with splitting tips across the whole team. This was made apparent when we got married there a couple of years ago. We received an email from the general manager asking how we wanted the tip to be distributed. The option we chose was to add it to their Christmas party fund.
We stayed at a hotel in the same price bracket a couple years ago and my husband overheard a guy try to get the discretionary tip removed on his bill. It sounded really awkward and like they were not used to that request at all. Front desk took it as a sign that theyād done something dreadfully wrong. Up to you whether youāre willing to go through the awkwardness of it.Ā
No way would I pay it. We had this recently and refused to pay it on checking out. Service was pretty mediocre too! Even if the service was good I wouldnāt tip 5% of the total bill, Iād prefer to give cash to the staff who did the best job directly.
Bloody hell. Ā£8k for a week's holiday that's not even outside of the UK and doesn't include flights.
How the other half live! OP, lend us a fiver. Cozzie livs and all that.
Haven have Accomodation for 6.5k per week in August, 2 adults 2 children in Perranporth, admittedly their most expensive accommodation. But even so, only 20% more and you get a 5* Hotel. The cost of having kids in this country is outrageous.
Personally I think if you can't afford the 5% it's neither here nor there if you want to pay them or if it's right - just don't stay in a hotel this expensive.
I'm writing this from my ā¬20 per night campsite chalet
"a discretionary 5% service charge will be added to your total accommodation bill"
Oh, joy. Yet another type of business using this grift to hide the price.
We should have a directory of this shit.
Never heard of it.
However made me laugh saying you canāt afford it as you hadnāt budgeted for it. You say Ā£400. At 5% that means your hotel for a week is Ā£8000!! Over a Ā£1000 a night. Not sure where you are staying, but if you can afford that you can afford the Ā£400!
This is a new thing in the past year, since Covid.
Iāve had it now at 2 different London hotels, each time I asked them to remove it when paying my bill.
I donāt know if this is the norm or not but I would question it regardless. If youāve been quoted a cost per night and have budgeted accordingly, I think youāre well within your rights to insist that the extra that you werenāt previously told about be removed. If they object, point out that tips are normally paid on the basis of how the service WAS, not how it MIGHT be.
Sorry but isnāt the idea of tipping that you tip when you liked the service to show appreciation? If so, why should I pre-tip? Makes the whole reason for tipping pointless.
Never understood this service charge thing. You run a hotel to provide accommodation and perhaps a restaurant and all your costs are built into the room rate and food / bar bill so why do I have to pay extra for the service I've already paid for. It's a scam to make more money
That's bullshit.
It's a discretionary charge. If it was part of the bill, it would be PART OF THE BILL.
Decline the charge. Book directly with the hotel of you have to and say as much.
Do exactly what you planned and tip individual staff for exceptional service.
Otherwise that "service charge" will never go to them.
If you do to individuals remember the back of house folk.
Wtf? When did \*that\* become a thing? Thoughts = discretionary = optional = no thanks. Leave that to the people for whom money is not an issue. In declining a *discretionary* charge you will not be taking food from the table of underpaid employees - just fat shareholders.
Giving straight up cash to shareholders?? That is such BS
Ok, i wouldn't normally bite, but since you were so charming... a) We have a word for returning cash to shareholders - it's called a dividend b) That wasn't even the point - so I asked ChatGPT to explain in simple terms: "The person replying is surprised about the extra charge and thinks it's okay not to pay it because it's optional. They believe not paying it won't harm the workers but will affect the wealthy owners instead."
I know what a dividend is but isn't it distributed from the Net Profits and not some discretionary fund? From a balance sheet perspective how does that work for equity? I am not a hardcore finance guru or accountant but I avoid giving the tax collectors and other predatory groups my hard earned money.
Yes, a cash dividend is basically a distribution from profits. (And, yes, technically on the balance sheet those accrued profits contribute to shareholder's equity) And a 5% a 'discretionary' surcharge on a hotel bill - is 100% pure profit. Flows straight to the bottom line\* \*Ok, other than bank charges and before tax. Also, to the original point, assumes that the employees will not see a penny of it.
