Comments

• 

  Melanie Ball November 24, 2009 at 11:13pm

  An Australian perspective for you - as Allan was seeking earlier.
  
  Tipping here is nowhere near as prevalent as in many parts of the world, because most - of course not all - people in public-service industries earn a reasonable basic wage. That said, though, no waitress would knock back a bonus few extra dollars at the end of a shift. While tipping 10% in restaurants is common, it is not the rule and in cafes, coffee shops - and restaurants - most people tip only if we think the service has exceeded what we should reasonably expect. Everyone might toss in some extra coins if we have had a great few hours of drinks and pizza at a favourite place. Sometimes, however, that money goes into a communal jar and the pool is distributed across the whole staff so you might have to give the money directly to the staff member you want to have it. Tipping taxi drivers, hotel porters, etc is almost unheard of.
  
  And getting back to the comment that started this discussion, I get annoyed being asked and expected to fork out for group tips to a driver or guide, for example, on famils because these should be covered by the host as part of the package. I am however always happy to tip someone who I deal with personally while travelling for good or special service - despite my non-tipping background! - and particularly in developing countries where wages are so dramatically less than mine.
  Following local custom on this is always the best policy - you can all save lots of tipping money by visiting Australia!!! - but I actively dislike the American (and in some other countries) policy of including a "tip" on a bill - call it a Value Added tax and be done with it! Tips should always be voluntary!
• 

  Mary Jo Manzanares November 24, 2009 at 6:55pm

  Following local custom is generally a good policy -- whether on the issue of tipping or anything else.
  
  Where tipping is the norm, refusing to do so won't change the greater policy or increase wages. It only hurts the worker, the last person who should be caught in this squeeze. (I wish everyone was paid a living wage so that they did not have to rely on tips.)
• 

  Maralyn D Hill November 24, 2009 at 6:44pm

  In Europe, workers generally make more and tipping is less for wait staff and generally not expected for housekeeping. Each country is so different, that is why I check policy.
• 

  Allan Lynch November 24, 2009 at 6:26pm

  Ah, we're probably discussing apples and oranges. I have never been to Mexico and only rarely cover the US. US destinations are harder to deal with than Asian, African and European ones. In Europe, I believe the economics are different.
• 

  Maralyn D Hill November 24, 2009 at 6:20pm

  From my own experience when I consulted to hotels, the service charge gets divided so many ways it is unbelievable. You are correct in saying they should pay the stay properly, but should and do are different. I just know in the U.S. and Mexico, unless there is a "Resort Fee," they generally don't. Or, on rare occasions there will be a no tipping policy--then they are being paid enough. In general, housekeeping especially, are not paid much over minimum wage.
• 

  Allan Lynch November 24, 2009 at 3:52pm

  Elinor,
  
  This topic started on another site. I made the point that I haven't tipped housekeepers because my hotel friends say they are in the different pay class. They have higher hourly rates, often are unionized and have benefits. But yours is a very valid point. And the industry can't claim the public won't support it via room rates. How can a property charging hundreds of dollars a night not afford to pay staff a living wage?
  
  If the rack rate is $299 and they hotel still have the balls to charge $13.95 for 24-hour internet service in my room (vs free internet at an $89-a-night place), there has to be room for staff benefits. Now, I live in Canada where we have universal health care, so that's a huge savings. One of my friends lives in the US. Two years ago his insurance package cost $980 a month. I have an almost identical top up policy. It costs me $77 (and that was after a horrific 40% jump when the stock market declined).
• 

  Dr.Elinor Garely November 24, 2009 at 3:31pm

  What I find curious -- is that no one is addressing the larger management issue - of salaries paid to hotel employees. Rather than look to the guest to supplement inadequate salaries (and often no benefits) the focus should be on the hotel owners/operators and current wage/salary levels.
• 

  Lana Bortolot November 24, 2009 at 6:01am

  Oh gosh. I consider three things: 1). If I were to leave a daily tip of $3-5, would I be happy to pay that for the level of accommodations I'm getting on a press trip? 2). Do I usually waste that amount on some frivolous purchase in my own home town? 3). As a former restaurant server, do I recall every time--25+years later--when I was overtipped by a generous customer? Answer: yes. Do I try to return that karma? Yes.
• 

  Maralyn D Hill November 24, 2009 at 5:52am

  That is a great point Allan. That is why we always ask country tipping practices before we travel somewhere. I'm sure their take will be a lot different.
• 

  Allan Lynch November 24, 2009 at 1:25am

  What is interesting is how the only people who seem to reply are US-based. I wonder how Europeans and Aussies feel about this? Different cultures/views on money have different ideas of what is acceptable and what is over-the-top.