Over the past couple of years, the way we do things has changed dramatically. We have come to appreciate those that work in service a great deal more. There is no better way to thank a person than to leave a nice gratuity. I think we can all agree that tipping for exemplary service is essential. Even tipping for poor service is notable if done correctly. The problem is knowing tipping etiquette and how to properly tip in any situation appropriately. If someone performs a service for you, it is perfectly acceptable to tip.
Whether traveling across the United States or in your hometown, knowing how to tip for services is good. In some parts of the world, tipping is not the custom, so you should research it before traveling abroad, but here in the United States, tipping is widely accepted and expected.
Restaurants
Most people working as a waiter or a waitress do not get paid very much and depend on tips to supplement their wages.
Food and Beverage are the most common of all tipping etiquette. My general rule for tipping is 15% – 20% for a sit-down meal if the service is good. I don’t mean the food but the service. Was the waiter/waitress attentive but not overbearing? Did you have to ask for a refill? Did the waiter/waitress go out of their way to make sure that they took care of you? I take all of that into consideration when tipping. Suppose the service is not good then 10%. That lets the waiter/waitress know they need to improve. I rarely have a bad experience with a restaurant. My husband has higher expectations and isn’t as generous with his tips. In the end, though, we balance each other.
I have eaten at a sit-down restaurant that was not very expensive, and even tipping 20% would only be a dollar or two. I will leave more if the waiter/waitress works just as hard as a more expensive meal.
Tip Jars are tricky. If they take my order and I have to fix my drink, carry my tray and clean up after myself, and I decide to tip, a dollar or my change goes in the jar. I gladly tip more generously if they take my order, bring my food to the table, and clean up after me. From what I have learned, whether you leave your tip in the jar, on the table, or your card makes no real difference. Most places divide the tips evenly.
Don’t forget and overlook the bartender. Tipping a dollar per drink or 15% – 20% for a tab is a good guideline. If your bartender is giving out advice or giving you one-on-one attention, then help them out and tip more.
Food and Grocery Delivery
Delivery Services are growing more and more popular. I don’t have very much experience in this area except for pizza delivery, and for the past 7-8 years, I haven’t lived in a location that can receive deliveries. So, for food delivery, you are tipping for them to bring it straight to you. Tipping should be the same standard 15% – 20% and more if they deliver in harsh weather or road conditions.
Grocery Delivery is rapidly growing, and I think it is a phenomenal service. I do not use this service, but I think it is an essential service for people who cannot get to the grocery store on their own. Older adults, people who have just had surgery, new mothers, people with limited mobility, and many others can benefit from this service. It is essential to tip them. Tipping a dollar a bag or 10% of the bill is a good rule of thumb. Tip more if they were accommodating.
Curb Service Pickup is a service where you order your groceries online, and the clerk delivers them to your car when you arrive. I would tip a dollar a bag.
If someone takes your cart out to the car and unloads it for you, I think a dollar tip would be appreciated. At one time, some of the larger chain grocery stores frowned upon tipping, but that isn’t the case now.
Hotels
Hotels provide several opportunities for tipping, and knowing how to tip comes in handy. We had to learn the hard way.
We had always carried our bags to the room ourselves in my travels. We recently stayed at a hotel where the policy was to deliver our bags to our room. Oh! It was nice. We checked in, had our bags delivered, and headed to dinner. We tipped the Bellhop a few dollars. Looking back, we probably did not tip enough. Since then, we have tipped $1 – $2 per bag with a $2 minimum. Our experience with bellhops has been outstanding. They are very friendly, and my husband usually asks questions about the area. So far, it has been well worth the money.
The Doorman has different responsibilities and usually doesn’t need a tip unless they summon a taxi or accept a package delivery for you. In these instances, a dollar or two tip is an excellent way to thank them. Some may even perform some concierge services. If so, tip as you would a concierge.
A Concierge works for the hotel you are staying at and assists you by making arrangements for tours, restaurant reservations, acquiring tickets to the theater, and more. They should be the expert on the area and the ones you need to see for any questions that pertain to the area and events. Tipping for making reservations or for acquiring tickets should be $5. Tipping for directions and recommendations is not necessary.
Tipping for housekeeping at hotels is a polite gesture. After all, they are cleaning up after you. Make sure to tip every day so that your tip is going to the correct person. Leave a note letting the cleaning staff know that the money is for them and not just money lying around. $1 – $2 per person a day is a good amount. If it is a more expensive hotel, leave $3 -$5 per person each day. The last trip we took was just two nights, so we skipped out on housekeeping since we had enough washcloths to last the entire stay.
Room service should be treated as dining in a restaurant and tip 15-20% of the total bill unless the gratuity is included.
Valet Parking is not only found at hotels but other places as well. I have little experience with Valet Parking, and it still makes me nervous. However, it is an excellent service, and we have had good experiences. We tip $2 upon returning the vehicle to us. If it is a complimentary service, you can tip more. Usually, complimentary valet parking is to help control the flow of traffic.
Beauty Services
Day Spa Services are a popular service when traveling. Anytime you get massage therapy, esthetician services, manicure or pedicure service, facials, or body treatments, it is proper to tip your service provider 15-20% of the total bill.
Salon Professionals, including your hairdressers and Barber, should be tipped 15- 20% for their service.
Other Services
For transportation services, such as taxis, Uber, Lyft, or other vehicle services, you should tip 15%. For services such as a shuttle service from the airport to your hotel or cruise terminal, consider $1-$2 per person unless you have multiple bags, then tip more. My experience with shuttle services is that they load and unload your bags for you, and you should tip.
A Skycap is an airport concierge-type service where an attendant handles luggage, car seats, strollers, and wheelchairs. They can also do curbside check-in and assist disabled passengers. A gratuity of $1-2 per bag, with a $2 minimum, is acceptable.
There are several tipping opportunities while traveling that I have not experienced yet, and I hope to be well prepared when I do come upon these opportunities.
Please feel free to comment on any tipping opportunities I have not mentioned.
Don’t forget to follow me on social media!
Very nice and useful guide! Thanks a lot! I wish that in every country around the world the tipping rules would be the same. That could make our travels easier, cause in some counties tips are included in the bill but in some – it’s rude to do tipping and not always you can guess what to do.