…And Now Some Tips On Tipping!

Susan Nicoletti also shared one more important travel tip – on tipping. “TIP can be thought of as standing for ‘To Insure Promptness.’ So when it’s appropriate, tip before the service begins and you’ll probably get much better service in restaurants and hotels. Especially abroad.”

The Emily Post Institute says that “Tipping is one of the most stressful and confusing aspects of etiquette today. It is a significant way to show appreciation for a job well done; however, treating the person who has served you with respect is every bit as important.”

Some of the key bits of tipping advice the Institute recommends are:

• Wait service at sit down restaurants: 15-20%, pre-tax
• Host or Maitre d’: No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table. $10-$20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion, if you are a regular patron
• Barte
  nder: $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the tab
• Valet: $2-$5. Tip when the car is returned to you.
• Skycap: $2 first bag, $1 per additional bag
• Doorman: A smile and a “thanks” when he opens the door, plus $1-$4 for carrying luggage; $1-$2 for hailing cab (add an extra $1 if it’s raining); $1-$4 beyond the call of duty.
• Bellhop: $2 first bag; $1 per additional bag; $2-3 for each additional service, such as room delivery.
• Housekeeper: $2-$5 per day, left daily with a note marked “Housekeeping – Thank you”
• Concierge: No obligation for answering questions. $5-10 for tickets or restaurant reservations; $15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations (or 10-20% of the ticket price)
• Taxi Driver: 15-20% of the fare, but minimally $1; $2 for the first bag carried, $1 per additional bag.

N’dea Yancy-Bragg writing in USA Today offers this advice for tipping in foreign countries. “This requires a little bit of research on your part, depending on the country you’re visiting. In Australia and many European countries, the minimum wage for servers is higher than in America, so tipping is not expected. In some countries like Japan, tipping can even be considered rude. At popular tourist destinations, tipping is not uncommon. Tourists often leave at least a few coins as a small tip. On cruise ships, gratuity is often automatically included.”