Tipping in America

Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants
- Taxis
- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)
- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

In Australia tipping is uncommon in everyday life, as people in the
service industries can rely on their wages for a reliable income that
they can live on. The only times most people tip here is when eating
at very flash restaurants, getting excellent service at normal
restaurants, or leaving the change for the taxi. At least that's my
experience. So I'm not used to tipping regularly.

I'd like to do as the locals do regarding tipping while travelling in
the USA, so any suggestions from Americans would be welcome. I'd like
to ensure that those in the service industries I deal with are being
paid adequately for their services (not to mention avoiding ****ing
someone off!).

Any help would be appreciated. PLEASE don't turn this into a big
argument!

Cheers
Dave

Davo wrote:

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants
15 to 20 percent, usually rounding up to the nearest whole dollar

- Taxis
about 15 percent, rounding to the nearest whole dollar. I am stingier
if the driver has driven poorly, smoked, or used the horn in traffic.
By the way, the driver will be very surprised if you don't get in the
back seat.

- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)
$1 per bag carried. Bellmen in fancy hotels can be quite aggressive in
trying to carry bags that you're perfectly capable of carrying or
rolling yourself. Be firm.

I don't leave tips for hotel maids, as I leave no big messes to cause
them extra work.

- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

$1 per bag if you're using the outside checkin. Airline employees are
not tipped.

From: (Davo)

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants

10-20%

- Taxis

10%, higher if the cabbie is very helpful and friendly

- Hotels (for cleaning rooms

Most people leave nothing so don't worry if you do the same, but $1-3 per night
is welcomed by the housekeeping staff

carrying bags etc

$1 per bag is standard for a bellhop.

- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

If you ask a skycap to carry your bags then $1 per bag is expected.

In Australia tipping is uncommon in everyday life, as people in the
service industries can rely on their wages for a reliable income that
they can live on. The only times most people tip here is when eating
at very flash restaurants, getting excellent service at normal
restaurants, or leaving the change for the taxi.

We've made a couple of trips to Oz, mainly for live-aboard black marlin fishing
off Cairns where we charter a boat for a week and chase giant fish (largest I
caught and released was estimated over 1,200 lbs) and dive on the reef each
morning. They expected a tip from Americans (and got it) but not from East
Asians Go figure.

I'd like to do as the locals do regarding tipping while travelling in
the USA, so any suggestions from Americans would be welcome.

Thanks for asking, I'm sure the service workers you come in contact with will
appreciate it.

Bill

On 10/04/2003 10:41 AM Davo while directing tourists to the Zazu Pits,
was inclined to say:

Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian traveling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants
- Taxis
- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)
- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

In Australia tipping is uncommon in everyday life, as people in the
service industries can rely on their wages for a reliable income that
they can live on. The only times most people tip here is when eating
at very flash restaurants, getting excellent service at normal
restaurants, or leaving the change for the taxi. At least that's my
experience. So I'm not used to tipping regularly.

I'd like to do as the locals do regarding tipping while traveling in
the USA, so any suggestions from Americans would be welcome. I'd like
to ensure that those in the service industries I deal with are being
paid adequately for their services (not to mention avoiding ****ing
someone off!).

Any help would be appreciated. PLEASE don't turn this into a big
argument!

Cheers
Dave


In addition to the items already covered: If you go to a salon, or
Unisex barber for a Wash, Cut and Blow ( shampoo, style haircut, and
blow dry), $1.00 is customary to the person who washes your hair.
Depending on the charge for the cut and blow-dry $2 to $3 for an
inexpensive WCB ($12.00 approx) and 5% to 10% for more costly treatments.

In some high end restaurants that have attendants in the restroom $1.00
is customary. Coatchecks also get $1.00 per hat and coat checked.

For Airport Limo, or Taxi tip $1.00 for each bag handled. Many airports
have now set up a system of designated Taxi stands. You tell the
dispatcher your destination and they hand you something like a contract
with the exact cost of the fare. This is to prevent cabbies from price
gouging the unsuspecting traveler.

If you rent a car, it is not necessary to tip the auto rental agency
personnel.

--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

"Davo" wrote in message
om...
Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

Speaking strictly for myself.....

