I'm visiting America and I have no idea on tipping!?

Question

I'm coming over for holidays and to work in summer camps later this year and you guys are always tipping each other. I've heard that about 15% is about right but who do you tip? And when? And how? Do you just hand it to them!? Help! :p Any other sorta 'customs' I should know about? I don't want to insult too many people with my Australian faux pas :D

Answer 1

Its a very difficult topic if you are from another country. Try the link below for an overview from a UK perspective.

Answer 2

Don't worry. It won't be that hard. If you are coming for summer camp work, your tipping will mostly be required when dining out. If service is good, I tip 20 to 25%. If average, 15%. I'm a softy I guess... I almost never tip below 15% even if the service is bad.

Tipping is also done with other personal service such as hair stylists, car valet, hotel concierge, manicurist, etc.

Have a great trip to the US!

A tip goes along with a "thank you", so just hand it to them. Tips are always appreciated in my experience.

Here are some tips from website link listed below.
Tipping

There are only a few situations where tipping is expected. The one you will encounter most often is at restaurants. American restaurants do not add a service charge to the bill. Therefore it is expected that the customer will leave a tip for the server. Common practice is to leave a tip that is equal to 15% of the total bill for acceptable service, and about 20% for superior service. If the service was unusually poor, then you could leave a smaller tip, about 10%.

Other professions where tipping is expected include hairdressers, taxi drivers, hotel porters, parking valets, and bartenders. The general rule is to tip approximately 15% of the bill. In situations where there is no bill (as with hotel porters and parking valets), the tip may range from $1 to $5, depending on the type of establishment and on how good the service was.

Answer 3

Tipping has just gotten out of hand, I am American, and living in Washington State, I have traveled alot in the U.S. When going to a restaurant and having a Breakfast/lunch/dinner if the serves was good I would tip sometimes 15% sometimes 10% it depends on not necessarily how good the serves was but what I can afford, Fast food places get 0, even tho you see tip jars all over the place. If I stay at a hotel for one night and leave it a mess I give $2.00 if I stay for a week $5.00 on the day I depart. I do tip a taxi driver $2. or $3. Look your not going to offend anyone, by doing just that, You will offend people by being rude and offensive....So come over here and have a great time and don't worry about tipping!!

Answer 4

Yah, 15-20% should do it. Normally when your sitting in a resuraunt or a diner and your being served and billed, you would give a tip to the wait staff. Or if your drinking in a bar you might give tips. But all depending on the quality of customer service.
Aint no biggie. It's all good over here. I'm sure we'll all get along just fine.

Answer 5

Usually 10% to15 % in a bar or cab, refined restaurants add the tip to the bill. (Do not confuse the tax with the tip..)
Cafes and diners tip 5% to 20% , depending on the service.
It is left on the middle of the table, on the bill plate, or given to the cashier after identfing the waitress/waiter.
Fast food such as Mc Donalds, Wendy's, Hardies, ect. no tip.
Please don't be insulted by some of our gruffer rude Americans,
most Australians are so charming!! And I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Answer 6

okay, here is what you do:
normally you tip 15%. when you pay your bill and you are about ready to leave just leave a couple of bucks on the table! now if you wrote a check to begin with and to pay for the dinner, then just write a few extra bucks then the meal cost and they will know that there tip is coming from the bill. how do i know this when i am only 12 yrs. old? my mom is a manager of a retaraunt , so that is how i know. well, good luck, and this is the true stuff, can't get any deeper than this!!!!!

Answer 7

T - To
I - Insure
P- Prompt
S- Service

As a general rule if you're being served while being seated you should tip (bar, table, booth, barber chair, etc). The better the service the larger the tip 10-25%. If the service sucks... DON'T TIP and don't go back. Never tip a cab driver... they're already over charging you and odds are you'll never see them again anyhow.

Answer 8

the better the service the better the tip. i dont know why we reward people for doing their jobs though. i dont get a tip when i unlock the mall everyday. i want a tip! but anyways 10-15% is usually good. BUT if the service is crappy dont leave a tip ie: long time to get food, not giving the right food to the right person, not paying attention to the level of your drink, general bad attitude. if they dont pay attention to your needs, which is their job, why pay them extra? to me a tip is a reward for good service. but thats just my opinion. have fun! and you usually leave it on the table. or if you're paying with a credit card there might be a section on the reciept to write it on. hope this helps

Answer 9

Well, you should not just tip anybody. Usually if you go out to eat, than the server should be tipped at least 15%, depending on how well they catered to you and your needs. Servers only make about 2.50 an hour, so the rest of their pay comes from your tips.

Answer 10

You need to Tip people who help you in Hotels, Resteraunts, haircuts, Valet Parking, Taxi rides. 15% for good service 20% for great (and I mean great) service, and less if you get poor service. For bag service at the airport or Hotel $1-$2 per bag. 3-5 dollars per night for maid service. Enjoy our country