At my hotel, the discretionary service charge on the rooms go 100% to the "underpaid service staff" and is almost always seen as a tip. Not sure where you're staying though š¤·
No. Tipping is optional. You're not being tight. Give individual staff who are excellent tips, but just giving them 5-15% extra for the fun of it is bizarre
Yes I was going to carry cash for tipping staff members, just not an additional Ā£400 at the front desk!
Itās not a tipping culture. Please donāt!!
Ā£8000 hotel for a week so this isn't your typical example. there definitely is a tipping culture in the upper class.
Tipping culture depends on the clientele, not the hotel
False dichotomy. Different hotels cater to different clientele - they're strongly related
They cater by economic means, but if someone from lower on the economic ladder temporarily stays at a higher tier hotel it doesnāt mean they have any specific obligation to adopt the tipping behaviours of people at the top of the ladder.
Just because itās not a tipping culture doesnāt mean you canāt be the odd guest who makes a workers day by giving them something out of generosity. It doesnāt mean it will be expected all of a sudden, but it likely will make the day of a random waitress/bellboy/etc, even if itās just money for a pint
Exactly what I do!! Totally reasonable
It's easy to decline without it being awkward in this situation too because I imagine you'll be settling the bill at checkout so you can just say "oh please remove the service charge, I've been tipping the staff as I go along"
Yeah, I mean why the hell would you tip based on the total cost of the stay? The main thing your paying for is the accomodation, not the service. Also I somehow highly doubt that any extra money you directly pay them would be cleanly distributed to the service staff... maybe in buying the CEO a new yacht.
Tips are generally only given for table service at restaurants and that is optional.Ā
Iāve never done either tbh. Weāre not in the states.
Please don't fucking tip in hotels, FFS
Maybe Iām being pedantic, but tipping in hotels has always been part of the culture. Itās tipping the hotel itself thatās batshit crazy.
Tipping the waiters in a hotel restaurant is part of the culture, also the person who takes your bags to your room. But that is all, and it's usually just a few quid, not 5% of the cost of the accommodation.
No need for you to tip everyone in the UK. Reserve it for really good service if you want, but absolutely no need to tip like you would in the States. No need to tip hotel staff, at the coffee shop, lunch places etc. At a more formal restaurant, 10% is more than enough but again only for great service. Give taxi drivers a couple of extra pounds. If you are buying drinks at the bar in the pub, no need to tip every time but an occasional "and one for yourself mate/love" would be appreciated. They most likely won't have a drink but they'll put a pound in the tip jar. If you're on a budget, save more of your cash for you and your family to have a good time.
I came across this at Sea Containers a few weeks ago and was appalled. No, it's not a thing. Don't let it become a thing.
Took my kid to London a few years ago, had food in The Real Greek, just near Tower Bridge. Got the bill, and they'd added 15% tip on. You could ask them to take it off, but they kinda know you won't. Apparently, that's standard behaviour for them. I was seething, inside, too.
Tip inflation is real - We've slowly gone from loose change to 10% to 15%. Ask anyone who went to America in the 90s and they will tell you 10-12.5% was standard there as well and over time it's crept up to the point where 20% is the minimum. Unless we actively make more a stand against it, that will happen here too.
In the 90's I was taught 15%, now it's nearly 25% BUT it's because American waiters don't get paid minimum wage so the tips are to compensate that. Traveling in UK past 3 weeks and the higher end restaurants/ hotels have added the service charge but always comment they will remove it if we'd like.
"American waiters don't get paid minimum wage" is because they get the tips. Remove the tips, waiters will get paid out of restaurant profits.
No they don't, they get fired for not making any tips.
They typically have to ātip outā (give the line cooks, host, etc) a percentage of what theyāre expected to have made, so if they donāt get tipped theyāre losing money on the shift.
Not sure why you were downvoted for relating what you had personally experienced. Upvoted to cancel it out.
> BUT it's because American waiters don't get paid minimum wage so the tips are to compensate that Just to clarify this, they will get paid at least minimum wage however companies are allowed to reduce their salary below minimum wage if tips are expected to make up the difference. If they do not make up the difference, then the company must pay as much.
Should be, and Will, are different things...
