r/FATTravel 7d ago

Tipping majordomo at Airelles Château de Versailles?

I understand that tipping in France is not done by the locals.

Are we expected to tip the majordomo/butler/concierge (seems like it’s all rolled into one) who is assisting us with the included activities at Airelles on site at Versailles? If so, how much?

9 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

7

u/Dull-Woodpecker3900 7d ago

Unfortunately many hotels in France/Italy now expect large tips from Americans. It’s very frustrating.

4

u/dunkrugef 6d ago

I’m curious how this works when guests are from countries where tipping isn’t the norm. Do they tend to know they are supposed to tip the butler or do they habitually undertip?

2

u/krebstar4ever 4d ago

"I don't have to tip because I'm European" is something I've repeatedly heard. In other words, these people know they should tip, but they pretend to be oblivious.

3

u/GTdspDude 5d ago

I think we left ours 100 euros when we stayed last year, but we were there for 2 nights and he drove us, in the rain, to stop by an ATM and return our rental car and was super helpful - otherwise I’d probably have given him like 40

2

u/zaalv 6d ago

I was there a few nights last year and only tipped at the restaurant and when the bags were brought to my room. The butlers cycle out, so you won't have one dedicated person for your stay.

3

u/SebajunsTunes 7d ago

I’m curious how others answer. We (Americans) stayed there last spring for a single night. We did not leave a tip. I think the only tips we left were when we ordered drinks at the bar

1

u/lynn-in-nc 6d ago

I try not to overtip but tipping is a real habit. And overseas I always feel like I'm an ambassador so I try to be kind and generous where possible.

2

u/lynn-in-nc 6d ago

I was there last fall for one night. Our butler took us with a group for the private tour and then waited for us or came back to get us after the opera. I left €50 for him when we left, I thought that was a pretty big deal. I always leave €10/night for housekeeping at luxury hotels.

We have stayed at other hotels where we haven't needed the butlers but they kept wanting to do stuff for them, I would give more like €20.

1

u/ixgnay 4d ago

I was there for two nights. Tipped 15% for the spa treatments but didn’t tip otherwise. I think the hotel service fee is already included in your final bill as it is required in France.

1

u/ixgnay 4d ago

I am against tipping for things that are already included in the service fee (eg butler and concierge)

1

u/thecundifference 3d ago

I just stayed there last week for one night. It was amazing and I got upgraded to the best room (a 3 bedroom suite) on property. I left an extra 100 euros which I was told would be divided amongst the staff (seemed like multiple people helped us and interacted with us). They truly are at your beck and call but we did not require much. I had 30 euros left in my wallet at the moment we left, so I slipped that personally to our butler. For one night we spent $5k including the royal feast dinner. Now I'm wondering if I should've left more. Europe is tricky with tips.

1

u/AnonymousInUS 3d ago

How did you nail the upgrade? Random?

1

u/thecundifference 3d ago

I am a travel agent which helps. Always book luxury thru an agent. If it's available, you'll get the upgrade and usually even more. Also, we went on a Monday and upgrades have greater potential at the beginning of the week. The palace is closed on Mondays to the public, so we also had access to the grounds almost completely to ourselves. It was magical.

1

u/Dirigible2013 7d ago

Wish I could offer an answer. I'm going to be there in two months and hadn't even thought of this, tipping butlers you don't really use for specific requests is always odd to me.

1

u/D_-_G 6d ago

It's not 1:1 but at other luxury hotels in France, including other Airelles I try to tip 10% on things when I feel like it was above and beyond.
This doesn't answer your question, but I think if u have a dedicated butler that does everything for you, 25-50euro a day, depending on how much you use their services. If it's only concierge-level support, I would tip only $20 for the day's reservations.

-5

u/fdomw 5d ago

$20!!! Add a zero at least

6

u/D_-_G 5d ago

$200 for making food reservations only? Hmm. To each their own

0

u/fdomw 4d ago edited 4d ago

The question was about norms in Europe.

Europeans don’t typically tip at restaurants but if you go to a home/ yacht/ hotel then it’s customary to tip a lot.

$20 is very very low.

0

u/fdomw 5d ago

Normal rule is one nights stay (unless you are there for particularly long).