Paris tipping hotel maids
Jul 31st, 2015, 06:57 AM
#202
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When we were in Scotland recently, we tipped our drivers. They reluctantly accepted the money; but it became apparent that tipping them made them uncomfortable so we stopped. On our last trip to the airport the owner of the company drove us. He charged us 20% less than his employees did. I'm thinking that the drivers may have added their own tip to the 'flat rate' they charged us, and thus felt uncomfortable taking more.
I don't regret giving them the extra money; they did an exceptional job for us and even with the tips were much cheaper than hiring a car and self driving or taking the metered taxis.
We always tip house cleaning staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things. I think showing appreciation for a job well done is something people should do more of rather than less. And what it all comes down to is that it's <i>my</i> money; or, at least it was before I gave it away. So I am free to throw it away if I see fit.
I don't regret giving them the extra money; they did an exceptional job for us and even with the tips were much cheaper than hiring a car and self driving or taking the metered taxis.
We always tip house cleaning staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things. I think showing appreciation for a job well done is something people should do more of rather than less. And what it all comes down to is that it's <i>my</i> money; or, at least it was before I gave it away. So I am free to throw it away if I see fit.
Jul 31st, 2015, 07:04 AM
#203
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"We always tip house cleaning staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things. "
We never tip waiting staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' even if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things.
We never tip waiting staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' even if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things.
Jul 31st, 2015, 08:00 AM
#204
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"We never tip waiting staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs' even if they do a great job for us. Frankly, I couldn't care less if it offends the 'natives' for whom we are 'ruining' things."
Sounds good to me; it's your money.
Sounds good to me; it's your money.
Jul 31st, 2015, 08:17 AM
#205
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chartley, I have to ask. Does your habit of ignoring local customs even if it "ruins" things for the locals extend to other issues besides or tipping -- or do you just single out tipping as a custom to ignore? Like do you throw trash in public areas? Do you never say "good morning" when entering a store or "thank you"? If custom is to wear a shirt in a church do you ignore that if no one stops you? Just curious how far one deliberately goes to be rude to local customs.
If you really go places like the US and don't leave ANY tip even when you know the prices are set to allow for that -- then you are a far worse tourist and even human being than I ever imagined!
If you really go places like the US and don't leave ANY tip even when you know the prices are set to allow for that -- then you are a far worse tourist and even human being than I ever imagined!
Jul 31st, 2015, 08:34 AM
#206
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I don't understand the concept of "ruining it for the natives" thinking. I have enough respect for servers, hotel maids, taxi drivers, etc. to expect them to be able to differentiate between their clients' habits and understand that they are following their own customs in this small way.
Why is this such a big deal? I don't think there's any danger that the waiters in Paris will start expecting large tips from French customers. Maybe you could give them credit for having some reasoning ability.
Why is this such a big deal? I don't think there's any danger that the waiters in Paris will start expecting large tips from French customers. Maybe you could give them credit for having some reasoning ability.
Jul 31st, 2015, 08:58 AM
#207
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"I don't understand the concept"
That's fully understandable if you are American. You want a homogeneous world where everyone grovels for the crumbs off your table and all restaurants serve Big Macs with shakes.
The rest of us would like to retain our culture, thank you very much.
Someone mentioned Americans abroad.
Generally, I've found Americans to to be wonderfully interesting, caring people who give huge amounts of time to share their experiences with strangers : when they are at home.
Give them, passports and they seem to transform into complete tossers.
That's fully understandable if you are American. You want a homogeneous world where everyone grovels for the crumbs off your table and all restaurants serve Big Macs with shakes.
The rest of us would like to retain our culture, thank you very much.
Someone mentioned Americans abroad.
Generally, I've found Americans to to be wonderfully interesting, caring people who give huge amounts of time to share their experiences with strangers : when they are at home.
Give them, passports and they seem to transform into complete tossers.
Jul 31st, 2015, 09:14 AM
#209
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NYCFoodSnob obviously suffers from the worst case ever recorded of cranial-rectal inversion, for which there is no known cure.
Put a sock in it - nobody wants to hear your impassioned drivel, either.
