To tip or not to tip
Arriving at a hotel room with the member of staff whom has just assisted you in finding the way and also brought your bags, there is a momentary awkward pause as he/she waits for ‘something’. You are still absorbing the luxurious fittings, the view from the window and the contents of the mini-bar. Suddenly you become aware they have not yet left. Slightly embarrassed, you apologetically fumble with your cash, a note is offered, it is accepted, but you are left with the distinct impression that they are unimpressed or equally embarrassed. Was that enough, did you get the exchange rate wrong; maybe you actually gave too much?
It is a scenario all but the most savvy of travellers or thick-skinned of us are painfully familiar with, and questions we have often asked ourselves. What is correct gratuities etiquette and how much to tip and when is the right moment to do so? Of course all situations are different; your baggage may have been transported to the room by way of a golf buggy and therefore you may not feel so inclined to provide as much as to the poor young man who carried all your baggage single-handedly up three flights of stairs because the lift was not working!
There is also often a gulf in culture and wealth, both of which can provide a variety of expectations of the gratuity that a hospitality industry worker may expect. Tipping in the United States is almost customary and it is common practice to see American tourists paying small gratuities for almost every service that they receive wherever they travel.
The various cultures throughout Europe have their own customs for providing tips, often dependant on whether it is also common practice for establishments to include a ‘service charge’ within the bill. There was even a television campaign for a well known high street bank in the United Kingdom which inferred that tipping within Iceland was actually considered insulting. However the truth is whilst a tip is never expected as it is usually included in the bill I doubt it is ever refused! Japan however, where gratuities are seldom given, the offer of a tip may cause a degree of embarrassment, confusion and even offence.
Gratuitous gratitude
In some countries, including Egypt (baksheesh), Morocco and even parts of Turkey (bahşiş) tipping is almost de rigueur, and even the tiniest ‘service’ will result in a proffered hand. Examples of this may include showing you the ‘very best’ spot to get your photograph, or just opening a door to see inside a room. It is always a good idea to carry some small denomination coinage around with you for when you feel such a service genuinely warrants a small payment. A word of advice though, if in Egypt do not ever hand your camera to anybody to take a photograph of you, you may have to pay to get it back! (...)
The level of service received and the circumstances of the visit will obviously affect the size of the gratuity. A one off visit to a restaurant where a good meal and excellent service resulted in an extremely pleasant evening will hopefully be rewarded accordingly. Poor service will usually result in little or no tip at all! However a favourite restaurant that you visit regularly and where you have a rapport with the staff will often mean they receive better tips, this encourages better service, you keep returning and it becomes a self perpetuating cycle.
More difficult to judge is the method and size of gratuity that is effective when staying for a week or more at a hotel or resort hotel. It is likely that you will be served by many different staff, chamber maids, bar, waiting and reception staff, pool attendants and concierges, all of which will expect a little remuneration for their services. This is often where some travellers falter, providing a tip for every little act of hospitality they receive. This can work out extremely expensive and may even prove slightly offensive to the receiver as it can be misconceived that their benefactor is actually ‘showing off’ their affluence. (...)
A tipping strategy
It is important to assess the particular person that you are dealing with, how often are they likely to be ‘servicing’ your needs. A chamber maid, waiter at breakfast or pool attendant is likely to deal with you regularly, but the waitress in the expensive a la carte restaurant may only see you once or twice. Upset the wrong member of the team and it could prove costly in terms of your comfort especially as it is likely they will communicate their displeasure with other hotel staff! A horses head in your bed is probably unlikely, but the hospitality industry is awash with stories how of staff have avenged their grievance with guests.
It is appropriate to provide a small, but reasonable tip to staff which are unlikely to be in contact with you often throughout your stay. However those that will be attending to your needs on a daily basis require a more well thought out tipping strategy. I suggest a sensible initial sum is offered to them at the earliest opportunity, hopefully your first encounter with them. Make it perfectly clear that they will get a further tip before you leave if you feel you have been well looked after. This will usually ensure that they work especially hard to keep you happy and will often ask if you have any special requirements. Your room will be well serviced each day and you will often be given the best table available when you arrive for a meal.
by Iain Mallory, Mallory on Travel | Read more:
