not exactly true in Cambodia the US dollar is used a lot. In S America you will find some people us either US or the local currency - I saw that in a cafe in Bolivia for example.
Yeah, I am Italian and I can tell you that the "10% plus service charge" is a bunch of B.S.: service is always included in the price and locals hardly ever leave a tip; maybe (5% of them) a few coins if the service was outstanding, and only in expensive restaurants. Incidentally, in Italy waiters are paid a living wage and many work in that profession until the retire from it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by deniah
so i simply ask my locals on the custom, and do as the locals do.
Doing so is a great sign of respect for the culture; doing otherwise is arrogant (see here)
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In general, what about hotel maids? Is it worth adding as another category to this guide?
I used to just do $1 a day in the US, but then I run out of singles and forget. Plus the room rate has a ton of taxes and surcharges, so I thought it might be going to them. And when I travel internationally, I try to use exclusively just my credit card, so usually I have no cash to tip at the hotel.
How does a japanese tourist do in New York? Let's say its his first time in the US.
Do "bagboys" in hotels expect tips? Never gave anyone a tip for that, stayed at hotels like Marriot Zürich, Langham Place HKG, Pullman Bangkok etc, "upscale" hotels.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kr3m
I've got two questions about tipping;
How does a japanese tourist do in New York? Let's say its his first time in the US.
Do "bagboys" in hotels expect tips? Never gave anyone a tip for that, stayed at hotels like Marriot Zürich, Langham Place HKG, Pullman Bangkok etc, "upscale" hotels.
Google "bellhop tips" or "bellman tips" for some guides on this. Admittedly I can never remember the actual numbers (I don't stay in nice hotels enough to burn it in my memory), so I usually just Google it from my phone as we're riding the elevator up, but IIRC, it's $2 per bag, perhaps a bit more if they actually lift your bag up onto the dresser or suitcase stand and/or point out some of the features of the room (light switches, the TV/remote, a/c controller, Ethernet cable for Internet access, etc.).
I live in Canada and I don't tip 15% unless the service is good.
Good service = 10%. Bad service = 0% . I once left no tip on a $115 bill because the service was so amateurish. A tip is something that has to be earned.. The waiter/waitress can't just screw around and expect to get any tip. In Japan, the service is 1000000 times much better than any restaurants in Canada, and they dont even do it for a tip - because it is not customary to tip there. I love Japan. They have great service there and you know they are not BS ing you for a tip.
I live in Canada and I don't tip 15% unless the service is good.
Good service = 10%. Bad service = 0% . I once left no tip on a $115 bill because the service was so amateurish. A tip is something that has to be earned.. The waiter/waitress can't just screw around and expect to get any tip. In Japan, the service is 1000000 times much better than any restaurants in Canada, and they dont even do it for a tip - because it is not customary to tip there. I love Japan. They have great service there and you know they are not BS ing you for a tip.
And on Canada Day of all days!
As discussed extensively up-thread, in British Columbia at least tipping customs are similar enough to those in the US that visiting Americans can tip as they would at home and feel comfortable. With a foot on each side of the border, I'll repeat that I personally would feel uncomfortable with tipping 10% for good service, although my late Canadian father generally did so in "family-style" restaurants.
Whether it's 10-15% or 15-20%, I continue to suggest 15% pre-tax as a reasonable average for satisfactory / good restaurant service.
As discussed extensively up-thread, in British Columbia at least tipping customs are similar enough to those in the US that visiting Americans can tip as they would at home and feel comfortable. With a foot on each side of the border, I'll repeat that I personally would feel uncomfortable with tipping 10% for good service, although my late Canadian father generally did so in "family-style" restaurants.
Whether it's 10-15% or 15-20%, I continue to suggest 15% pre-tax as a reasonable average for satisfactory / good restaurant service.
Cheers,
Fredd
The worst kind of restaurants, and I never return to them are the ones that add 15% to your bill. That is a highway robbery. (if that wasnt bad enough, we didnt even know and we tip them another 10% or so)
