How Much Should You Tip at the Day Spa?

You’ve just had an amazing massage at your favorite day spa and are relaxing in the lounge. After browsing at the spa boutique, you get ready to check out…do you leave  tip for your services?

Generally speaking, spa clients should tip about the same as they would at a restaurant – about 15 to 20% – but there are some exceptions. Many spas in Orlando insist that there is no ‘set’ rule for tipping and that clients are not even expected to leave any type of tip.

Ultimately, you need to decide if your experience warrants a tip for the service provider. Did you feel like you were pampered? Was the service customized to your liking? Did the spa go out of its way to create a memorable experience? All of these factors will help you decide if and how much to tip.

For those that need a basis for tipping guidelines, here’s an *unofficial* guide to tipping at the day spa:

Massage therapist: 15 to 20% of the service fee, or $10 to $20 per hour of service

Esthetician: 15 to 20% of the service fee, or $10 to $15 per hour of service

Spa concierge: $5 (typically at resort hotels)

Manicurist or pedicure provider: 15 to 20% of the service fee, or $10 to $15 per service hour

Keep in mind that some day spas in Orlando — especially the spas at the major resorts and hotels — add a 20% gratuity to all of your services when you check out. These are sometimes noted on the bill as a surcharge or fee, and in these cases, you do not need to tip your therapist or skin care professional extra.

And what happens if you have a gift certificate? Most spas honor gift certificates as a ‘same as cash’ payment so you may need to pay out of pocket for the tip. If the gift certificate was purchased for a particular service, find out if the tip was already included.

Happy Spa-ing!