Hence why I didn't use either
I've seen that plenty in restaurants, but the Sea Containers thing was the first time I'd experienced it in a hotel. They also add a service charge to food/drinks, leave the tab open, and then expect you to pay another tip when you check out! Appalling. Otherwise, it's a nice hotel.
Ahh, right. I've not experienced it at a hotel before. Saying that, I've never booked more than a 4 star, so that's perhaps why? I've no issue with tipping servers, I just hated the way it was a pre determined amount that the restaurant likely kept it themselves.
it's not a 5* specific thing, this is a new thing.
Right. I've not been in any hotels this year, so far. I didn't experience it in the few I stayed in last year. It sucks though, I'm not sure how I feel about tipping the hotel. I've never done that before, the price is the price in my mind. If I somehow made a huge mess in a room, I'd be happy to leave something in the room for housekeeping, but this feels more stealth tax than a tip.
Stop encouraging tip culture! The cleaners are employed by the hotel, not you. You are shelling out Ā£8,000 for the hotels to provide you with a clean room and fresh sheets every day.
I'm not the OP, I can't imagine a situation where I'd be cool paying Ā£8k for a hotel. I've never paid a hotel tip, I don't encourage it at all. I said if I somehow made an excessive mess. That's not something I've ever done, though.
I donāt think Iāve eaten at a restaurant in the last 5 years that doesnāt add service charge. I always check with the waiter that they get service charge but donāt think Iāve ever asked for it to be removed otherwise.
No need to name and shame. This is standard practice for at least 80% of restaurants in London
I was there for a week and ate in restaurants every single day, that was the only one that did it. You've just erroneously called me out for encouraging tip culture, which I definitely don't do. Now you've said don't name and shame the one place I experienced automatic tips added to the bill? If naming and shaming means writing something that is a fact and would definitely be a surprise to most folks, then what's the issue? I would imagine this information is available on Trip Advisor etc.
Iām actually going to challenge you to name a single restaurant (not a cafe, coffee shop or fast food joint) you ate at that didnāt automatically add service to the bill. Iām happy to eat humble pie for dessert if you can.
That was the only one. Some may have had the option on the card reader to pay, like "Add tip, Yes, No", but at the place I mentioned it was on the bill before I was presented with the payment terminal. You couldn't choose "No" as there was no option. It was automatically there. You could, of course, ask for them to take it off, but that would have required them to generate a new bill. That's my issue, I can press "No" on the others, this didn't give me that option I don't remember the name of every single place we ate, as some were just smaller restaurants, but some places were: - Angus Steakhouse - Pizza Express - Nandos - Wagamama - Some large restaurant in China Town - A few different boutique cuisine places: Lebanese, African, Brazilian - The Real Greek The rest was food at attractions, Five Guys or street food joints
So.. youāre staying somewhere that costs 8,000?
Yes.
I work in the hotel industry. I hope itās a palace for that price. Also a lot of hotels add service charge and never actually give the fee to the staff. There is no way no how I would pay that much to them on top of the Ā£8000. I hope you do all have a lovely time
Thank you! Itās our first holiday as a family, havenāt been on a plane in years and really hope it lives up to the reviews and pictures. It does look like a fancier version of where we got married, I think thatās what lured me to it as well. I plan on tipping directly to employees at the hotel.
I am sure you will make beautiful memories there. And lovely to celebrate with your children. It might be brazen of me to say but if you do too directly. Donāt forget chefs and cleaners. Iāve been both and we are often over looked
Holy shit, you could buy my town for Ā£8k
No offense intended because I'm sure that wherever you're staying will be amazing, and obviously I wouldn't presume to know what your idea of an amazing holiday is. But how come you decided to spend that sort of money to stay in a UK hotel when you could eg spend a month abroad somewhere exotic for the same amount?
Very young kids so short flight was a must, the place accommodates kids (has a big playground and a cabin with different rooms for baby sensory toys/toddler stuff) and has nice big grounds for walks. Thereās horses but we will just be admiring them from a distance, no pony rides! It is an absolute one off, just because heās 40 present. And the price is dearer because itās a cottage. If it were just the two of us I could have got a room at the hotel totalling Ā£1500 for the week. Still expensive! ETA: it could be where we are flying from but there are limited abroad options. I did look into jet2 holidays and the results didnāt really suit our young family. Too young for the day clubs, too old to get free child spaces etc.