- Meals in restaurants
10% to 20% of the total bill (regardless of tax)
No tip for BAD service. BAD service usually rates
a complaint to the Manager as well. Up to 20% for
really GOOD service. And glad to do it.

- Taxis
$2.00 per bag, generally.

- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)
No tip for housekeeping staff.
$1.00 to $2.00 per bag for shuttle driver, but only
if they lift the bags in and out of the shuttle.
$2.00 for valet parking. More if I ask them to park
my car away from other cars for safety sake.

- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)
Curb-side check in...$2.00 per bag to SkyCaps.


In Australia tipping is uncommon in everyday life, as people in the
service industries can rely on their wages for a reliable income that
they can live on. The only times most people tip here is when eating
at very flash restaurants, getting excellent service at normal
restaurants, or leaving the change for the taxi. At least that's my
experience. So I'm not used to tipping regularly.

I'd like to do as the locals do regarding tipping while travelling in
the USA, so any suggestions from Americans would be welcome. I'd like
to ensure that those in the service industries I deal with are being
paid adequately for their services (not to mention avoiding ****ing
someone off!).

Any help would be appreciated. PLEASE don't turn this into a big
argument!

Cheers
Dave

Hotels (for cleaning rooms

That's one area in which you may hear conflicting advice.
My general impression is that in large cities and tourist
resorts it's fairly common to leave tips for hotel housekeepers,
but in smaller towns it's much less common.

For example, a friend of mine is a housekeeper in a very
nice hotel in a mid-sized city, and she says that while tips
are appreciated, they aren't expected and only a small minority
of guests leave them. But I think you'd find it more common
in bigger cities and at tourist resorts.

James


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On 4 Oct 2003 07:41:50 -0700, (Davo) wrote:

know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

I'm Canadian but here is my 1.43 cents

- Meals in restaurants
15% or so on the pretax amount - be careful to note if a service
charge has already been added then no additional is required.

- Taxis
About 15% or round up to the closest whole amount - I would generously
give $10 for a $8 ride.

- Hotels (fcarrying bags etc)

Does anyone cary bags anymore? I would never give some over-uniformed
doorman a cent who shoulders his way past me to lift a suitcase out of
my taxi. Now, if I asked him, and needed the help, that would be
another story. Sorry, general

-Hotels (for cleaning rooms,
Most people don't do this but some do. I started to after my daughter
worked this summer in a local hotel and I heard how hard their job
really is.

I just returned from Washington DC where we left $2 each night for the
hotel maid. She left us a thank you note that said "God bless you"
signed with her name. No waiter ever did that even we leave them many
more times the amount. Nice to see she really appreciated it.








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(Davo) wrote in message

Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants

In a table service restaurant, where the waitress takes the order and
later brings the food to you, 10 -20% of the bill. Don't tip for
counter service (McDonald's, etc), or, IMHO, cafeteria service, even
if your main dish is brought by a server. If you are in a group of 6
or more, many restaurants will automatically add a tip in the bill, in
which case, I don't tip any extra.

- Taxis

In big cities, maybe $2-3, in NY even more, for a trip around town.
More for an airport run. Remember that many airports are quite a
distance from town and tightly regulate taxis, so the driver may have
to go the end of a long line before he gets another fare in the
opposite direction. In smaller towns, its OK to just say keep the
change if that works out to be appropriate. Also tip the dispatcher
(at an airport) or doorman (at a hotel) who gets you a cab a $ or 2.

- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)

Some people will leave money behind on the last day of a multi-day
stay for cleaning room staff. I don't, unless I need special
services, like I have had an accident and made a mess or something.
The maid will often be different from day to day anyway. Certainly
don't tip if its just a one day stay or in a motel.

$ per bag, but no more than $5 total is appropriate for bell service,
going and coming. If the hotel operates on the system where a doorman
meets your cab and unloads your bags and gives you a claim check and
you then check in at the counter and check in and then a bellman shows
up with your bags, tip both the doorman and the bellman. Don't tip
the counter people. If you check in before your room is ready, or
check out before you are leaving for the airport, and thus leave your
bags with the doorman and walk around the town a bit, tip for that
service.

