jbtraveller

We are from Australia visting San Francisco and Vegas this year.We don't usually tip in this country but I am aware this is a major thing in the States can you please give me some tips on how much and who you should tip so we don't offend anyone. Also when you are in hotels I understand there is the 14% tax, are there other service fees and also any others in restaurants.

cynic

The hotel tax varies depending on what city the hotel is in. Check with your hotel to make sure what it is. Generally you should tip your waiter (15-20% depending on service though in larger cities, some people say that less than 18% is considered cheap), cab/limo drivers or shuttle drivers should be tipped especially if they are handling your bags (I'm not sure how much for a cab/limo, I usually give the airport shuttle guy a couple of bucks), car valets should be tipped when they retrieve your car ( I give a couple of bucks in San Diego, but more might be expected in S.F.), bellhops should be tipped (maybe 5-10 dollars depending on what they do for you), hotel maids (probably a couple of bucks to five bucks or more a day depending on the hotel. I usually leave the whole tip at the end of my stay. I don't know if I'm supposed to tip daily instead.), tip the concierage if you use his services, tip your dealers in Vegas especially if you win, tip the cocktail waitress like a dollar a drink even though the drinks are free, tip for any salon or personal services like massage, tip anyone delivering food like room service or the pizza guy ummmm.....yeah, we tip a lot here now that I'm thinking about it. You might want to search for a website on tipping. A lot of people get tipped and we don't know what you will be doing while you're here.

jenifer

From http://www.alabama.worldweb.com/Trav...ing/8-424.html

# 15 to 20 per cent on meals depending on standard of service
# $1 for each piece of luggage carried by a porter
# 10 to 15 per cent of the bar bill to bartenders
# $1 to the rest room attendant
# $1 to the car park attendant
# $5 a night minimum to the chambermaid, more for stays over a week
# $10 to the bellhop for bringing you to your room with luggage
# 20 per cent of the bill to limousine drivers
# 15 per cent of the fare for taxi drivers depending whether or not they assist you with baggage etc.

Some of these seem a little high - I would not generally leave that much for maid service in a hotel, or tip that much for bellhop service to my room. But restaurant tipping 15-20% is quite normal, and definitely expected unless service is poor. Tipping is also definitely expected with taxi rides, again unless service is poor. A tip of under $1 for a taxi is generally not given.

As far as taxes, sales tax, rental car tax and hotel taxes vary from state to state, and even from city to city sometimes. From http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/sales.html California has a statewide sales tax of 7.25% which will be added on to anything you purchase and meals in restaurants. Nevada's sales tax is 6.5%. In both states, unprepared food (as in from a grocery store) is untaxed, but prepared food (at a restaurant or store) is taxed.

I was unable to find a good reference for hotel taxes, but the hotels you're staying at should be able to give you those numbers.

mrwunrfl

Those chambermaid, porter, limo, taxi tip rates listed above are too high IMO. And I would tip the bartender more.

Look for a "service charge" on any bills. If there is one, then don't leave a tip. I don't know if it happens much, but I would expect that some places that get a lot of foreign tourists would add on a service charge (expecting that the tourist wouldn't know the tipping custom).

mclaurie

$10 for a bellhop to roll your luggage to your room? That's crazy & so is $5/night to the chambermaid. I would say $2-5 for bellhop depending on how much luggage you have.

jbtraveller, some of the hotel stuff I think really depends on the level of hotel.

placeu2

Not sure about San Francisco but everybody in Vegas will have their hands out.

Restaurant advice you have received is very good. On cabs I usually round up the fare a couple of dollars. Fares of 7.80-8.50 or so will get $10 from me. It gets a bit more complicated at 9.30, I would go 11 or 12 depending on the driver, maybe more. Baggage handling is usually $1-2 per bag. To me 3 bags is worth $5.

One interesting tipping thing in Vegas is when you need a cab from a Hotel. They have people outside who will whistle up a cab and hold the door for you, then inform the driver of your destination. $1 to that guy is the norm and expected. I have heard that those people make more money than most in service positions and it is a highly sought after job.

If you are at a non assigned seat show, $10 to the host will most assuredly get you a better seat. I believe that tipping in this situation with that casino's chips works best (makes them believe you are a player).

Always carry small denomination bills in your pocket.

Loki

FYI, my company's travel policy is $10/week for chambermaid. I usually tip $2/day if NOT on business, more if I have gone Roger Daltry on the room.

carrolldf

From right here on Fodor's (http://www.fodors.com/features/nfdis...4_stt_tg_usa):

United States

At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at more expensive establishments. The same goes for taxi drivers, bartenders, and hairdressers.

Coat-check operators usually expect $1; bellhops and porters should get $1 per bag; hotel maids in upscale hotels should get about $1 per day of your stay.

A concierge typically receives a tip of $5 to $10, with an additional gratuity for special services or favors.

On package tours, conductors and drivers usually get $10 per day from the group as a whole; check whether this has already been figured into your cost.

For local sightseeing tours, you may individually tip the driver-guide $2-$5 if he or she has been helpful or informative. Ushers in theaters do not expect tips.

