Ti tip, or not to tip. That’s the question for a lot of frequent travelers (Dave Dugdale / Flickr)
If only tipping were simple. You already know the etiquette for the common travel situations: restaurant servers, taxis, housekeeping. But sometimes it’s not so straightforward.
Here are six scenarios that can trip me up when I’m traveling:
1. I have no small bills. Sadly, I find myself in this situation more often than I’d like to admit, particularly with the valet or bellman. Recently I stashed a wad of singles and fives in a deep corner of my bag for just such emergencies.
2. I have no local currency. Often I don’t head to the ATM until getting settled into my hotel, which means I occasionally encounter an uncomfortable tipping moment in the meantime. Only recently did I learn that in many–if not most—countries, tipping in U.S. dollars is welcome and occasionally preferred.
3. The service has been paid for by someone else, and it’s unclear whether the gratuity has been covered. I encountered this not long ago when a black car from the hotel to the airport had been paid by a third party. The discomfort was compounded by the afore-mentioned problem of having no local currency. Even if I had learned the gratuity was not covered, I couldn’t offer a credit card to charge the tip when I wasn’t even sure how much it cost. Awkward.
4. Traveling internationally, I am unsure of local custom. I wish I could say I’ve always done my tipping research before arriving in a country. Asian countries tend to have a no-tipping culture. Europeans tend to tip less than Americans. It’s complicated! Here’s a comprehensive international tipping guide I’ve found helpful. Also, treat Las Vegas as a foreign country when it comes too tipping—a land where all sorts of free goodies are bestowed, but where tips should not be withheld. Read up on how to handle everything from casino culture to pool cabanas.
5. At a buffet or high-end cafeteria, the server has a limited role. Does the 15-20% still apply? Emily Post says 10% is appropriate, but I waiver between thinking this is too much and thinking it’s too little. And there’s a big difference between a luxe brunch buffet and a place just slightly nicer than Chipotle.
Related: Tipping is not a city in China
6. I received services from someone who could be considered a peer. On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I was provided a media guide. By the end of the day, he felt more like a colleague and friend than guide. Would a tip would be demeaning? I ended up thanking him with a letter of commendation to his client instead, but I wondered if I’d done the right thing.
Tipping in Vegas? YES. And generously. Pictured: The new High Roller ferris wheel. (Image: Chris McGinnis)
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I have found a few ways to tip with more confidence:
When in doubt, err on the generous side. Many workers depend on tips to make a living wage. According to PayScale.com, 25% of food servers’ income generally comes from tips. And there’s something to be said for karma. If you worry that you may be over-tipping because all you have is that big bill, hand it over anyway—make the guy’s day, and it will come back to you some day, somehow.
Do the research. Before a trip, check that you have small bills and do research about local customs when necessary. It just takes a few minutes and prevents hours of guilt and confusion.
Keep a tipping app on your phone or tablet. In your favorite app store you’ll find myriad options. Some are international guides that also provide advice (like GlobeTipping on iOS and Global Tipping Guide Pro on Android). Others are U.S.-focused and will calculate the tip and even split the bill. A few of these will calculate in local currency outside the U.S. (like Tip Calculator Pro+ on Android).
A tip says, “Thanks for making my trip better than it would otherwise have been.” Sure, situations will always arise when you’re unsure about protocol. But with the right tools and preparation, you’ll almost always be able to offer that appreciation befittingly.
What tricky tipping situations have you encountered, and how did you address them?
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Duncan says
April 21, 2015 at 3:15 pmA most pertinent posting. I find the act of tipping to be one of the least natural social exchanges going. Freakonomics did a great podcast (http://freakonomics.com/2014/08/07/should-tipping-be-banned-a-freakonomics-radio-rebroadcast/) on tipping, with certain interviewees thinking that it should be banned entirely.
If I can tip with my credit card then great, but I absolutely hate the act of handing someone coins or a bill in exchange for an act that is for the most part within their job description. Is a concierge not there to provide restaurant suggestions? Do I have to tip the doorman just for holding open the door? Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.
Frank says
April 12, 2015 at 7:55 pm“in many–if not most—countries, tipping in U.S. dollars is welcome”
Umm.. no.
In “some” perhaps. Definitely not “many”, and most certainly not “most”.
Hajime Sano says
April 12, 2015 at 10:26 amChris, Japan is one of those “no tip” countries.
Jane David says
April 11, 2015 at 2:18 pmI get annoyed by the room service tipping dilemma. At a recent stay, my bill contained an automatic 20% gratuity (in addition to the already-inflated food prices) as well as another blank gratuity line. I did not add another amount there and feel that 20% is already too high, considering the low level of service required for room service compared to a restaurant sit-down meal. A fellow traveller also ordered room service and asked the delivery person if the auto gratuity was the tip or a service charge. The server predictably said it wasn’t the tip, and so my friend felt obligated to add another 15% while being stared at by the server. In my opinion, room service meal prices should be the same as the restaurant, with a delivery fee clearly stated on the check, and then allow the guest to determine an appropriate tip for the tray-bearer.
Eric Tilenius says
April 10, 2015 at 6:28 pmIf I have no small bills, I will usually ask if the service provider has change of a $20 (my go-to bill as it’s what ATM’s spit out these days). If they do I can leave a tip; if not, I smile apologetically and say I’ll try to catch them later. It’s not ideal, but better than stiffing them.
Dan Leifker says
April 10, 2015 at 6:19 pmBuffets in the United States are easy. I’ve been going to Nevada for decades to visit relatives and we often eat in buffets. Each person at the table tosses in $1, or $2 if the server brings lots of drinks and has been especially attentive throughout the meal.
I go to Europe a lot and am totally baffled by the tipping etiquette at self-service breakfast restaurants in the hotel when the breakfast is included in the room rate. I usually leave one or two euros on the table, but recently I was told it was very rude in Europe to leave the tip on the table. I’ve heard conflicting advice for this situation.
Nancy Branka says
April 10, 2015 at 3:57 pmJeff – The other situations you describe are also confounding, indeed. Thanks for sharing them. Glad I’m not alone in my tipping angst!
Jeff says
April 10, 2015 at 8:46 amWow. I travel a lot for business. Though my company covers actual costs, I do not get reimbursed for tipping and I can relate to all the above scenarios (especially stuffing $1’s in my laptop bag!)
I struggle with being prepared. And then there’s things like the hotel – If I ask the concierge for a food recommendation and they’re clearly not understanding the type of food I want do I still tip? And is a 2-minute convo really worthy of a tip?
Some other tipping situations I struggle with:
– Any service I would avoid if I had to tip, the person performing it is virtually unaffected by my participation, and their wages are independent of tips (unlike a Restaurant server).
– Any service where I have to tip BEFORE the service (Like a Coffee barista who gets the same tip whether they spit in my drink and serve me a lukewarm coffee or make a magnificant cup)
– Any service I can’t opt out of – arriving at a hotel business meeting with a group and somebody else determined that all of our bags are to be left at the front desk. Is that a tipping situation?
– Or, somebody that makes a nuissance out of themselves trying to justify their “tip jar”. I struggle to tip someone for acting in a manner that I would rather pay them to stop.
Lastly, I struggle with the expectation of tipping. The reason being, I actually do like tipping. I like for someone to know they did a good job and made a difference in others’ day. The more tipping becomes an entitlement, the less “heart” there is in sharing. I feel like I’ve been robbed of the ability to truly let someone know they are appreciated because just doing “what’s expected” doesn’t really convey that message.
Just some musings. You can tell I spend a lot of time thinking about tipping too! 🙂