Happy Groundhog Day! I don’t think any groundhogs in Connecticut are seeing shadows today – we are in the midst of yet another snowstorm! Regardless of what the groundhog sees, there is only a month and half left of winter…I am counting the days.
In response to my recent posts on travel tips, several readers have asked questions regarding tipping. To answer those questions, I decided to pull a post from the archives to share with you on tipping…
The Tipping Point
(originally posted on 10/16/12)
Even
veteran travelers struggle with the age old issue of tipping. There are
countless tipping charts, calculators and apps that should be able to
answer a lot of tipping questions, but it still seems to be a conundrum
for many. When I travel with my husband, he handles all the tipping – he
enjoys rewarding good service and he likes to tip well. After our
recent trip, I decided to share some of his tipping advice.
veteran travelers struggle with the age old issue of tipping. There are
countless tipping charts, calculators and apps that should be able to
answer a lot of tipping questions, but it still seems to be a conundrum
for many. When I travel with my husband, he handles all the tipping – he
enjoys rewarding good service and he likes to tip well. After our
recent trip, I decided to share some of his tipping advice.
Prepare before you leave home
– Go to the bank and request ones, fives and tens. There is nothing
worse than only having large bills when it is necessary to tip a valet
or bellman. If you are budgeting for a vacation, include gratuities in
your budget and plan ahead how much you should tip various service
providers.
– Go to the bank and request ones, fives and tens. There is nothing
worse than only having large bills when it is necessary to tip a valet
or bellman. If you are budgeting for a vacation, include gratuities in
your budget and plan ahead how much you should tip various service
providers.
Research tipping guidelines for where you are traveling
– Some cultures frown upon tips (Japan and the South Pacific), others
are offended if you overtip (China) and many include gratuities on
dining bills (many European countries). Arm yourself with knowledge
about the cultural norms of the countries where you are traveling and
you will not risk offending anyone. For tipping guidelines around the
world check out CN Traveler’s Guide to Worldwide Tipping.
– Some cultures frown upon tips (Japan and the South Pacific), others
are offended if you overtip (China) and many include gratuities on
dining bills (many European countries). Arm yourself with knowledge
about the cultural norms of the countries where you are traveling and
you will not risk offending anyone. For tipping guidelines around the
world check out CN Traveler’s Guide to Worldwide Tipping.
Tip higher than the recommended guidelines to recognize exemplary service – A
few extra dollars probably doesn’t mean that much to your travel budget
but recognizing excellent service by tipping a little extra will be
remembered by the staff. This is particularly true if it is a place
where you are a regular (or hope to become one).
few extra dollars probably doesn’t mean that much to your travel budget
but recognizing excellent service by tipping a little extra will be
remembered by the staff. This is particularly true if it is a place
where you are a regular (or hope to become one).
Use the local currency
– Whenever possible, tip in the local currency so the person receiving
the tip doesn’t have the added concern of exchanging dollars into their
own currency.
– Whenever possible, tip in the local currency so the person receiving
the tip doesn’t have the added concern of exchanging dollars into their
own currency.
Don’t penalize waiters and other staff for things that are not their fault
– Many waiters and service staff rely on tips for a living. If
the restaurant or the hotel makes a mistake, don’t penalize the waiter,
bellman or other service staffperson.
– Many waiters and service staff rely on tips for a living. If
the restaurant or the hotel makes a mistake, don’t penalize the waiter,
bellman or other service staffperson.
Don’t forget housekeeping
– It’s hard work keeping a hotel room spic and span and it’s thoughtful
to recognize this in the form of a tip. Leave a tip for housekeeping
daily because it may be a different person cleaning your room each day. I
like to leave an envelope or a note marked “Housekeeping” by the
bathroom sink where I know they will see it before I head out for the
day.
– It’s hard work keeping a hotel room spic and span and it’s thoughtful
to recognize this in the form of a tip. Leave a tip for housekeeping
daily because it may be a different person cleaning your room each day. I
like to leave an envelope or a note marked “Housekeeping” by the
bathroom sink where I know they will see it before I head out for the
day.
Read the fine print
– Many all-inclusive resorts do not allow tipping at all. Many cruises
include a gratuity charge on your rate so you don’t have to worry about
tipping. Most hotels include gratuity on room service bills (but
remember gratiuty is not the same as service charge – the service charge
goes to the hotel not the person who delivers your food). In the US,
restaurants often add gratuity for larger parties, so be sure to check
to see if it is included. In Europe, particularly Italy and France,
gratuity is usually included in the bill, but if service is excellent,
it is nice to leave a little extra. Be sure to read your hotel rate
rules and check restaurant bills so you don’t double tip.
– Many all-inclusive resorts do not allow tipping at all. Many cruises
include a gratuity charge on your rate so you don’t have to worry about
tipping. Most hotels include gratuity on room service bills (but
remember gratiuty is not the same as service charge – the service charge
goes to the hotel not the person who delivers your food). In the US,
restaurants often add gratuity for larger parties, so be sure to check
to see if it is included. In Europe, particularly Italy and France,
gratuity is usually included in the bill, but if service is excellent,
it is nice to leave a little extra. Be sure to read your hotel rate
rules and check restaurant bills so you don’t double tip.
There
is something very rewarding about making someone’s day with a good tip
in response to their hard work and service – always be generous,
thoughtful, and, remember, a smile and thank you also go a long way.
is something very rewarding about making someone’s day with a good tip
in response to their hard work and service – always be generous,
thoughtful, and, remember, a smile and thank you also go a long way.
For fun, try this Travel Tipping Quiz, to see how your tipping skills measure up!
Great post, Sandy. The Mister always handles the tipping, also, but when I travel alone, I just kind of wing it. Are you getting a lot of snow? We are. Counting the minutes until Spring.
Great tips as usual, Sandy (oops – no pun intended, really!) Thanks for including that link to CN Traveler, that will come in handy.
Hope you have a wonderful week! XOXO
Excellent advise, I think this is going to be an incredible helpful post to many, one I will bookmark. Crazy weather once again, hope you are warm and staying inside the perfect day to do a whole lot of nothing!
This is truly helpful Sandy!!!! Thank you very much! I'm pinning this again, in case I forget. 😉
This is so helpful, thanks!!
Hello there Sandy! Now this is very good information to have; I have never known this etiquette, I am ashamed to say, but this is such good information to know. THANK YOU! And our ground hog didn't see his shadow either! Anita
this was such a great post!! I will bookmark this for future reference!
Tipping is one of those things that I want to do correctly but don't trust my own instincts as for as the amount to tip for different services. Thanks for this comprehensive list and for the added tips! I'm going to start packing some small envelopes for the housekeeping team's tips!
Sandy,
One is never too old to learn or earn a few tips. Our youngest is off to Vienna next week with her Select Chorus Group and we are giving her all kinds of tips to take with her. She can hardly wait! I am creating a little book for her for the flight with all kinds of tips and in hopes that she will use it as a guide and journal. Gratitude and tipping go a long way!
pve
Excellent post! So many people never tip at all and this is an excellent reminder of who and what to tip.
Hope you are staying warm and have dug out of the storm.
Excellent advice and always worth reviewing!!! Thanks, as always, for guiding us in the travel department.
Hope you are snuggled in by a fire. With all these school cancellations and delays, I am finding it hard to get things done!
xoxo Elizabeth