Tipping Etiquette When Traveling

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Tipping Etiquette When Traveling - By: Richard Chape, Posted on: 2007-08-23

Traveling is a good way to experience new things, but certain practical matters can be a pain in the rear quarters. Tipping is one of those things. Following is a general guide for handling tipping when abroad.

The first issue is figuring out what constitutes a reasonable tip. For the most part, you can use fifteen percent as a default figure. When in doubt, add this to the bill and you usually will end up okay.

The next issue has to do with the tipping burden. Simply put, who is responsible for initiating the tip? In some countries, the tip is automatically added to your bill for services. In others, it is up to you to cough it up.

Touch down and pay out. No, I am not talking about betting on football. Instead, I am referring to the airport where you will be doing your first tips if you packed heavy. Skycaps will help you move that luggage and you should pay them a few dollars.

You next tipping requirement will probably be your taxi driver. The baseline of service is the driver getting you from the airport to your hotel without any bodily injury. This deserves a tip of ten percent. You can add on for improved service.

In every movie, you see the bellhop standing awkwardly waiting for a tip for carrying bags up to the room of the movie star. So, how much are you supposed to give? A couple bucks should cover it, but more gets better service in the future.

In some countries, you can evade the entire tipping subject. Why? The act is frowned upon and can even be considered an outright insulting act. No need to feel akward about it. The tip is usually already built into the bill.

The issue of tipping is going to come front and center for a lot of people in 2008. The Olympics are being held in China and the Chinese do not find tipping acceptable. Throw in the language differences and there is going to a lot of confusion.

There are other often visited countries where tipping is unnecessary. The include Russia, Switzerland and Holland in Europe. Most of the countries in Asia, including Thailand and Cambodia frown upon it as well.

At the end of the day, tipping is about respect. If someone treats you well or takes that extra step, show them respect by paying out a few bucks.

Article Source: http://higradesearch.com

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