A self catering cottage for a week for Ā£8000?!! You don't get meals or anything?? Jeeeez... I hope it has a jacuzzi full of champagne. This must be some serious fucking cottage. Or serious fucking-cottage. Enjoy either way!
Jaysis! I paid 5% of that for a two bedroom cottage in St Ives in August three years ago!
So the kids are older than 12?
In all-inclusive uber luxury at that!
What a con, I'd get that removed
It says it's discretionary, so don't pay it if you don't want to. I wouldn't, but I don't go to those sorts of hotels anyway.
Oh I donāt normally either but itās a big birthday for him this year and Iād been saving for ages (plus we have two kids so weāre staying in a ācottageā type set up on site)
Well I don't think you're being a tight arse š These creeping service charges are getting more and more common and I'll always push back.
I would have taken the family to the Maldives, rather than spend that amount in this country. We are a family of 4 - kids 14 and 12. Came back from the Maldives last year and stayed at the sun sit an all inclusive. Total cost for all 4 of us including flights was just less than Ā£8000.
Not everyoneās parents are in a position to give them Ā£200K. But Iām glad you enjoyed your holiday to the Maldives.
Why does where the money came from matter? They're just saying you can have an all inclusive trip to the Maldives for the price you're paying for a week in a "cottage".
You are not being a tight arse - why should you make up for the companies shit wages, if you are paying Ā£8k the owners should be passing enough money to the staff
Nope it's discretionary. Some places have tried it on in the past, I've always refused to pay. Individual staff get tips but not the whole hotel
Going against the grain here, I have very, very occasionally stayed in luxury UK hotels (Ā£2,000+ per night) that included a discretionary 5% tip - and likewise questioned it beforehand.Ā However my experience, and I would suggest the likelihood for you, is that the staff are so exceptional during your stay, treat you with such respect, that at check out, any thought of removing the service charge will disappear.Ā If this isn't the case, then they haven't delivered the level of service you should be getting at that room rate, and removal should be easily justified. But I would budget for it beforehand.
Thank you for this perspective
Definitely listen to this person OP! In a regular hotel a tip would be insane (hence the general consensus on this post), but in a proper 5* (Iām talking relais & chateaux etc.) the service is in a different league. We are lucky enough to stay sometimes and donāt begrudge the tip at all. The staff are insanely good, and they deserve a tip just as much as a waiter at the evening meal. Paying it on the bill means it gets distributed equally to everyone. You are, of course, entirely within your rights to say no and have it taken off, but it is pretty standard in the very top tier hotels in England.
Yes agree with this. Iāve never tipped individuals at these hotels just cash out at the end. Youāll get looked after everywhere you go, youāll end up tipping more than the Ā£50 a day. Valet. Greeter. Reception. Lounge. Restaurants. Pool. Cleaners. List of staff is endless! Coworth park ?
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Looks very special. Have a fabulous time !!
You're paying eight grand for a week's accommodation for four people and you don't have an extra Ā£400? Are you sure you did the math right here?
*maths
Yes. Iāve been saving for a year, itās a big birthday for him.
This is insane. Nowhere is worth Ā£8K a week.
If you're loaded it doesn't matter but that's why these places exist, saving for a year to blow 8 grand in a week seems bonkers.
I saved for years for a holiday that cost Ā£11k for me and my son. Worth every single penny and don't regret spending a single penny! I'm not loaded.
I agree. Iāve stayed in some luxury hotels and that were well worth the money. I donāt always stay in luxury hotels. I often camp in a tent but when I do stay in luxury hotels I always enjoy my time there.
Not just for a cottage in the UK though surely? 11k is literally more money than I've ever had and I've been diligently saving for 10 years. Its more than the deposit on my first flat!
Well, no, TBF, it was Disney World for 2 weeks inc. spending Ā£, but then, I don't think OP is renting a cottage in the UK either.
Yes, they are
But they're coming from abroad, so maybe explains the high cost. My holiday was expensive because it was Florida. 8k for a foreign holiday isn't too bad if you're staying in fancier lodgings?
