Etiquette: Tipping 101
By Michele Blandino
Tipping - leaving a monetary gratuity as a sign of appreciation for a service given - is often the source of confusion for many people. The question of whether or not to tip someone and how much to leave often leaves many people perplexed. To help you sort through some of these questions, here are the answers to some of your most common tipping questions.
Dining Out
Tipping is most often associated with dining out and for most people, it's something that's done without much thought. It has long been customary to leave a tip of 15%-20% of the total bill, with higher amounts reserved from exceptional service. What many people don't realize, however, is that tips should be calculated before any adjustments are made for coupons and other discounts. You should also consider leaving a larger tip if your party consists of 8 people or more.
There are two notable exceptions to the 15%-20% guideline. The first is when you are dining at a buffet. In this case, the service is typically limited to providing drinks and clearing away dirty dishes and so 10% is typically acceptable. The second is for room service. Again, 10%-15% is generally considered to be acceptable in this case - just be sure that a gratuity hasn't already been added to your bill.
At a Bar
You should generally tip a bartender an amount equal to 10%-15% of your bill. Similar to restaurant employees, the amount you tip in a bar will depend on the type of service you receive as well as the complexity of what you ask for; an order of four specialty drinks usually warrants a bigger tip than a request for 4 draft beers.
Food Deliveries
For deliveries of food made to your home or office, 10%-15% is customary with high amounts reserved for speedy service or particularly large orders.
Hotels
When staying in a hotel, there are a few situations in which you may find yourself reaching into your pocket. If a bellhop assists you with taking your luggage to your room, you should offer a gratuity of $1 per bag, more if a bag is unusually heavy.
You should also leave a few dollars for the housekeeper, particularly if you have made requests for added services such as additional towels, bed linens or other items. While tips generally range from $5-$10, exactly how much you leave depends on how much cleaning the staff will have to do after you depart and how expensive the room is per night.
Taxi and Limousine Drivers
The standard tip for taxi and limosuine drivers is 10% - 15% of the total fare or charge. As in most tipping scenarios, the lower end of the range is reserved for sub par service while higher amounts should be given to those who are particularly helpful and courteous.
For More Information:
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