Generally, if someone is transporting/moving your bags, give them at least $1 per bag.When dining, it is customary to give the server at least 15% of the check total as a gratuity in addition to the check. This is if you have a server that comes to your table throughout the meal. This does not apply at places where one orders at a counter, picks up their food and sits down. There may be a tip jar on the counter there. Throw your change in there if you wish. In the States, some jobs do not earn the normal minimum wage as most laborers do. Jobs that are considered to be customarily tipped, like servers and bartenders, can earn a far lower server s minimum wage depending on the state. This can be as low as $3-4 per hour. These people rely on tips as part of their income. Start at 15% and move up if the service warrants more for a server. Give a bartender at least 50 cents to $1 per drink.I would give a taxi driver 10-20% of my fare as a tip, depending on how large the fare was and how helpful and friendly he/she was during my ride. Lots of luggage would earn a little more of a tip.Have a great trip!
At the airport? Well, I generally just ignore anybody who tries to help me. When I m in an airport (I am a U.S. Resident an do a lot of travel within the states), I generally just keep to myself and when those people come to me looking to help with luggage, I just tell them no. If you DO want help with luggage, you might tip that person a few dollars. When I travel, if I bring a lot of luggage, I will tip the taxi driver or whoever helps me get my luggage to my hotel, then if I need help getting bags to my room, I tip the bellboy.I basically tip a few dollars. Nothing massive. And don t feel obligated to tip everyone.
Unless airport personnel have performed over and above they do not get tips from me..I do not let anyone else handle my bags though.Cab drivers are appropriate.Meals are a basic 15% going up and down with the quality of the service.Tips are TO INSURE PROMPT SERVICE.Reality, you will not see most of them again so do not feel bad about staying in budget.You are young and most do not expect any tip much less the standard.It is also assumed you do not have a lot of cash ( young thing again)and will be treated accordingly so over tipping is silly.Eddie is accurate with his rates.
Since 9-11, the whole way bags are treated is different, so I generally don t tip because the people who take my bags are government agents of some sort. Taxis -- $2 minimum. I normally do 20% but lots of people do 10%.Restaurant -- 10% for horrible service. 20% for very good service. (This only includes restaurants where you are seated and have a server; not fast food places, delis or coffee houses.)Hotel maids -- between $2-5 per day per person. Otherwise, there s not much else to tip for as a traveler. Welcome!
The practice of tipping seems to be growing. I m trying to resist it (I really hate the idea of tipping take-out cashiers) but it s a losing battle. I suppose with the downturn in the economy people are getting a little more generous, including me.I d say watch out for hustlers, people just trying to prey on tourists and make them tip out of guilt. In New York this includes: people who flag a cab for you on the street even though you can perfectly well do it, people who help you buy subway tickets then get demanding, and people who will hand you free literature of various kinds then ask you to pay for it. Mostly in interactions like this I just say no thanks . Although every once in awhile on a whim I ll go ahead and let the hustle happen.With luggage, if it is someone in uniform who works there, I d say yes, tip them a few dollars. Also valets with car parking if you have a car. But not random people who are trying to grab your luggage. I m trying to imagine the circumstances where multiple people would be carrying your luggage and failing.