Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

The Porter at Hotel on Arrival

27 replies

MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:03

This has happened a few times... Arrived late and whilst checking in at reception a porter with trolley has loaded bags up and before you know it is wheeling them off to your room.

Then we arrive at room and the porter person just stands there in the room!!!

I said clearly THANK YOU and he still stands there. I said I am sorry but I know you want a tip but I don't have coins on me.

It's just so bloody awkward when you arrive to a new country and haven't got smaller amounts of change.

OP posts:
PennyWeisse · 30/05/2023 14:05

Which country?

I'd definitely make sure I had cash on me if arriving at a hotel with porter service, especially in the US.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:08

But we arrived super late and hadn't a chance to spend anything at this point. Literally off plane to to hotel via transfer coach.

This is Bulgaria.

The other country was USA. Same situation, off plane and to hotel and the porter threw our keys across the room at us and marched off.

OP posts:
CantStandMeow · 30/05/2023 14:13

We usually just give the smallest note we have. But we always make sure we have cash for tipping, it's easily solved using the airport ATM

Hbh17 · 30/05/2023 14:14

Well, next time have some change! I'm sure Euros or dollars would be fine.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:16

Dollars are pretty much acceptable everywhere so just take a few small bills. Hard currency is worth so much in poorer countries that it really is a lifeline for people.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/05/2023 14:16

Not tipping in the US is practically a criminal offence 😁 no idea about Bulgaria but I’d have checked it out before going.

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:17

You didn't tip in the States? Youre lucky to be alive! Grin

purplecorkheart · 30/05/2023 14:18

Normally I get a small amount out at the atm at the airport and ask at reception for change.

Azandme · 30/05/2023 14:19

Coins? That would mean you planned to tip literal pence in Bulgaria. Surely you'd give a note? A 5 level note is £2.20.

If you don't have Lev they usually accept Euro or sterling.

If you don't want to tip or don't have the cash, that's fine - just say no thank you when they come for the bags.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:19

I will try and remember for next time, having not been abroad for years, remembering to sort small change for a porter service on immediate arrival slipped top of my list.

OP posts:
CalloohCallayFrabjousDay · 30/05/2023 14:21

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:16

Dollars are pretty much acceptable everywhere so just take a few small bills. Hard currency is worth so much in poorer countries that it really is a lifeline for people.

Dollars are only useful in America - is now not as worth much as it was 20 years ago!

Azandme · 30/05/2023 14:21

You didn't tip in the US either? You're one of those tourists that doesn't bother to research the customs and gets us all labelled as rude/tight!

CalloohCallayFrabjousDay · 30/05/2023 14:21

I'd just tell the porter no I'll do my own bags thanks!

BronwenFrideswide · 30/05/2023 14:22

Always, always take some of the local currency with you, not coins notes and get low denomination notes, if the currency is not a traded currency take US Dollars they are acceptable everywhere and usually preferable to the local currency.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:25

I'm happy to tip where necessary but I just totally forgot about it and the lowest amount I had was worth £6.

There's enough to remember without arriving late, tired and everything else.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:26

Dollars are only useful in America - is now not as worth much as it was 20 years ago!

I've used them in other countries as well. Cuba, great swathes of Africa, SE Asia, Canada. They aren't worth as much (and weirdly Euros and Swiss Francs are more hard now) but people can typically change them for local currency.

I agree it's not ideal but it's better than nothing!

MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:29

MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:25

I'm happy to tip where necessary but I just totally forgot about it and the lowest amount I had was worth £6.

There's enough to remember without arriving late, tired and everything else.

Then you tip whatever you have that's the lowest. In a tipping country it's important.

I would get some small change and find the porter later.

Although I do have some investment in British people not being seen as mean and ignorant on holiday. I hear it a LOT and I travel a lot.

I know you're not BTW it's just a trope.

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:34

The thing is it's that the reception lady was talking for ages and didn't notice bags already loaded on and he's waiting! So I should say in future to off load them? The room was literally a 30 second walk.

I apologised and said I would find him later to tip when I had sorted the money out. I have already done this.

OP posts:
gogohmm · 30/05/2023 14:35

£6 would be an appropriate tip in the USA for a whole family.

I just refuse to let them, sometimes they get insistent and just say No clearly. The hardest is staying in one particular place because it's a company hotel, we are treated like vips but they don't port my bags!

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:36

Thank you to those with sensible answers and for educating. I shall make sure it doesn't happen again!

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 30/05/2023 14:37

MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:34

The thing is it's that the reception lady was talking for ages and didn't notice bags already loaded on and he's waiting! So I should say in future to off load them? The room was literally a 30 second walk.

I apologised and said I would find him later to tip when I had sorted the money out. I have already done this.

Perfect then! There's always something when you travel. And this one was easy to sort out!

Original poster
MucozadeOnLucozade · 30/05/2023 14:38

In USA I saw a porter grab a lady's suitcase and then it turned into a tug of war between the two of them!

OP posts:
Pip1402 · 30/05/2023 14:43

If I've managed to carry my bags all the way from the U.K. to another country then I don't need someone to take them the final 30 seconds and expect me to pay them when I haven't asked them to do it.

FinallyHere · 30/05/2023 16:53

We buy 100 US dollar bills at a time for just this occasion.

It's a sign of our privilege that we even consider carrying our own bags. Just think of the tops as part of the cost of staying in a hotel in their country.

US dollars, euro coins will all work fine and last you for ages.

mrsbyers · 30/05/2023 17:02

If you don’t have money for a tip then just keep your cases with you and say you will take them to room , simple really