Location: Yellowknife, NWT, Canada; UA Premier; AS MVP; Hilton Silver
Posts: 1,302
More Canadian Feedback
I just returned from 10 days in the Maritimes and continued my approach of tipping 10% in restaurants.
In Prince Edward Island, there were a number of Americans in a restaurant and I overhead one of them discuss the matter with the owner/manager. The customer wanted to find out if there was a particular percentage that was customary or expected, and the owner replied that unlike in the U.S., Canadians have no set percentage....some give more and others less...and they're generally OK with that. "Give whatever you like" was the advice.
On the VIA train from Halifax to Montreal, I was seated across from a French-speaking Canadian in the dining car. The cost of the meal was $C20, so I was interested in what he would tip. $C2? No, the amount entered on the credit card slip was $C5, or 25%. I left a tip of 10%. On another occasion, where I had a chance to see someone else's credit card slip, I also noticed a tip in excess of 10%.
In Montreal, I was in a hurry to get from the VIA Station to the Airport, and was quoted a taxi fare of $C38. I gave the driver the two twenties I had remaining in Canadian currency. That's about 5%.
Someone posted that "Americanized Canadians" give bigger tips. When I travel in Canada, I do not want to engage in cultural imperialism, so I would tend to do what locals do, rather than what is common at home.
I would say that Canadian tipping probably varies a lot, and because a lot of service staff is better paid than in the US, plus national health care, that the actual percentage of the tipping is less important than in the U.S. and one had more freedom to leave more or less. Americans should probably refrain from imposing a world view of "it's our way or the highway", even when the imposition is seen as a "good thing" rather than a bad thing.
In Canada, where I grew up, the current local practise seems to be to tip the amount of the GST tax on the bill, as a rule of thumb.
In Germany, at least in Berlin, where I live, 10% or round up the bill, whichever is higher, in restaurants.
In Thailand, where I live part of the time, do not give out 100 baht tips! That's half a day's pay for the average labourer. 20 baht is a standard tip. For taxi drivers, just a few baht to round up the bill to the next 10, and that's only if the ....... has put on the meter without being asked.
In Thailand, where I live part of the time, do not give out 100 baht tips! That's half a day's pay for the average labourer. 20 baht is a standard tip. For taxi drivers, just a few baht to round up the bill to the next 10, and that's only if the ....... has put on the meter without being asked.
The 1,5 and 10 baht coins are the trap for the unwary in Thailand, because they can be easily returned as change and "we" leave them on the tray without checking. At the coffee shop in the Intercontinental, seven of us were having an impromptu breakfast/brunch over a long period with a local supplier and had seperate bills but from one waiter. The local told me later he was astounded that we all left the change on our trays, and the odd note, explaining that the waiter picked up a week's wage from our little effort. It doesn't hurt our pockets so we don't feel it, regards bkkrop
In Canada, where I grew up, the current local practise seems to be to tip the amount of the GST tax on the bill, as a rule of thumb.
Probably better IMHO to leave no tip than a 6% tip, the current GST tax rate in Canada. Now if you're talking about a tip that equals the combined GST and PST (Provincial Sales Tax), or the "blended" tax in those provinces that calculate it that way, you have a respectable to generous tip. That wouldn't apply in Alberta of course, which has no PST.
Canada is the second largest country in the world geographically, so I'm wary of generalizing, but at least in British Columbia and Alberta 10-20% tips are as appropriate as they are in the U.S. Maybe in the West there are just more "Americanized Canadians," as an earlier poster suggested.
In my experience it's perfectly acceptable to calculate the tip % on the pre-tax total. If you're not into the math, tipping 10%-of-the-total-bill would be adequate in B.C. and Alberta. I personally tip more for good service - as recently as yesterday -and nobody's acted insulted yet. YMMV
1. Not solicit prostitutes, gamble, smoke, or purchase pornographic materials.
2. Not exchange foreign currencies, give advice on exchange rates, recommend money-changers, nor ask overseas tourists for foreign currency.
3. Not try to sell souvenirs to tourists, nor steal tourists' possessions.
(souvenirs are little things to remember a place; maybe the word you want there is travel accessories, which are things like bags, money belts, sun lotion, and water bottles)
4. Not force a tourist to accept gifts or eat foods against the tourist's wishes.
5. Not ask for tips, directly or indirectly, nor refuse service if tips are not given.
6. Not make arrangements with local merchants to take cash or a profit share in exchange for recommending their shops to tourists.
7. Act with honesty and integrity in all dealings with tourists and agencies, and practice moderation in eating and drinking.
* 1 year ago
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I'm an ESL teacher. I made a few changes to make everything a little simpler and clearer. Hope you like it.
Just to confirm that generous tipping lowers the guaranteed wages of the service provider, the Wall Street Journal reports that in the U.S., where tipping is out-of-hand, Wolfgang Puck advocates that "the industry should lobby to establish a federal law that allows restaurants nationwide to exempt waiters who earn tips from the minimum wage".
Just want to point out a nice trcik I use. I usually tip a waiter before the meal starts. This way I find the service ends up being much better, quicker, ect. Although it is hard to know how much I will spend I can make a rough estimate and that is enough.
I do not believe you tip in Australia. There is sometimes a tip jar in the cafe
You can add Cambodia to the tip list maybe 10%
Myanmar also tip.
Maybe I liked Tokyo becuase you did not tip.
