Las Vegas Tipping
Vegas is known as "Sin City," which can be interpreted in many ways. We Las Vegans go above and beyond to try and make your Vegas experience amazing because it would be a "sin" if we didn't. Sin City is also known as a big "tipping" town, but what to tip, who to tip, and when to tip can be confusing, especially if you aren't from a "tourist town" like Vegas, so we would like to clear the confusion and give you the benefit of our knowledge and some professional advice on tipping etiquette. In this Ultimate Guide to Las Vegas Tipping, I walk you through all the people you will encounter on your trip, what they do, and their tip expectations.
Valet
There was a time when all Valet in Las Vegas was free, especially at the hotel casinos. Those days have come and gone. I remember talking to one of my friends who works at MGM Valet. He said his tips fell off a cliff once they started charging for parking, and sadly that makes sense. What used to be free now costs $20-$30, so common sense will tell you people will tip less. If you happen to be lucky enough to hold an MGM Platinum Card or a Caesar's Diamond Card, then Valet is free, but if you must pay for parking, at least a $5 bill is a good tip, maybe more if they keep your car in the front, so you don't have to wait in a long line to get it back.
On the other hand, if Valet costs $20, then 20% of that would be $4, so a $2 tip is on the lower end, and $5 is on the high end. Of course, the amount of the tip depends on the service. For example, if it takes 45 minutes to get your car from Valet, then maybe no tip is warranted, but since most casinos in Las Vegas pretty much have it down to a science, it's highly unlikely you will wait more than 10 minutes so that service deserves a tip.
The Bellman
We are surprised we have to bring this one up, but some people do not realize that when Bellman stores your luggage and brings it up to the front door or your room, it is common courtesy to tip. A standard tip is $1-$3 per bag, but a $5 bill will suffice these days. However, if it takes a long time, maybe less. Again, it depends on the service or the lack thereof.
The Front Desk
I always like to try the "Andrew Jackson Trick" in Las Vegas. Andrew Jackson is also known as a $20 bill. Front desk workers don't get tipped often, but they can check on the hotel's availability, upgrade you to a better room, and in some cases, provide you with a discount. But before dropping an "Andrew Jackson," ask them for help; find out if there are any available upgrades or discounts. You can determine the amount to give them depending on what they give you.
Concierge
If you're working with us, it's highly unlikely that you will need a Concierge; however, if you use their services and they offer sound advice or a good hookup, that would warrant a small gratuity. Usually, $3-$20 will do the trick based on their services.
Las Vegas Strip Club Rides
Strip Club rides are big for us because we work with a lot of the Las Vegas Strip Clubs. Most of the deals we offer include a couple of drinks, entry, some Bottle Service, and transportation. These drivers are working hard running all over Vegas hooking people up with rides, so at least a $5-$10 tip, depending on the service, is a fair amount.
The Exotic Dancers
The gorgeous Las Vegas Strippers make a living off their tips. Aside from a pay-to-play situation such as lap dances or a trip to the back room, these Vegas Girls are your entertainers for the evening. If they're putting on a good pole show, or they are friendly, then a $1 to $20 tip is decent. Strippers are not Las Vegas Escorts. If an escort is your cup of tea, we have a guide for that.
Your Casino Host and Dealers
The Casino Host is another big one. They can hook you up with hotel deals, meals, bottle service, and more. This is all based on the amount you gamble. The more you gamble, the better the services. The gratuity should be based on the size of the hookup. Some perks might include suites, free meals, or some comp table service, and if that's the case, then a tip of $100+ would be in order.
As far as the casino dealers go, we've always felt lucky when we tip the dealers. Everybody has their routines and systems for gambling. If you're winning, then being a little liberal with your winnings might keep a lot going. On the flip side, if you're losing, a small gratuity to the dealer might change your luck. This depends on the tables you're playing at and what the minimum requirement is to play. We like to use the $5 table minimum. For example, if you're playing for an hour, a $5 to $10 tip to the dealer would be appreciated. Some Casino Hosts are not allowed to take cash, but a gift card or a bottle of alcohol might work, and some might accept casino chips.
