Neil - Yes, it is the custom to tip chambermaids - $1-2/night. Tipping everybody for any service has become standard in the US. It is unpleasant when you don't know how much is right. In this case, people usually tip more, which then becomes the norm. That's Americans for you!

Neil,
I'm not aware of doormen buying his consession from the hotel....but it does sound like part of the ""American dream"".

Boy...I'm about to open a can of worms......
I have very mixed feelings about labor unions...the corruption is appalling BUT what has happened in th US without unions to support/lobby for decent wages we are left with a large population of workers that are underpayed....
hotel maids & wait staff....are the two categories that come to mind.
Growing up in the US I have felt the need to tip to bring his/her wage up to par....not as a Superior SLAP in the face but as aknowledgement of service.

I understand why countries where tipping is not required do not want to start the practise. I would prefer to tip for exceptional service only. Here in Canada we tip. For average restaurants usually 15% + taxes.

Two years ago we travelled Ireland on tour. A guideline for gratuities for driver + tour director was given at about six euros a day combined. This was paid at the end of the tour and the suggested rate was per passenger. We had some Australians and four from New Zealand on board and rumour had it that they do not usually tip.

It would be interesting if Australians and New Zealanders can tell us of of their tipping experiences in Canada and the US, whether travelling independently or on tour.

I'm inclined to do as the Romans when n Rome.

ps. nice comments Neil.

I should clarify the above remark about tipping by saying that I would prefer to have service people paid more and then tip only for exceptional service.

This is an interesting thread. As an American who visited NZ and OZ I had a difficult time with the "no tipping" practice. It's not that I didn't understand it but rather having grown up tipping at resturants it's a hard habit to break. Unfortunately in our country many servers give you a dirty look if you leave a mere 15% tip. 20% to 25% is fast becomming the norm and that doesn't include a tip for the maitre d' who descretely has his hand out while he shows you to your table . In NZ, I knew a tip was not expected but I always felt guilty getting up from the table especially if I dined at a fine restaurant and had very good service. To ease my conscience I'd leave a 10% tip - sorry if that happened to upset the local custom but as I said after more than 50 years of tipping it's difficult to get up and walk away without leaving something.

I followed the "do in Rome" principle in the US, but as I kept it to 15% I guess I'd now be considered a cheapskate. Usually we wrote the tip in on the credit card docket, although sometimes I did wonder whether it always made its way through to the staff. Something I've never really understood though is how tips are distributed among the staff, especially if you're tipping in cash.

We've only ever done one inclusive tour, in Vietnam, and the (Australian) company provided a recommended scale of tips for the guide and driver. Our group consisted of 10 Australians and one Kiwi and I think everyone paid up, although we had no way of knowing whether some may have given themselves a discount. (Our Vietnamese guide told me that he had the best job in the country next to that of traffic policemen, who have legendary opportunities for extortion.)

I believe the situation is similar in China. As tipping isn't generally practiced in either country I can only assume that the guides function as individual entrepreneurs. On the Asia forum one experienced China hand decried anyone who tipped a guide as a fool, on the grounds that guides make so much out of kickbacks that they're already very well off by local standards. We took a 1-day tour when in Beijing and, half the tour group being Chinese, it was noticeable that our guide didn't even try to extract a tip.

It is backward reasoning to think that we should tip waiters because these wretched souls were forced by unfortunate circumstances into underpaying jobs.

In reality, the majority readily accept underpayment because they anticipate greater wages with tipping.

If there were no tipping, no one would accept underpayment instead of a job at a standard wage.

Neil, here in Canada I think 15% is generally acceptable, with 20% (or more if you want) for excellence. I'm sure you don't need to feel you under tipped.

It's still choice but be careful in the US especially - you'd be surprised at the verbal insults that can be hurled at you if you don't tip or tip under expectation. However, I would like to hear from Americans if they really do tip 20-25% on a regular basis. When you think of the exchange rate (Canada) that used to be about $1US = $1.65 CD (now about $1.25), Americans were quick to spend in Canada, but Canadians no longer flock to the US as they once did.

