How Should I Tip?——My Tips For Your Travel Tipping

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How Should I Tip?——My Tips For Your Travel Tipping

iWalk 13 April 2008 28 Comments

Tips is always a big problem to a person like me who don’t have any idea about it. Last time in Las Vegas, When I want a taxi at the gate of StratoSphere to MGM hotel, I suddenly found I forgot take any loose changes for bellboy, So I had to walk far away to find a taxi.

I always don’t know the correct number of tipping I should give too. When I gave the bellboy 5 Euro because he helped me found a room in the old city of Avignon during midseason, My travel mate was angry and thought that was too much.

Yes, Leave too little is not polite for the service you get. But too much, maybe you can’t offer, or just be treat as a sucker by locals. So I think it’s necessary to learn some tips about how to pay your tavel tipping.

Here is the materials I arrange from internet, And added some of my won experience.

Tipping in USA

Tipping is serious business in the States. Many service staff rely on tips to supplement their tiny base income(much less than the minimum federal wage). So, tip to who perform the good service generously.

You should leave a 10-15% tip in diners, restaurants and cafes, and if service is really good then raise to 20%. In bars, You can also give a dollar per drink to bartender. But if no service is provided by waiters or everything is self-serve, There is no need to tip.

You should tip a taxi driver an extra 1o% of your taxi fare, if the taxi driver help you load and upload bags, you should tip them 1$ or 2$ per bag.

When you reach your hotel, You tip 1$ or 2$ per bag for the bellboy or door man who help you handles the bags. and tips 1$ or 2$ per day for your housekeeper.

Because most gas stations are self service, there is no tipping required at the gas station. Unless somebody halp you handle the luggage.

Tipping in Australia and New Zealand

Tipping is not widely expected in Oceania aera, and may even cause offence to some. However, tipping in restaurants is becoming popular, and a 10% tip for good service is norm.

Taxi drivers and hairdressers do not expect a tip.

Tipping in France

Service is included by law in France, But it is customary to round out your bill with some small change bars and restaurants, unless you’re dissatisfied. The amount varies — from €0.15 for a beer to €1.50 – €2.30 after a meal. In expensive restaurants, it’s common to leave an additional 5-10% of the bill on the table.

Taxi drivers,porters and hairdressers will always appreciate a couple of Euros for efficient service. It’s about 10% of the bill. Give theater and cinema ushers €0.25 to €0.50. In some theaters and hotels, cloakroom attendants may expect €0.75. Washroom attendants usually get €0.30, though the sum is often posted. However, watch for signs that say ‘Pourboire Interdit’, which means that tipping is forbidden.

If you stay more than two or three days in a hotel, it is customary to leave something for the chambermaid — about €1.50 per day. Expect to pay about €1.50 (€0.75 in a moderately priced hotel) to the person who carries your bags or who hails you a taxi. In hotels providing room service, give €0.75 to the waiter (this does not apply if breakfast is routinely served in your room). If the chambermaid does some pressing or laundering for you, give her €0.75 – €1.50 on top of the bill. If the concierge has been very helpful, it is customary to leave a tip of €8 – €16, depending on the type of hotel and the level of service.

Service station attendants get nothing for pumping gas or checking oil but €0.75 or €1.50 for checking tires. Train and airport porters get a fixed sum (€0.90 – €1.50) per bag. Museum guides should get €1.50 – €3 after a guided tour. It is standard practice to tip bus drivers about €1.50 after an excursion.

Tipping in Germany

A service charge of 15% is included in the menu price in restaurants, bars, etc. all over Germany. (appearing on your bill as ‘bedienung’), it is the norm to tip up to an extra 3-5% of the bill, especially in upmarket restaurants.

One word of advice. Never say ‘danke’ unless you are really appreciative of your meal, because more often than not, this will be interpreted by the staff as a signal to keep the change.

In addition, hand your tips to the staff when paying the bill instead of placing it on the table as you leave. A customary practice in the UK to save awkwardness perhaps, but this will cause offence in Germany.

And here is a typical way pay the tipping: the waitress always comes to you and tells you your total. You then tell him/her how much you will pay, for example, the waitress might say “€6.40;” you hand him/her a €10 note and say “8 Euros.” She then will give you €2 in change, And she get 1.6 as tipping.

In taxis, add a Euro or two to the total to keep the cabbie smiling.

Tipping in Spain

Tipping is not common in Spain. Service charges are included in the food prices on the menu in Spain, and tipping is a matter of personal choice. You needn’t leave a tip just for a drink in Spain. Nor tip at the cheap restaurants.

But it’s different to a mid-price or expensive restaurant, Most people leave some small change if they’re satisfied and 5% is usually plenty.