Your VIP Host
Since we are an Independent VIP Hosting Company, we might be slightly biased. Our job is to make sure your stay in Las Vegas is fantastic. If everything goes smoothly and you are impressed with our services, then we'd be lying if we didn't admit that we would appreciate any gratuity you are willing to offer us; however, it is not a requirement. We would never ask or expect one, but we would certainly appreciate one.
Your Cocktail Server
Most nightclubs and Las Vegas pool parties do auto gratuities for the cocktail servers. An auto-grat means no matter what you spend. You will be tipping the server their allotted amount of 15 to 20%, whether they do a good job or not. You can agree or disagree with this, but that's how it is. We like to see people work a little harder for their tips, but that's just us.
But if the club doesn't auto-grat, then at least 15% up to 20% is the norm. Remember, you are already paying a highly inflated price for bottles or beverages, so there is no need to overtip, but if the server is over-the-top and you enjoyed her company, and the busser was amazing, then by all means, feel free to overtip. We've done this on occasion when we found the service superior, and our Las Vegas drinking experience was enhanced.
Your Bartender
In most cities, where drinks are around $8 to $10, a $1 tip will usually be fine, but in Las Vegas, where drinks are $10 to $20, we recommend at least a $2 tip per beverage. If you're at a casino, then cash or a casino chip is perfect. If the service is exceptional, consider a little bit more, and vice versa if it takes forever to get service.
Your Waiter or Waitress
Many casino restaurants apply an auto gratuity, meaning the staff will get their tip no matter what. It's always good to ask or check your receipt to see if the gratuity is included, and if not, then a standard tip would be 15% to 20%. Again, if the service is exceptional, consider a higher percentage.
Your Restroom Attendant
It's crazy, we've been in Las Vegas for over a decade, and several club restroom attendants are still the same. These guys have made this their life's work. They keep the restrooms clean, load up the countertop with all kinds of free stuff, and ensure you always have a towel to dry your hands. We feel that a $2 to $5 tip per visit is fair and would be very much appreciated.
Your Housekeeping
A suggested tip for housekeeping would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 to $5 per night. It's a good idea to leave a cash tip every day because management may change out the workers. If you leave your room a dirty mess, you might want to consider more, but whatever you leave, I'm sure housekeeping will be pleased by the gesture.
Your Ride Share or Taxi Driver
There was a time when we didn't have rideshare or passenger apps in Las Vegas, and trust us; the taxi union fought it long and hard. Because they had a monopoly, they were gouging people. I remember a short ride from the airport to MGM, the closest hotel, was $15 – an absolute rip-off. It was even worse if you lived in Las Vegas, had a few drinks, and wanted to take a cab home. A reasonable number would be $20, but that ride with the taxi monopoly was more like $75. Then came Uber and Lyft, game changers for the better, at least for those using their services. The taxis had to lower their rates to become more competitive. So as far as tipping goes, the standard here is about 20%. In similar situations for Uber and Lyft, depending on the service, vehicle cleanliness, and driver attitude, a 10% to 20% tip should work.
Your Airport Shuttle Ride
If you save a little money by taking a shuttle to the airport, you'll likely be sharing the ride with a few other people. There might also be a bit of a wait if you have to stop at other hotels or wait for the shuttle to arrive. Most of the time, these shuttles are prepaid. Before handing out a tip, make sure they didn't already charge you in your original payment; otherwise, $2 to $5 is a fair amount.
Your Tour Guide
The professionals that put on the tours know their game. They work hard, often with multiple groups in one day and sometimes in extreme heat conditions, so if you find them entertaining and you enjoy the tour, plan on adding a 15% to 20% tip to the overall cost of the tour.
The Street Hustlers
We have to laugh at this one as we spent a full year of our life working the Las Vegas Strip. After seeing the same people repeatedly, you start to become friends with some of the entrepreneur hustlers. These hustlers are hustling every day, sometimes dressed up in costumes in 120-degree heat. They work hard to make your stroll down The Strip more entertaining. One could argue that these folks are homeless bums, but most do fairly well and treat the street hustle like a job. So, if you find them entertaining and want to get a picture with them, a good tip is anywhere from $2 to $5.