Put a sock in it - nobody wants to hear your impassioned drivel, either.
Jul 31st, 2015, 09:20 AM
#210
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Patrick
They used to say that Americans didn't understand irony, but I thought that must be nonsense. Now I am not so certain.
What I did was take TheFlyingScotsman's post, copied it, and then changed some of the words to show that the converse of what he had written was just as ridiculous as his original statement.
Now personally I try to follow the local customs or at least modify my usual behaviour to some extent. So I sometimes tip when it is not the local custom, but still find it hard to tip something like 20% for indifferent service in the United States. Like many Europeans, I find it difficult to understand a system that relies on a customer having to look at a menu with prices which bear only an uncertain relationship to what one will be expected to pay, and that one will be expected to pay separately the person who serves you.
When I tip, I like it to be an expression of my gratitude, like a present. So I make it a round amount in whatever currency the bill is in. It seems petty to rigidly calculate a set percentage, and be anxious about if one should deduct the tax first. One observation I would make about American culture is that despite all the talk of freedom, there is actually a more slavish following of rules than one finds elsewhere.
I like to travel to understand different cultures, and sometimes they can be mystifying. I know that my own culture can be baffling to foreigners, and I can often agree that there are absurdities. What surprises me is that so many of the Americans on this forum cannot even understand why others find American customs baffling, and that they respond so aggressively when habits are questioned.
They used to say that Americans didn't understand irony, but I thought that must be nonsense. Now I am not so certain.
What I did was take TheFlyingScotsman's post, copied it, and then changed some of the words to show that the converse of what he had written was just as ridiculous as his original statement.
Now personally I try to follow the local customs or at least modify my usual behaviour to some extent. So I sometimes tip when it is not the local custom, but still find it hard to tip something like 20% for indifferent service in the United States. Like many Europeans, I find it difficult to understand a system that relies on a customer having to look at a menu with prices which bear only an uncertain relationship to what one will be expected to pay, and that one will be expected to pay separately the person who serves you.
When I tip, I like it to be an expression of my gratitude, like a present. So I make it a round amount in whatever currency the bill is in. It seems petty to rigidly calculate a set percentage, and be anxious about if one should deduct the tax first. One observation I would make about American culture is that despite all the talk of freedom, there is actually a more slavish following of rules than one finds elsewhere.
I like to travel to understand different cultures, and sometimes they can be mystifying. I know that my own culture can be baffling to foreigners, and I can often agree that there are absurdities. What surprises me is that so many of the Americans on this forum cannot even understand why others find American customs baffling, and that they respond so aggressively when habits are questioned.
Jul 31st, 2015, 10:00 AM
#211
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I actually live in a place with a lot of diversity. I'm simply giving people credit for having enough brain power to be able to figure things out and accept that different people have different habits.
Yes, I'm American, but I don't usually tip hotel maids at home or abroad. So don't get too deep into your stereotyping. Maybe you're the one who wants a homogeneous world.
Yes, I'm American, but I don't usually tip hotel maids at home or abroad. So don't get too deep into your stereotyping. Maybe you're the one who wants a homogeneous world.
Jul 31st, 2015, 10:02 AM
#212
I am still trying to understand why some of you want to tip people receiving a normal salary without also deciding to tip everybody else receiving a normal salary with whom you come into contact (metro employees, shop staff, police, ticket sellers at the attractions...). Don't you realize that you are discriminating against these other categories doing useful jobs and yet not earning any more than waiters or taxi drivers?
Jul 31st, 2015, 10:18 AM
#213
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Kerouc, while you are still trying to understand all that, I'm still trying to understand WHY you care?
Not that you'll listen, but here's one thought. Recently friends returned from their first trip to France -- four nights in Paris between London and Rome stops. They HATED France (and of course they're only judging by Paris). Why? They said everyone was rude to them -- refusing to speak English when it was clear they could if they wanted to -- not helping with menus they didn't understand but shrugging if they pointed at something. But of course I know these guys and it's my guess it was a two way street. I've never found that to be true at all. But I smile at waiters, attempt some feeble French and invariably they "take pity on me" and help me out. Many waiters spend a lot of time telling me about dishes that a local would simply order and be done with. I'm probably annoying to them with my horrible French attempts and with my arm waving charades I tend to play to try to get questions or thoughts across to them -- but often they just play along and are nice and polite. Often these waiters go out of their way to help me and I appreciate it! So I leave a small tip -- if they were nice -- usually about 10%. But for the life of me, I still am trying to understand why giving someone a little "gift" for being overly nice and taking way more time and being way more pleasant than his job requires annoys you.
