Picture a hotel lobby at check in time. Guests line up at the front desk, and a few steps away someone stands behind a smaller desk with very little foot traffic. That desk is the concierge, and plenty of travelers walk right past it.
Some of that hesitation comes from an assumption that concierge help is a perk for penthouse guests, or something that quietly adds to the bill. Concierges and travel writers describe it differently. Here are six kinds of help worth asking about on your next stay.
Local Tips, Free Sights, and Honest Directions
Start with the simplest request. A concierge can point you to nearby happy hours, the best free sights and activities, and a fair price for a taxi.[1] That’s local knowledge you’d otherwise piece together from a dozen websites.
Phrasing matters here. Rather than asking for the best restaurant, ask where the concierge personally eats or spends a day off.[2] A specific question tends to get a more useful answer than a generic list of tourist favorites.
Restaurant Reservations at Hard to Book Tables
Booking a table is one of the most common concierge requests. They can help you plan your first day, dinner reservation included[1], and you can ask before you arrive. Restaurants often hold part of their inventory off public booking platforms for concierge requests, and trusted concierges may have direct lines to the host stand.[3]
Results vary, though. This tends to work best for current week dates and small tables, and less well for large weekend groups.[3] Guidance on tipping for a secured reservation is roughly ten to twenty dollars, paid after the service.[4]
Getting Around and Reaching the Airport
Ground transportation is another everyday job for the desk. Concierge services can book transportation for you and your travel companions.[5] It helps to say whether you want a private car service or a regular taxi.[5]
They’re also useful when you just want a sanity check. A concierge can explain how to get to the airport for less[1], which is handy in cities where the cheapest route isn’t obvious. Asking before you hail the first car can save a bit of money and frustration.
Tickets, Tours, and Local Guides
Need a show or an excursion? Ask. Truly sold out events tend to stay that way, but a concierge may have ideas or contacts that get you tickets.[1] If there’s really no way in, they’ll tell you so.[1]
Tours are a particular strength. One travel writer says concierge recommendations have led her to many good wine tour operators, though these guides often aren’t on TripAdvisor, so you can’t read past reviews.[6] Give some notice, too. If you need something beyond simple advice, the concierge needs time.[1]
Help With Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Surprises
Celebrating something? A concierge can elevate a birthday, anniversary, or graduation.[5] You can ask for flowers or balloons in the room to surprise someone.[5]
Larger touches are possible as well. Concierges can also organize a photographer for a special occasion.[7] The planning help costs nothing, but the flowers or photographer are separate matters, so ask about pricing before you agree.
Rescue Missions When Travel Goes Wrong
This may be the most underused service of all. Lost luggage, a cancelled flight, or a phone left in an Uber can be handed off to the concierge, saving you time and stress.[8] It’s a real relief to pass a problem to someone else when you’re tired.
The desk often has resources you don’t. Full service hotels often keep direct lines to airline reps, travel agents, and ground transportation companies.[2] Some concierges have rebooked flights, arranged airport hotel rooms, and coordinated baggage transfers in one call.[2]
What to Keep in Mind Before You Ask
Les Clefs d’Or describes the services of its concierges at the best luxury hotels as complimentary.[9] Only call a hotel’s concierge if you’re staying there.[6] Tipping guidance for concierges runs roughly five to twenty dollars, depending on the request.[10]
Don’t ask for help with illegal or dubiously legal activities.[1] Otherwise, the desk is there to help.
