Tipping in the US
Tipping in any country can be both difficult and confusing.
One of the more commonly known countries for tipping is the United States.
Being Australian tipping is a foreign concept to many of us, and we simpy forget to do, choose not to do it or do it wrong. Hopefully this blog will help you out with why tipping is important, when tipping is appropriate and how much to tip in which situation.
The Hospitality and service industry in the US is one of the lowest in the world with some staff earning as little as $2 per hour and others only form of income is tips! Most people rely heavily on tips for survival so remember this next time you're thinking of not leaving a tip, provided you get good service.
It is important to remember that we are travelling to a different country and is is respectful to employ other countries customs and way of life.
As i said tipping is most common in the tourism, hospitality and service industry.
Bell Boys that carry your luggage to and from your room are usually $1 per bag.
Housekeepers that make up your room each day pop $2 on the nightstand.
Tours - this is a hard one depends on the length of the tour and how interactive the guide is with you. Most of these large tour companies have a sign up which guides you of how much to tip.
Taxi drivers are tipped usually 10% of the fare.
Restaurants are the most common places for tipping. You will get a total bill at the end of your meal and most people will choose to tip between 15 & 20 %. If you are paying with a card you can also add in your tip amount or percentage to the total cost.
Be sure when travelling in the US to keep plenty of $1 bills handy as they will come in handy for tipping.
I know its not something we like to do but remember by tipping you are essentially supporting the staff make a living.
jhellak@mtatravel.com.au for more info on tipping and gratuities.