Why?

QL

Agree 100% with your sentiments, though my strategy is a little different because I don't get $750 restaurant bills. My general guidelines are as follows (assuming good service):

Total Bill Tip
>$10 $2-3
$10-40 20-25%
$50- 15%
$1 per drink at bars
$5 for hotel maids

Those who don't tip the little people need to read "Nickel & Dimed" to gain a small appreciation for their work. As for the waiters in expensive restaurants, I fail to see why they deserve to be compensated at higher levels than denny's employees who do a hell of a lot more back-breaking work and often a lot better.

Any chance you drive a van for a living?

ABQ Jon, thanks for the tip - good site.

I request the assistance of our american friends.

I am from Australia where we almost never tip (except a top restaurant where 10% is the max).

I do not travel much to the US, but am off there next week and have a few tipping questions. How much should I tip the following for average service. I will be staying in 4 star hotels (ie, Hilton, Sheraton etc.). My tip estimate is in brackets.

1. A scotch in an upscale NYC bar (USD2/drink)

2. The porter who delivers my bag to my room (USD1/bag)

3. The "guy" who shows me how to turn the TV on in my room (mmm.... USD3)

4. The door-guy who grabs me a taxi (nothing)

5. The maid who cleans my room (nothing)

6. The guy who drives me from the airport to the airport sheraton in Atlanta and SFO (USD3 if he takes my bag to the door - otherwise nothing)

7. Room service (10%)

8. Taxi (15%, or USD2 whichever is more)

From the above thread, I think 15% will be fine for restaurants.

If it is relevant I am 25 (but prob look about 20) and am travelling with another guy who is 30 (but prob looks 25).

Thanking you in advance
MD


[This message has been edited by MilesDependent (edited 05-31-2003).]

Room service almost always automatically adds a 15/20% gratuity so I give nothing extra.

I'd say that the "guy" who shows you your TV is prolly the porter who carries your bag so that's included in the tip for the bag carrying.



------------------
http://www.benjaminwagner.com
Great music!

You'll be fine.

QL

I tip this guy $2-3 if I actually need his help getting a cab. Example: hotel on side street, I have luggage, doorman attracts cab off of main street to turn and pick me up. I find this situation in San Francisco more often than Chicago or New York.

If is a line of cabs waiting or empty ones passing by every 5 seconds, then I don't tip.

Scandinavia encompasses three countries. I can tell you about Denmark and Sweden. In Denmark tipping is virtually non-existent. In Sweden you typically round up or give a small tip at restaurants or cabs. From my experience working bar one summer in Denmark, Norwegians actually offered small tips or rounded up -- partly because they thought it was so cheap relative to Norway! I have no idea about conventions in Norway.

If you pay by cc in Denmark then the amount presented on the bill will be the amount that you sign for. In Sweden you will have the opportunity to add a tip.

Finland is not part of Scandinavia, so no commment here. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Percentages do matter, because many restaurant owners take a flat percentage of the server's tips. At my favorite restaurant, the owner deducts 7.5% of each server's gross sales from their hourly wages.




------------------
Brian

I seriously recommend that you tip your maid $2-$3 dollars per day; $5 if you are unusually messy (like I am in hotel rooms).

It costs hardly anything, and maids are some of the most hardworking, underpaid people in the travel industry.

I'm pretty sure that's the Government deducting withholding taxes, not the employer pocketing the money. If too much is withheld your waiter can get it back. I would imagine the percentage could be decreased upon request.

QL

If I spend 250 nights a year in a hotel room, $5/night would cost $1250. I'd rather send the money to AIDS research.

QL

That would probably be the employees half of the Social Security tax, and as such, not adjustable. Any income tax withholding would be above and beyond.

Unfortunatly true. BUt not always. It depends on the setting and the business. Where I work, in the dining room and bar no percentage is deducted besides the 30% or so we tip out our helpers. In banquets (meetings, weddings, etc.) the hotel charges 20% and WE get 11-13%. 1% goes to our housemen (who are paid much more than us per hour.... most houseman in most places get no percentage so this is a sign of employees well-taken care of, I think). The captains get an extra percentage (1 or 2%?... it's not public info) and the house gets the balance. But we don't tip out anyone.

Unfortunately for my co-workers, the banquet tip(gratuity it is called when it is included, like this) is included on paycheck. Hahaha. So they have to pay taxes on it. They are supposed to pay taxes. Duh. But with cash tips many wouldn't declare them.