tipping
 

Interested in how people tip! What is the appropriate/customary tip for tour guides, hotel maids, luggage handlers, or anyone else you would tip on a vacation.

This has been reviewed in detail. <BR>Try the text search function.

Thanks so much ReadB4-that was such a helpful and intelligent response.

Look, GT: maybe you haven't been reading this board too long, I don't know. But people write in questions time and time again which have already been answered in excruciating detail. <BR>Please realize that the total time it takes posters to answer broad questions (like yours) is considerable. The info is already there...all you have to do is read it. <BR>If you're posting an open ended question just to have a chit chat discussion go to one of the AOL boards. <BR>If you're legitimately interested in finding the answer to your question, the info's there already. Just look it up.

ReadB4, <BR> <BR>Here is an idea - if you are bored by a question, just skip it - don't waste your oh so valuable time by even responding. I tried the search function and gave up after waiting five minutes. Thanks again.

the search function's been on the fritz the past couple weeks <BR>seems the budgetary crunch at the mother ship may be a factor?

Remember the old saying "If you don't have anything nice or helpful to say, don't say it" <BR> <BR>If the questions bother you - go elsewhere or just don't read or answer them - your blood pressure would be much healthier!!!!! <BR> <BR> <BR>Not taking my own advice here - This is the worst board I have ever been on - no one ever answers any questions - they just BITCH about something

In the interests of having SOMEONE answer the question, here's what I do... Waitstaff, meails: 15-17% U.S. & Canada; bartenders and some minimal service buffet situations: 10%; summoning a taxi by phone: $2; summoning a taxi by whistle or gesture: $1-$2; taxi drivers: 10%; shuttle drivers: $1-$2 per passenger; luggage handlers: I usually handle my own luggage, but I will generally tip $1 per passenger (bag) for light handling and a bit more if it's all the way up to the room. With hotel maids, I don't tip as a percentage of the room rate, but leave $3-$5 daily and I generally leave the room in decent condition for them to service quickly, too. If service is exceptional or more is required for some reason, I leave a little more on days when that occurs and often a bit extra on the last day. With tour guides, I get off somewhere in the middle of the pack so I can see what others are doing and it is a per-person type of thing. Again, if there is some kind of special service involved, it is worth some extra encouragement. I'm probably not a great tipper, but I try to be consistent and not stiff people or leave so little that it is an insult. If others want to drop tens, twenties, or nothing, then that is up to them. Frankly, I can't see the employer paying someone $6 an hour and me paying the equivalent of up to $100/hr., based on the minimal amount of time and effort I'm consuming. On the other hand, service industry people earn their money, including tips. While I would agree that tipping is a goofy system of compensation, I can't change it myself and I try not to spend a lot of time hanging out in places where the service staff is jaded because they easily make twice as much as I do. Happy Trails! :o)