| Role | Typical amount (US) | When to give it |
|---|---|---|
| Bellhop / porter | $1-2 per bag | On delivery to your room |
| Housekeeping | $2-5 per night | Left daily, not just at checkout |
| Concierge | $5-20 | Only for a specific, genuinely helpful favour, e.g. securing a hard-to-get reservation |
| Valet / doorman hailing a cab | $1-2 | At the moment of service |
Bellhops and concierges interact with you directly, so tipping them feels natural in the moment. Housekeeping cleans your room while you are out, so the usual habit is to tip nothing at all — but it is genuinely one of the physically hardest jobs in a hotel, and leaving a small amount daily, rather than one lump sum at checkout, is the recommended approach, since a different staff member may clean your room on different days.
Cash left loose on a hotel nightstand can be mistaken for forgotten money rather than a tip, particularly in countries where tipping housekeeping is less standard. A small envelope, or a note simply saying "for housekeeping," removes any ambiguity.