FainaAgain

Coat check tip? Where in SF have you seen coat check? Get realistic guys!

14% tax are for hotels only, sales tax on non-food items 8,5% in the city. Soda - cans and bottles - is taxable plus redemption fee.

8,5% tax is not a service charge on your restaurant bill, 15-20% tip is expected in addition to it.

Leona

Very often, a hotel will add a "service charge" to a room service bill. It is not necessary to tip above that charge.

GoTravel

For room service, I always tip a couple of dollars over the service charge because the waitperson has to split that with the hotel.

I tip the bellman $1-$2 per bag depending upon how many I have with me. $20 is the max I tip him/her.

I only tip the concierge if he/she has gone out of the way for me.

I tip the doorman $2 if he/she hails me a cab.

20-25 percent (one word) at a restaurant. I can't remember the last time I had lousy service. Honestly.

easytraveler

Sounds like some of the posters are in the service industry and expect 20-25% tips at meals! LOL!

"I can't remember the last time I got lousy service, honestly" Honestly? I got lousy service just this weekend in SF. Most of the service this weekend was great. We went to upscale restaurants and paid large food bills, but there was just this one occasion when we were made to feel like we were intruders. Americans seem to be in the habit of wanting HUGE tips for indifferent service.

Personally, I'd tip 15% of the entire bill - or more, if you deduct the tax (really? you want a tip for the tax too?) If the service is lousy/indifferent, I tip less than 15%.

And, please, don't interrupt me when I am enjoying my food and a quiet conversation with my companion, with some inane question like: "How's the steak/fish/pasta?" with a big grin behind which lies the demand for a bigger tip. This is NOT service.

Sorry, I must have gotten out of the wrong side of bed this morning. Nevertheless, it's surprising that innocent travelers from abroad should be advised to give such large tips, IMHO. jbtraveller, tip what you feel comfortable tipping.

BayArea

An easy method for tip calculation in SF is to look at the tax on your bill and multiply that by two. That gives you a 16.5% tip, as the local tax rate is 8.25%.

Personally, I almost never tip chambermaids and I don't think I have ever used a concierge, so I see no reason to tip him.

I give taxi drivers $3-$5, depending on the cost of the ride.

I tend to tip a dollar per drink to the bartender.

I tip my hairdresser about 20%, but that's because I've been going to her for years, and she's responsible for how fabulous I look. It's my way of ensuring that I continue to look fabulous. Otherwise, I'd only tip about 15%.

Faina, I often use the coat check when I go to clubs in the city. They get a dollar for making sure that I get *my* coat back.

Patrick

Faina, I know that I've checked my coat at Farallon, at the Cypress Club, and at Postrio. Other than that I can't remember. But they certainly aren't unheard of in SF.

cassidy2002

Loki-

"more if I have gone Roger Daltry on the room."

LOL!!! ;-)

GoTravel

I never meant to imply that others should tip what I tip or that 20-25% gratuity is standard.

Truly, I cannot remember the last time I received lousy service anywhere.

nytraveler

Tipping also depends on where you are. I've noticed that in smaller towns the tips tend to be less (as a %) than in the biggest cities.

I travel a ton on business and in the US my standard is

Restaurant: 16 - 20% of the bill before tax (20% in the better places). You do not need to tip if you pick up fast food at a counter (although Starbucks is trying to start this). Never less than $1

Bartender: minimum $1 per drink in the modest places - about 20% where drinks are more.

Free drinks in casino: $1 per drink

Cabs: 20% - never less than $1.

Bellmen: at least $3 for a bag and a tote - more if you have a lot of stuff

Maid: $2 per day minimum at the end of the stay.

Doorman who gets cab/coatcheck/car valet: $1

Concierge: $5 up if they do a special service - depending on how complicated it is. Getting a difficult dinner or show reservation is worth at least $20.
You don't tip for the basic stuff - being given a map or directions on how to get somewhere or booking a tour (the tour gives them a %).

Hair salon (depends on the price range) minimum: Wash/girl $3, stylist $10. If you get more done (coloring, especially streaking) or it is more than a basic salon the tip multiplys from there.

I know these may sound like a lot - but you should understand that the pay scales of these folks are predicated on tips (the governmnet even makes them pay income taxes on estimated tips) and if there were no tipping all the prices for these services would be considrably higher (I won't argue the correctness of this system - but it's the one we have).

Patrick

Hey, I'll agree with NYTraveler 100% --that could have been my exact list. I don't quibble about a single item there. (Although I've never had a girl wash or streak my hair, so I'll have to go along with that one too.) And yes, I'm even now throwing my return change into the Starbucks jar.

FainaAgain

OK guys you convinced me there IS coat check in SF and I can find it if I look hard enough.

I'm still not convinced the tax is 8.25%. On my receipts it says 8.5% was I overcharged?

BayArea

huh! I'm pretty darn sure that the tax rate in SF is 8.25%. But, I never save my restaurant receipts, so I can't look at any document in front of me.