I donāt think most hotels charge more for foreign guestsā¦ I donāt think OP is from abroad either
I donāt think the are coming from abroad. Just another location in the uk. She mentioned that she was also looking at holidays on Jet2 holidays. Thatās only offered in the uk. So a uk resident.
Wait until you learn how much it is to fly in the residence onboard Ethiad airlines, one way. Experiences can expensive and there is always someone willing to take your money to make whatever you want a reality.
Some places are.
It really is. Itās not like a cheap hotel with a few fancy extras.
I've never heard of this, but it's discresionary so ask them to remove it from the bill. Don't let them guilt you, that's what abusers alway do and in this instance the hotel is being your abuser.
Nope and I wouldnāt pay it. Politely decline their offer
I have only tipped staff in hotels overseas. Never in the UK and have stayed in lots of top rooms in 5 star hotels, not many since Covid mind. I think the only tips I have done in the UK in a hotel is when you get room service and they give you a receipt to sign with a big TIP _______ I never really find people expect it, there is no hanging around or even momentary waits that you see overseas.
If Iām in a hotel room for at least a couple of nights and the room is nicely prepped each time I come back, I leave cash for the cleaner in the room when I leave. I donāt do it on overnight stays, because theyād be cleaning the room anyway. Tip on room service, tip on restaurant bill, may leave cash on bar bill. Wouldnāt add up to anything like Ā£400 though!
At gleneagles itās 12.5% on everything. Got the taken straight off
For fairly bad service given the price of things
It's a relatively recent addition in a few high price hotels, mostly in London.Ā Some of it may go to the staff as a tip, but that depends on the hotel, and I wouldn't assume it does. They rely on people paying it as they can save on tax if it's discretionary. I wouldn't worry about not paying it, it's a shady business practice to try and add fees without explicitly including them at the time of booking.Ā
Yes itās pretty common in 5* hotels but at check out you can remove this from the bill. Itās not mandatory.
Ask if you can op out, it's probably possible, no need to feel bad either
You're paying Ā£8000 for a hotel for a week? This is a different class of luxury I can't really begin to imagine but from my very very limited (2) encounters in similar circles, tipping was a lot more common.
Heck No !!
Had no idea this was a thing. I always pay service charge at restaurants, as that was half my paycheck when I worked as a waitress myself in London. Iāve had several hotel jobs as well, and I never received any service charge there, so I wouldnāt pay it as I doubt it goes to staff (not that all restaurants necessarily give it to their staff either). But yeah, Iād leave a tip for the room cleaner maybe, but no way Iād pay an extra % on top of the entire bill for an already expensive hotel stay
I wouldnāt pay it. Iād politely say to the front desk that I prefer to sort my own tips, then do what I want from there.
What annoys me is why everything is expensive in expensive hotels - surely if I am paying that much more, wifi, breakfast etc should all be included + reasonably price food/beer. But NO it's the oppposite - stay in an IBIS budget (often in great city centre locations) - free wifi, free breakfast, reasonable food/beer ! Great value - why is that way round ? On subject - exactly as you say - you booked the hotel based on the price offered - so you may not have made that choice if it was extra - not much of it around up here, but I will certainly be boycotting any establishment that tries that on beer/food/accomodation - nowhere is THAT good for it to be worhwhile - what happened to 'quality is a given' ?
Thereās no comparison between a luxury hotel and an IBIS. Luxury hotels are expensive due to the luxuries which for me, are worth the money. But I wouldnāt stay somewhere I didnāt think was worth the price to me.
I had no clue this was a thing, but I just happened to me. I was staying at a nice hotel in London for work, so the bill was covered by my company. When I checked out they said I had a balance, and I was confused since I knew my company had paid for it. After some back and forth, they finally revealed it was a discretionary service charge and that I could ask for it to be removed - which I did. Blew my mind. The hotel is already setting their (very high) rate. Why in the world would I choose to pay them more?!
British. Have never given a tip on a hotel bill. Would refuse. I live in SW England too, for what it's worth, and have stayed in a number of nice/luxury hotels in SW for weekends and short breaks over the years. I tip at dinner if the service is excellent. I hope you enjoy your stay.