Your Airport Skycaps
If you don't know, the people who do the curbside check-in for the airport is a paid service. Usually, $5 a bag is the standard tip which is very little since you get to skip the long lines inside the airport. Their service is quick and hassle-free.
The Bottle Service Handshake
XS was the inventor of the Las Vegas Bottle Service "Handshake." They were the 1st club to have such high demand that you had to "shake" the hosts to get a table. The "shake" to the podium is for location, express entry, a specific table, etc., and can also help with a lower minimum spend.
When someone refers to the "shake," that means they tip on top of your table minimum and the tip, tax, and venue fee you will be paying. (The "shake" or "handshake" to the podium goes into the host's tip pool). In many instances, there is an opportunity to get lower-than-posted pricing or an upgraded location with a "handshake" in Las Vegas. Sometimes a podium tip is required for a particular table or even to get a location on certain nights. There are higher tiers when big DJs are in town if it's a holiday or a fight weekend. Ask us about the opportunity to handshake; we will know the deal!
Las Vegas Bachelor Packages
Before tying the knot, it is customary to celebrate the groom with a stag party or a bachelor party. Typically, these parties happen at night, but the good thing about Sin City, it's a 24-hour party town, and you can find a ton of fantastic daytime destinations. If you want to 'kick it up a notch,' check out one of the topless pools on this list. At Surreal Nightlife, we can help you create memories of a lifetime by bundling a nightclub or pool party with dunes buggies, Top golf, a strip club, bottle service, limos, and more.
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Las Vegas Bachelorette Packages
Calling all the hen parties and budget bachelorette parties, at Surreal Nightlife, we specialize in Las Vegas Bachelorette parties. We can help you create memories of a lifetime by bundling a nightclub or pool party with a Drag brunch, spa, shopping, pool package, a male strip club, a Las Vegas male revue, all-you-can-drink and eat dinners, bottle service, a custom hummer limo and more.
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Brian Pfeiffer's Final Word on Tipping in Vegas
I think we covered everyone you might encounter in the Las Vegas service industry. Nobody wants a reputation for being cheap, and if you add up all the tips combined, you aren't talking about that much money. Due to tourist inflation, everything in Las Vegas will be higher priced than in most cities, so be sure to include tip money in your budget. Believe all of them will appreciate you. Hopefully, you enjoyed this guide on tipping in Las Vegas. Thanks for staying until the end. If you'd like to learn more about me or get a quote for our Las Vegas services, please fill out a form.
If you want an alternative to the Las Vegas pool party, we also have other extreme packages like skydiving, machine gun shooting, and supercar racing. We are experts at creating fun! Call us today +702-550-2566 and let us help you plan your entire Vegas visit. Consider hiring Atmosphere models or Vegas girls to enhance your Vegas nightlife experience!
Some other options for entry to pools and clubs include the pool crawl, cheap bottle packages, the guestlist with a Las Vegas Promoter, club tickets, or a bar card all are good options for one or two events.
Contact Information / Questions & Quotes
Contact your Surreal Host for all your Vegas Nightclub needs. You can reach me directly at 773-459-8133, and please subscribe to my YouTube. And CLICK HERE to check out all my social media channels period.
If you have a question after reading through this guide, feel free to hit up the Surreal Forum. I am an active daily user and will be happy to answer any questions. From my experience, if you have a question, likely other people will have the same question. I do appreciate your support in the Forum.
But the fastest way to get a quote is to click on the button below and fill out the form. We will need the number of people in your party, guys and ladies, as well as the dates you will be in Las Vegas. I have several packages if you'd like to bundle some limos, dinners, or shows along with your bottle service. I will get back to you ASAP!
About Brian Pfeiffer »Hopefully, you enjoyed my Ultimate Guide Las Vegas Bottle Service. Thank you for reading until the end, and I look forward to working with you.
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