thursdaysd

" will do so in Europe, regardless of the custom"

There is no difference between someone from a tipping culture who insists on tipping in a non-tipping country, and someone from a non-tipping culture who insists on not tipping in a tipping country. Americans throwing their money around in a country where that is not the norm have been called "Ugly American" for a reason.

rialtogrl

I do as Mainhattengirl does - on the pillow with a note, a euro or two every day. I don't throw money around when I travel (I'm definitely a budget traveler) and I know its not much but like nyse I hope it brightens their day. They have to clean toilets every day. Maybe I've bought them a well deserved beer or a pastry or something.

catcrazyaf

I'll chance "Ugly" as I choose to tip.

janisj

>>Questions like these illustrate just how selfish, ungenerous, and unattractive some travelers can be.<<

More silliness . . . be a big, 'generous', show-off American if you like. But to label folks who do what is culturally expected/accepted as ungenerous, unattractive, or ugly shows a serious amount of chutzpah.

Ugly Americans come in all sorts . . . >>OUR way is the only way and all the rest of you little/mean people are beneath contempt<<

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#555555>"be a big, 'generous', show-off American if you like"</font></i>

I'm not "big." I fail to see how presenting a private gift is being a "show off." As for the gift itself: yes, I think it's generous in spirit. I'll leave it to the recipient to judge whether it is indeed "generous" in amount.

<i><font color=#555555>"But to label folks who do what is culturally expected/accepted as ungenerous, unattractive, or ugly shows a serious amount of chutzpah."</font></i>

I didn't "label" anyone in this thread. If you took my words and painted them on your forehead, that's on you, sweetie.

<i><font color=#555555>"OUR way is the only way and all the rest of you little/mean people are beneath contempt"</font></i>

I never said that. People who put words in other people's mouths and attribute false character to them have a lot of nerve. That's what I call a serious amount of ugly chutzpah.

cathies

Nycfoodsnob, not judging at all, but is your gift to staff cash or an actual gift?

NYCFoodSnob

<i><font color=#555555>"is your gift to staff cash or an actual gift?"</font></i>

Because I've always traveled for work, I have decades of gratuity stories. The easy answer to your question is it depends.

While working for lengthy periods in Japan for a major corporation, I brought petite crystal letter openers in wrapped boxes. I knew how the culture felt about cash before going.

While working on a film in Rome, the housekeeper assigned to my hotel room took notice of my love for fresh flowers (many hotels offer vases for guests who request them). Shortly after my first week, I made a quick purchase but didn't have time to arrange them. I stuck the whole wrapping in a glass of water to deal with later. When I returned to my room, a beautiful arrangement was there to greet me. My housekeeper offered to arrange my future purchases, and I thought she had a fabulous talent. When the film was done, I purchased a beautiful ceramic vase for her home.

I've never known anyone in the service business who didn't appreciate cash. I've written this before on this forum. Because I hate the concept of tipping (handing someone cash), I travel with small thank-you cards and always place cash in the envelope with a little note.

For work, I'm often allowed to pick my own hotel, so I revisit familiar places, stay in favorite rooms, and see the same people. I don't think I need to say this, but I know how red carpet service feels. What goes around comes around.

Man_in_seat_61

It's interesting to look at the nationalities of those who answer this question here.

Almost all the people who say they tip seem to live in the USA. Those who say they generally don't tip tend to be from Europe.

The whole ethos in Europe is basically "what you see is what you pay", or if you prefer, "No hidden extras", so if a barman asks for £3.05, that's what we give him. If a supermarket price tag says £9.99, we hand over a tenner and expect a penny change. If a hotel costs £60 a night, that's what we pay at reception next morning.

The US and Canadian practice ("How much is that?" "$4.99, sir" "Great, I'll take one!" "Certainly sir, that'll be $5.48!") drives us Europeans up the wall, even before anyone expects a 20% tip as well. ;0)

But for the record, I doubt many if any Europeans tip chambermaids, it's an American thing, I think.

Not that it isn't a nice thing to do if you've had some special service, of course!

cathies

I'm Australian and made sure I knew the tipping culture before my first visit to the US. I haven't ever tipped in European hotels but on thinking it through, as others have said, it's a mostly thankless job and next time I'm in Europe I will leave a couple of euros. It certainly is a luxury to come back each day to a clean tidy room and I'm always grateful.

