Tips on Tipping When You Travel
Tipping is the bane of many a traveler’s existence. You want to reward good service and you don’t want to seem cheap, but you don’t want to throw money around indiscriminately. How do you reach that subtle balance? Consider the following guidelines, but remember: Tipping is about rewarding good service and ultimately, it’s up to you what to tip.
Taxi drivers
In most regions of the United States, 15 percent is considered a good tip. In New York City, increase that figure to 20 percent for good service. In London and most of Europe, 10 percent is the expected tip for good service.
Hotel tips
It sometimes seems that service personnel line up for tips as soon as you arrive at a hotel. For that reason, it’s always a good idea to have some small bills handy to tip the people that assist with your bags and show you to your room.
- Doorman – Tip $1 if he or she hails a taxi for you
- Bell personnel – Tip $1-$2 per bag in a moderate hotel, $5 per bag in a luxury hotel.
- Housekeeping – Tip the maid $1-$2.50 per day, depending on your housekeeping habits and the quality of the hotel. Hand the tip to the maid or leave it in the room.
- Concierge – Tip $5 for a standard restaurant or theater reservation. Increase this if the person has spent a lot of time on your request and/or performed the impossible.
- Parking valet – Tip $1-$5 based on the value of your car. (The theory, if there is one, is that a more expensive car requires more watching.)
Tipping on a cruise ship
A cruise vacation carries its own set of tipping rules. Traditionally, tips for the waiters, bus staff, and cabin staff are presented at the end of the cruise. While some lines still follow this policy, many (including Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines) add a service charge to your on-board account to cover tips. Gratuities for one-time services, such as for bartenders, spa attendants, and concierge staff, are awarded at the time of the service.
- Dining room waiters – $3.50/day
- Cabin stewards and stewardesses – $3.50/day
- Dining room bus staff – $2/day
- Other tips – If you use the services of the wine steward, the concierge, or other service staff, tip them at the time of service.
- Luggage porters – Tip $2 per bag to the porters at the ship’s dock.
Restaurant tips
North American restaurant personnel rely on tips for the majority of their income, but the amount you tip is entirely discretionary. In Europe and many other parts of the world, an automatic service charge is added to the check; you only tip for excellent service. The exception to this rule is in very fine European restaurants. There, tip 5-10% in addition to the service charge. In most restaurants, in North America and Europe, the wait staff shares its tips with the bus and support staff.
- Captain – In fine restaurants, tip 5 percent of the pre-tax bill or an upfront, discreetly passed $20 for a good table.
- Waiter – The American standard is 15 percent for most restaurants, 20 – 25 percent in a fine dining restaurant.
- Bartender – Tip 15 percent.
- Sommelier – If you use his or her services, tip 10 percent of the wine total, slightly less for expensive vintages.
Resorts and cruise Ships with “No Tipping” policies
“No Tipping” resorts and cruise companies are starting to appear around the world. The premise is that good service should be given to all guests without consideration of a tip. In such environments, service personnel are forbidden to solicit a tip, but most are allowed to accept them. Tip only when the service is over and above the norm.
First Tip: Save money here on your hotel booking and you will have more money left to tip!.
Categories: Travel Info