As for the Euro, even with the high rate of exchange - 1 Euro = $CD 1.62) we found in Portugal that since the gratuity and tax was included this was more acceptable than the US where this is not the case.

i think Sunnyboy, your generalization on why people choose tips to wages occurs only in small percentage of service jobs. For most it's a matter of food on the table and here in Canada one is lucky to get minimum wages and in some waitressing/waiter positions, it's not even minimum wage but I believe a special lower rate. Correct me if I'm wrong.

An interesting and ongoing subject.

Just found some interesting statistics on minimum wages in Ontario, Canada.

* * * * * * * * * *

Elizabeth asked:
"What is the current minimum wage in the Toronto area?"

CO Staff answered:
"The Ministry of Labour is an informative and current resource for you to start with. There are many regulations and details regarding minimum wage, and what we have provided here is the basic numbers.

*These wages came into effect January 1, 1995*

The general minimum wage in Ontario is $6.85. Although this is the general wage, this wage differs with the following job/status occupations:

liquor server (waiter/waitress, bartender) minimum wage is $5.95.
student minimum wage is $6.40.
harvest workers minimum wage is $6.85
homeworker premium minimum wage is $7.54

Well done, michi. Some Australian data:

* the general minimum wage for adults is about $12/hr.

* rates of pay depend on occupation and whether your pay and conditions are governed by an individual agreement, workplace agreement or a federal or state "award" determined by an industrial commission after submissions by unions and employer groups. All are legally binding.

* In New South Wales the minimum wage for waiters ranges from $13-17, with supplements for weekend and casual work. "Juniors" under 21 can be paid as little as $9 depending on age. This is about the same as the pay of a shop assistant (store clerk). NB: the official age of adulthood for purposes of voting, drinking etc. in Australia is 18, not 21.

Of course it's difficult to factor in the purchasing power of CA$1 in Canada, AU$1 in Australia etc.

Employers in the restaurant/cafe trade regularly employ staff "off the books" for tax-free cash-in-hand pay. This practice is of course illegal on several fronts, and at least one employer was jailed when the Tax Office went after him.

United States Federal minimum wage??
Are you ready? Are you sitting down?

$5.15 per hour

Hello Michi, I just read the rest of the post with interest.

Here in California when we go to a "white table" restaurant 20% is the expected tip.

Casual dining 15%.

If we go to a place for coffee, say $1.50 for the coffee, with the jar on the counter put about a quarter (25 cents) in the jar. The Cafe Java place I go to gives me such fantastic service that I do tip more. But for a reason. They run out and move the table if it is in too much sun, or too much shade etc. etc. They give refills, bringing them out, before one knows they need them. So their service and kindness is most appreciated. And I must say they started doing this before they got more in the way of extra tips.
Hotels, I leave $2.00 per night on the pillow so that the maid knows it is for her as otherwise they are afraid to touch it. I was interested when I was in Charleston SC about 3 weeks ago. I left a $2.00 tip the morning after my first night in the hotel. Returned late that afternoon to find a sweet "thank you" from the maid . First time I have ever seen that!

In Atlanta I had more service then would be expected from the hotel porter. I will not go into details but I tipped him much more then I would normally as he did much more then take my luggage to the lobby and then to the taxi.

I know that the tipping experience for all of us when we travel from country to country gets so confusing. And I am sure that most of us try our best to to tip whatever is appropriate depending on where we are.

And Neil, 15% is absolutely fine. If someone did not like that, that is their problem not yours.

LoveItaly and Sunnyboy

Apologies to Sunnyboy for attributing remarks by Jed to him.

Nice post, LoveItaly, and thanks for putting Neil at ease. I agree 100% with your comments.

In Portugal recently, we went on a two-day bus tour of Lisbon and environs. Our tour leader, male about 30-35, was intelligent, had a sense of humour, well versed in history, architecture, flora and fauna, attitudes, local lore and so on, and made our trip memorable. We have travelled extensively in all parts of Portugal since 1970, but he opened our minds to much more than just what we saw. We gave him an above-average tip for excellent service.