This is very true of the Clubs that I have membership.

You are obviously good at Mental Arithmetic! :D

I once had the embarrassing experience of sitting next to a colleague, after his meal, who pulled out a calculator to determine the EXACT tip to 6 decimal points. :(

Come on, folks, for most of us here it's 'pennies/cents'. For the low-paid USA staff it's a lifeline [and taxed on the IRS expectation of earnings]. That's the US system, and I'll happily go with the flow ... and from long experience I get a fantastic return in service/priority.

No it isn't.

Why? The wast majority of international travel does not have to include tipping.

A little google research confirms you are correct. It would have been helpful had you included a little more information. Paraphrasing Monty Python's "Argument Clinic" sketch, "Simple contradiction does not constitute a discussion."

On the contrary, the vast majority of international travel does involve tipping at some level. However, if you prefer, simply avoid the U.S. with its offensive tipping customs.

I agree, but in NYC it's become so normal to tip 20% minimum at every breakfast, lunch or dinner even when the service is mediocre at best.


Most scenarios have been covered, though 2 others would be :

Salon - The girl that cuts my hair in NY expects a 25% tip :eek:

Coat check - Often forgotten. It amazes me the amount of people in NY that spend $150 each on dinner or $1000 on table service in a club yet fail to hand the coat check girl/guy a couple of bucks per coat :rolleyes:

My first US domestic flight was a transcontinental redeye on AA. There were a lot of FA's just standing around, not serving anyone anything. I could not understand why they were there.

I can figure 15% and 20% in my head... so I aim for the middle of those two. :p

Tell me about it :rolleyes:. However, in the U.S., I feel I have become quite good at avoiding tipping situations (thus not earning normal or top end restaurants or their employees very much money).

Hi,

I generally tip;

15-20% in Restaurants, Bar meals ( more often towards the 20% and maybe more unless the service is poor) I dine alone most of the time and do not ususally have alcohol so the bill is usually reasonable and the difference between 15 & 20 % is minor to me

Bellboys -usually a couple of $ per case unless it is a long way ( ie at the tapatio cliffs or squaw peak in PHX they can drive you up to the room then it would be $5 or more

Doorman A buck or 2 if they call me a cab

Housekeeping- I give a couple of bucks a day ( amybe a bit more at the more expensive chain hotels as their job is not an easy one). I usually leave out a $ for turndown service ( more if it is a thorough turndown ie extra towels , chocolate, bins emptied). Usually it is not take from the desk but if I'm in the room when they come round then I will give it to them.
On my final night I will leave more money when I leave ( inc quarters oor dimes ) esp when leaving to go back to the UK and will leave a buck or two extra if there is more rubbish in the room ( ie when I have been at an outlet mall)

Buffets- A couple of bucks or so . In Las Vegas if the waitperson has been good ( ie regular refills and coffee)then an extra buck or two
I dislike the tip jars at the food courts/ Starbucks etc.

Regards

TBS

Their function is to call security to remove passengers who express their displeasure.

Hold on there; don’t speak for all of us Yanks! I enjoy leaving a good tip for a waitperson that provided exemplary service in a restaurant, or a bartender that took good care of me during a busy time. Gotta keep those $1 drafts flowing during Happy Hour. :D


I don't tip the cashier that rings up my take away.

That explains it then :D.

OK, smarty-pants, I'll give you that one ... even though you may be under-tipping by 0.5% :D