There's a 15 percent chance that you, dear reader, won't agree with everything Jane says in this article. Or maybe it's 20 percent. Because when it comes to tipping while traveling, there are no few easy percentages.
Of course, in the U.S. of A., there are a few standard tipping rules. Let's start with a buck. One dollar, or maybe two, per bag will suffice when tipping a bellman. The doorman gets a dollar or two for hailing a cab...or a little more if it's actually hailing. The cab driver gets 15 percent of the fare, so long as he doesn't get lost on the way to your destination.
But there are so many instances when tipping guidelines are not so cut and dried. Take waitresses and waiters. Yes, everyone knows that the standard is a 15 to 20 percent tip on the bill's pre-tax total. But what if you order a $100 bottle of wine? If you are at a fancy-schmantzy restaurant, you will have to tip the sommelier about 15 percent for his services. Do you also have to tip the server on the wine portion of the bill as well? Frankly, if you are doing fancy-schmantzy, best to err on the side of generosity. Still, Jane has yet to find a common answer to that question. Please weigh in with your thoughts.
Sometimes the trick is not necessarily how much to tip, but when to tip. For example, if you plan to make use of the concierge frequently during a hotel stay, tip $10 or $20 upfront (more at a deluxe property) and then pay a bit more as you go. Tip for special services such as making restaurant reservations at the local hot spot or getting theater tickets. The amount of the tip is generally dependent on the type and the complexity of the service provided. Two to ten dollars rendered at the time of the "favor" is conventional practice. Then there's the parking attendant. Don't tip when he or she takes your car. Assuming your car comes back unscratched, tip a dollar or two upon delivery. However, if you drive a Beemer or a Porsche, tipping only a buck or two will likely make you the recipient of a dirty glare.
Then there are those who are often overlooked in the tip tally. Among those unfortunates are housekeepers and shuttle bus drivers. Shuttle bus drivers who take you to an off-site car rental site can be given a dollar or two, particularly if they help you with your bags. Since the shuttle bus drivers who take you from hotel to airport are frequently part of a bell staff that relies on tips, be sure to have your dollar bills at the ready in that circumstance as well.
Perhaps the hardest job in the hotel business is housekeeping. While it does drive Jane nuts when she stumbles upon the obsessive-compulsive maid who decides to organize Jane's make-up or fold her clothing, the fact is, Jane does appreciate a room-cleaning job well done. She recognizes said job through tipping. In general, housekeepers should be tipped about two dollars a night. At a deluxe hotel in a major city, $3 to $5 is not extraordinary. Jane likes to leave the tip every night, as opposed to one bulk sum on the last day of the stay. This ensures that the person who cleans the room actually gets the tip. One challenge in tipping the housekeeper is that most hotels do train staff not to pick up stray money in a room. Therefore, you have to make it clear that the money is a tip. Either leave it on the pillow, in a marked envelope, or on the bathroom counter. Also, if you request that housekeeping bring something up to your room, such as a hairdryer or an iron, tip the delivery person a dollar or so.
Don't forget the breakfast buffet attendant. At many mid-range hotels, like Ramada and Days Inn, free breakfast is included. It may be self-serve, but there is an attendant filling up the cereal bins and cleaning up after you. Leave that person a dollar or two. On the other hand, if you are eating a breakfast buffet in the hotel restaurant, and the server is bringing you coffee, juice, and the bill, leave at least ten percent of the total.
While researching this piece, Jane read that front desk clerks in Las Vegas are open to tips as well. Twenty to 40 dollars can increase your odds of getting a better room on a higher floor. A C-note may get you upgraded to a suite. Jane believes that these tipping practices that go on in Vegas should stay in Vegas. She isn't familiar with the front desk tip as an upgrade strategy in any other city.
Finally, when traveling internationally, all bets are off. The rules vary from country to country. In many European countries, a service charge is already included in the restaurant tab. Tipping is not common in many Asian countries, such as Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. In Japan, almost every form of tipping is actually considered an insult. Jane's tip on international tipping--go online before you go to get the appropriate tips.