I don't tip more than $1 for anything at the Disney-owned hotels
inside the parks in Florida or California, or the casinos in Las Vegas
or Atlantic City, where the employees make very good money
(unionized). It is, however, customary to make a small tip to a
dealer in a casino if you have gained money. One of whatever the
minimum bet for that table is standard.

- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

In an airport, coming, some airports will have "red caps" who will
carry your luggage from the baggage pick-up to the taxi stand. These
people generally work on tips alone, so $5 is appropriate. I never
use them. Mostly for the elderly. Likewise tip if you use the
service that shuttles elderly or handicapped people between planes via
wheelchairs or "golf carts".

In the airport, going, some airports have airline employees who will
check your bags at the curb and give you a boarding pass (thus
allowing you to skip the generally long line for the same service
inside). While these guys are unionized and make good money, I tip
anyway, since they can "lose" your bag easily. This service is
generally only available for domestic flights anyway. Never tip the
counter people inside, or any other counter service in an airport,
such as a rental car agent.

If an airport operates on a system where a bus takes you to a rental
car, tip the bus driver, particularly if he loads your bags onto the
bus.

If you take a tour bus (one designed for tourists only, which
generally make a circle tour of a place with the driver or an
assistant point out landmarks, etc) tip both the driver and any
assistant. Don't tip a general city or cross-country bus driver.

If you use the concierge to make reservations, tickets, etc, tip him.
I use a sliding scale. If the tickets are hard to get or I asked for
a sugestion of an event or restaurant, I tip $5. If its just making a
phone call, less than that.

If you go to a restaurant which has valet parking, where you pull up
to the door and an attendant parks your car and then brings it back at
the end, tip a few $$ in both directions (don't just wait to tip at
the end, it might be 2 different people in each transaction.) Same
with a hotel with valet parking.

If you play golf, tip a caddy. This is very varriable from place to
place.

These are just MHO. If other disagree, just post your ideas w/o
flames.

In article et,
says...

"Davo" wrote in message
om...
Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

Speaking strictly for myself.....

- Meals in restaurants
10% to 20% of the total bill (regardless of tax)
No tip for BAD service. BAD service usually rates
a complaint to the Manager as well. Up to 20% for
really GOOD service. And glad to do it.
[snip}

I find that a single coin (e.g., $0.05) is more effective in
communicating to the staff that service was bad. That way they don't
just assume that you forgot to tip.

Somewhat related to restaurants: if you have food delivered, it's
customary to tip 10-20%. If you order frequently and tip well, the
delivery personnel will remember you, and you will receive exceptional
service. The opposite is true as well.

===
Steve
Shoreline, Washington USA

4 Oct 2003, 1115 PDT

(Davo) wrote in message . com...
Ok, so this topic's been done to death. I've read the past threads on
this topic and it seems to have turned to flame wars before any useful
suggestions arise. So please, if you wish to reply to this or any
subsequent posts, please stick to the topic. Thanks!

I'm an Australian travelling to the USA next month, and would like to
know specifically what Americans tip for the following:

- Meals in restaurants
- Taxis
- Hotels (for cleaning rooms, carrying bags etc)
- Any other situations relevant to travel (eg. checking luggage at
airports etc)

[section on general lack of tipping in Oz deleted, as it serves little
purpose other than fodder for flame wars ;-)]
A nice general guide is posted at
www.passporter.com/articles/tipping.htm, so I'll just add a few
comments on that site.
1) Tips for taxis are de rigeur in large cities and major tourist
areas. In less-visited/rural areas, tipping is less common, so it can
actually lead to a marked improvement in service.
2) I tip $0-$1 for shuttles and haven't gotten **** for it (yet).
3) The jury is still out on tipping housekeeping, although it seems to
be expected in large cities and major tourist areas. Definitely tip if
you're a total slob.
4) In most full-service restaurants, 15% is fine. Save the 20% tip for
truly exceptional service OR a really cheap meal (e.g., coffee and a
muffin at a diner). No tips needed for fast food places. Watch for
*very* fine print at the bottom of the menu about obligatory service
charges--generally added for groups, and sometimes added at
restaurants where the servers have been stiffed one too many times by
customers. At high-class restaurants, you are expected to check your
coats and tip $1 on return of each garment.
5) Ignore tip jars.

Nancy