Oh, and by the way, those other jobs you mention never seem to call for the same type of personal conversation and interplay that happens with waiters. No ticket seller takes 10 minutes to explain how the tickets are "prepared" for example. If you can't tell the difference -- I take pity on you.
On the other hand, if you are back to discussing hotel maids, I'm actually with you on that. If I've never seen the maid and she has done nothing specific for me -- why would I leave a tip just because I think she's underpaid? The hotel is supposed to provide me with a clean room -- and that's her job. That's a world different from a waiter spending lots of extra time being personally helpful to me.
Not that you'll listen, but here's one thought. Recently friends returned from their first trip to France -- four nights in Paris between London and Rome stops. They HATED France (and of course they're only judging by Paris). Why? They said everyone was rude to them -- refusing to speak English when it was clear they could if they wanted to -- not helping with menus they didn't understand but shrugging if they pointed at something. But of course I know these guys and it's my guess it was a two way street. I've never found that to be true at all. But I smile at waiters, attempt some feeble French and invariably they "take pity on me" and help me out. Many waiters spend a lot of time telling me about dishes that a local would simply order and be done with. I'm probably annoying to them with my horrible French attempts and with my arm waving charades I tend to play to try to get questions or thoughts across to them -- but often they just play along and are nice and polite. Often these waiters go out of their way to help me and I appreciate it! So I leave a small tip -- if they were nice -- usually about 10%. But for the life of me, I still am trying to understand why giving someone a little "gift" for being overly nice and taking way more time and being way more pleasant than his job requires annoys you.
Oh, and by the way, those other jobs you mention never seem to call for the same type of personal conversation and interplay that happens with waiters. No ticket seller takes 10 minutes to explain how the tickets are "prepared" for example. If you can't tell the difference -- I take pity on you.
On the other hand, if you are back to discussing hotel maids, I'm actually with you on that. If I've never seen the maid and she has done nothing specific for me -- why would I leave a tip just because I think she's underpaid? The hotel is supposed to provide me with a clean room -- and that's her job. That's a world different from a waiter spending lots of extra time being personally helpful to me.
Jul 31st, 2015, 10:46 AM
#216
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chartley,
I have to admit that I'm having a problem understanding what is ridiculous about "We always tip house cleaning staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs'<b> if they do a great job for us</b>. "
Is it ridiculous that we want to show our appreciation for service above and beyond? Or is it ridiculous that we ignore 'local customs?'
And, to satisfy my curiosity
<b>Who</b> used to say that Americans don't understand irony? I'm thinking it might be you who used to say that, and, I guess, still may.
When I started reading this thread, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep silent. But, for the life of me, I cannot understand what any of you who oppose gratuities so vehemently care about what other people whom you do not know, and probably never will know, do with their money.
It almost seems to me that you are envious that others are getting something that you don't, and, god forbid, these are people with low incomes who don't deserve more because they already get so much from the government.
I have to admit that I'm having a problem understanding what is ridiculous about "We always tip house cleaning staff no matter where we stay and regardless of 'local customs'<b> if they do a great job for us</b>. "
Is it ridiculous that we want to show our appreciation for service above and beyond? Or is it ridiculous that we ignore 'local customs?'
And, to satisfy my curiosity
<b>Who</b> used to say that Americans don't understand irony? I'm thinking it might be you who used to say that, and, I guess, still may.
When I started reading this thread, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep silent. But, for the life of me, I cannot understand what any of you who oppose gratuities so vehemently care about what other people whom you do not know, and probably never will know, do with their money.
It almost seems to me that you are envious that others are getting something that you don't, and, god forbid, these are people with low incomes who don't deserve more because they already get so much from the government.
