In: Root » Travel and leisure » Social life
The etiquette of tipping can be tricky. Technically, a tip is extra money given to show appreciation for good service. In reality, restaurants and other services expect you to add 15 to 20 percent to your bill and many businesses pay their employees accordingly, expecting them to earn much of their income in tips. Acknowledging this economic reality, and bowing to long-standing custom, most people rarely withhold tips, even if service is below par. Nothing distracts from the pleasure of good service as much as feeling unsure of whom to tip and how much to give. Keep this checklist in mind to relieve you of those uncertainties. ENTERTAINMENT Restaurants: Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pretax food bill to the server and 15 to 20 percent of the wine charge to the steward. Bartenders: Leave a dollar per round for small parties and 15 to 20 percent of the tab for larger groups. The same applies for cocktail waitresses. Coat checking: Fifty cents to one dollar per coat is fine. The more expensive the establishment (or the bigger the city), the higher the tip. Ladies’ room attendant: If the attendant provides service—including handing you a towel—tip twenty-five to fifty cents. If she assists you in any special way, tip one dollar. If the person sits in a chair and does nothing, feel free to leave without tipping. TRAVELING Concierge. A five-dollar tip is appropriate for an extra service such as a special effort to get you good seats at the theater or a table at a trendy, but booked, restaurant. You can offer the money after each service or leave it at the end of your stay. Housekeeping. Usually no tip is required for a one-night stay. Depending on the service, leave one to two dollars per night, per person. The more expensive the hotel, the higher the tip. Room service. A 15 percent tip is standard; but check your bill (or the bottom of the room service menu) to make sure the gratuity isn’t already included before you add to it. Bellhops. Tip a minimum of one dollar per bag. Tip five dollars if you have three to five bags. If the bellhop opens your room, one to two dollars is appropriate. A five-dollar tip is standard for running an errand. Skycaps and porters. Tip one dollar per bag. Cruises. The 15 percent rule usually applies here. Figure you’ll distribute approximately 15 percent of the cost of the cruise among the service personnel. Some cruise lines provide tipping guidelines; if you’re uncertain what to do, the ship’s purser can help. Vacation resorts. Tip one dollar for service at the pool or on the beach unless one dollar would be much less than 15 percent of your tab. PERSONAL SERVICES Hairdressers. You’re off the hook if the salon owner cuts your hair; owners are not tipped, no matter what service they provide. Otherwise, tip the hairdresser 15 to 20 percent and give the shampoo person a dollar or two, depending on the cost of the haircut. If your salon provides envelopes for tipping, you may put in a 20 percent tip and ask the hairdresser or salon manager to distribute the money. Barber. Tip 15 percent of the bill, but leave a minimum of one dollar. Manicurist, pedicurist, massage therapist. Give between 15 and 20 percent of the bill. HOME SERVICES Service people, including window cleaners, painters, repair crews, chimney sweeps, and others. Tip between ten and twenty dollars, depending on the size of the job and the number of days they are at your house (unless they own the business). Don’t tip plumbers or electricians unless they perform service beyond the call of duty. Deliveries. For grocery delivery, tip one dollar a bag. For pizza delivery, tip one dollar per pizza. If you order a full takeout meal, tip the delivery person as you would a waiter: 15 percent. Doormen and building superintendent. Tip from one to five dollars, depending on the special services they do for you. For example, if the superintendent responds promptly and cheerfully to your call for a late-night plumbing emergency, five dollars would be a nice gesture. When your doorman performs a small, courteous service (holding a package for you or helping you with your luggage, for example), you may wait and offer him a few dollars for several weeks of such services, rather than giving him money each time. Christmas tipping is the main event in these relationships. (See below.) SUGGESTIONS FOR HOLIDAY TIPPING Holiday tipping is optional, of course. But if you receive courteous and reliable service from certain people year round, a gift certificate or cash bonus is a nice way to show your appreciation. Hairdresser, manicurist, babysitter/nanny, housekeeper. For the most part, cash or a carefully chosen gift certificate is a good choice for someone with whom you have a direct relationship. Depending on the length of time you’ve done business, the cost of the service, and your own budget, you may want to tip from $20 to $100. Delivery people. Twenty dollars is appropriate for your postal carrier, Fed Ex and UPS drivers, and any other regular (daily or weekly) deliveries. Trash and recycling crew. Give $20 per person if you’ve received reliable and friendly service. Newspaper carrier. Give or send $10 to $20 if the paper arrives daily and lands reasonably near the porch. Doormen and superintendent. Holiday tips are more than a way to express appreciation: for some workers, seasonal tips amount to 10 to 15 percent of their annual income. The amount you give may vary according to your budget, the number of special services you’ve received over the year, and the relative luxury of the building. There’s no “right” amount. A 1998 survey by the New York Post found that most New York City residents tip anywhere from $30 to $100. Of course, in posh apartment buildings, a holiday envelope can contain up to ten times more.
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