NYCfoodsnob, thanks for the explanation.

janisj

NYCFoodSnob: >>I didn't "label" anyone in this thread.<<

You certainly did. >>Questions like these illustrate just how selfish, ungenerous, and unattractive some travelers can be.<<

>>If you took my words and painted them on your forehead, that's on you, sweetie. <<

I have no paint on my forehead. No where did I say what MY tipping policies are. I objected to the name calling, etc. I tip (and very generously) where tipping is the norm. I sometimes tip a small amount in Europe - even when service/tip is included. What I <u>don't</u> do is call those who follow local customs as cheap, mean, ugly, selfish, ungenerous, or any of the other pejorative terms you and a few others have thrown around on this thread.

Geordie

I agree with man in seat 61, that's how european' s think

Weissertee, I've worked with French and Germans for over 15 years and tipping chambermaids is not a custom
Ps maybe we should make it a drinking game with how many times you mention you have spent 15 years in Europe in your posts

Pvoyageuse

Like Janisj and other Europeans, I had never heard of tipping the chambermaid until I came to Fodor's. It is definitely not the custom in Europe.

thursdaysd

"it is a luxury to come back each day to a clean tidy room"

What on earth are you doing to the room? Aside from needing the bed made, a trash can emptied, and sometimes fresh towels, my room is clean and tidy when I leave it in the morning.

cathies

Thursdaysd, well la-de-da. There's no need to be so rude. My bed needs to be made, the sink wiped over, towels replaced, tea and coffee cups (and supplies) replenished etc. we obviously aren't all as perfect as you.

Cowboy1968

It is not customary for locals to tip chambermaids in Germany or Austria. Don't know about Italy.
You hardly ever see those little "notes" here that Katie or Nancy made your room - and you know what they expect to find next morning on that note.
But you won't get shot if you leave a euro or two per day if it makes you feel happy. You can also leave 100 euros per day on your pillow.
Your money, your choice.

Mainhattengirl

A euro or two a day is far from Tossing Cash Around. It is a small tip for the person who has just scrubbed your tub, toilet, and sink, and made your bed, vacuumed and dusted. This is NOT what labels people as "ugly Americans" or ugly tourists. Being rude gets you that label.

Having worked in a hotel here, with housekeepers who have worked in other hotels, believe me, they appreciate these small gestures. So, yes, I am American, but have lived in Germany for 27 years. Do I qualify as being knowledgeable about European practices?

I will never understand people who feel it is a must to tip a person who just poured a draft beer, or put your suitcase on a cart, but not the housekeeper.

Geordie

Mainhattengirl, no you do not qualify about European practices because it's not the custom, whether you think people should tip is a different issue

Dickie_Gr

Tipping indicates that you have the need to exert of superior influence over an employee with which you have no contractual relationship. Even better if it is someone serving you in a restaurant, you have the personal pleasure of patronising that person.

The word chambermaid is appalling. It harks back to the days of that ridiculous period drama, I can't utter its words.

Maybe wealthy Americans believe that they are the new aristocracy.

BTW we have minimum wage levels in Europe, around $10 an hour, it is a criminal offence for employers not to adhere to the legislation. Many workers in many industries earn this rate, if you feel the need to bring your odd practices to Europe then just ask all and sundry as to whether they feel poor, tip them all.

Dickie_Gr

BTW the European joke 20 years ago, was always that Yanks dressed badly, had bad hair and threw their money around for no apparent reason. Looks like little progress has been made on at least one front.

We have always been dentally challenged.

Mainhattengirl

I beg to differ. It is common practice. Just because you live here, unless you have been in the hospitality business, I doubt whether your comments are even valid.

Good luck living on that 10$ an hour Dickie. How much does that compute into net earnings? This is not a living wage, and people that earn this usually have other part time jobs, or have found something to supplement their income, either under the table or they are also getting subsidized apts. or other benefits. Do tell us how many people you know personally that live only from their 10$ an hour wage and how happy they are with it. Then let us know how disdainful they are about getting a small tip.

The American bashing is old stuff. Why not give it a rest and stop labeling people.