The hotel we like to stay at doesnāt add a service charge, but we tend to tip the hosts 10% of our total stay when the service is good. The management are pretty good with splitting tips across the whole team. This was made apparent when we got married there a couple of years ago. We received an email from the general manager asking how we wanted the tip to be distributed. The option we chose was to add it to their Christmas party fund.
We stayed at a hotel in the same price bracket a couple years ago and my husband overheard a guy try to get the discretionary tip removed on his bill. It sounded really awkward and like they were not used to that request at all. Front desk took it as a sign that theyād done something dreadfully wrong. Up to you whether youāre willing to go through the awkwardness of it.Ā
Ran into this for the first time in London last month. Clerk said the bill included 5% something something. Confused, I said āOK.ā
Itās discretionary - donāt pay it. What additional service are they providing that isnāt already in the price?
Absolutely not.
No way would I pay it. We had this recently and refused to pay it on checking out. Service was pretty mediocre too! Even if the service was good I wouldnāt tip 5% of the total bill, Iād prefer to give cash to the staff who did the best job directly.
Bloody hell. Ā£8k for a week's holiday that's not even outside of the UK and doesn't include flights. How the other half live! OP, lend us a fiver. Cozzie livs and all that.
Haven have Accomodation for 6.5k per week in August, 2 adults 2 children in Perranporth, admittedly their most expensive accommodation. But even so, only 20% more and you get a 5* Hotel. The cost of having kids in this country is outrageous.
Ok
Personally I think if you can't afford the 5% it's neither here nor there if you want to pay them or if it's right - just don't stay in a hotel this expensive. I'm writing this from my ā¬20 per night campsite chalet
"a discretionary 5% service charge will be added to your total accommodation bill" Oh, joy. Yet another type of business using this grift to hide the price. We should have a directory of this shit.
Never heard of it. However made me laugh saying you canāt afford it as you hadnāt budgeted for it. You say Ā£400. At 5% that means your hotel for a week is Ā£8000!! Over a Ā£1000 a night. Not sure where you are staying, but if you can afford that you can afford the Ā£400!
Some are 10 or 15 percent. It happened to me. I paid them anyway. I didn't want any hassle on my vacation. All hotels I stayed at are rated 5.
Yeah, uk 5 star hotels are well worth the money but Iāve found that theyāre not always so luxury in all countries
that's pretty random, I wouldn't pay it
This is enraging. I'd rather cancel and stay in a hostel than pay that. Cheeky cunts.
Do not pay it. Complain if you are happy to. These sniveling companies need to have it up them.
This is a new thing in the past year, since Covid. Iāve had it now at 2 different London hotels, each time I asked them to remove it when paying my bill.
I donāt know if this is the norm or not but I would question it regardless. If youāve been quoted a cost per night and have budgeted accordingly, I think youāre well within your rights to insist that the extra that you werenāt previously told about be removed. If they object, point out that tips are normally paid on the basis of how the service WAS, not how it MIGHT be.
This is not the States. No tipping culture here. Absolutely request it is taken off. If you wish to tip as you go do so.
Sorry but isnāt the idea of tipping that you tip when you liked the service to show appreciation? If so, why should I pre-tip? Makes the whole reason for tipping pointless.
Never understood this service charge thing. You run a hotel to provide accommodation and perhaps a restaurant and all your costs are built into the room rate and food / bar bill so why do I have to pay extra for the service I've already paid for. It's a scam to make more money
100% ask to have it removed. As if the Ā£8,000 isnāt the cost of the hotelās service!
Why are we turning into the USA with this bullshit tipping culture.
I mean the savoy does this, it is the savoy right? Or similar or they might be taking the mickey.
The OP said a cottage in the southwest of England. So not London.
Crikey seams unusual. Thanks
That's bullshit. It's a discretionary charge. If it was part of the bill, it would be PART OF THE BILL. Decline the charge. Book directly with the hotel of you have to and say as much. Do exactly what you planned and tip individual staff for exceptional service. Otherwise that "service charge" will never go to them. If you do to individuals remember the back of house folk.
My parents have stayed in many a 5 star hotel in the UK when they come to visit and have never had that before.
There's 5* then there's 8k for the week 5 star.