Tips queries

I will be in NYC in 4 weeks time i am researching information about tips, i have read so many reports where people complain about the tips that the staff from different places ranging from taxis to bell manask for . I have been asking myself if it is an obligation because i am a student who works very hard for her money and do not plan to prepare a budget for tips there might be the one off tip but i cannot give 10 dollars or more everytime i just dont plan for that. So i am wondering if it is an obligation to give tips and what is the minimum that for example i can give to a bellman, waiter, taxi etc... I will be staying at the Roosevelt hotel and we are a group of 4 people just in case this info is needed to find out the tip.

Thank you

I do not mean to offend anyone here with this message its just that i am a really hard working girl who has had to save all she could in order to make this trip happen.

Tips queries

One good way to avoid tipping bellmen is not to use them. Just take your own bags into your room. I%26#39;ve done that

Tips queries

An ';obligation'; in what sense? It%26#39;s not an obligation in the sense that you cannot refrain from doing it--of course you can--but it is an obligation in the sense of social decency.

This link gives you a rundown of what you are expected to give:

http://www.citidex.com/943.htm

Do remember that for waiters, at least, this is not a matter of manners--waiters are paid well below minimum wage (they start at about 1.5 pounds an hour) because they are expected to make a living wage from tips. If a group of four people ate at a restaurant and did not tip, they would likely A) be chased out into the street (see previous trip reports where this has happened), and B) make things worse for other British travelers in that they would contribute to the impression that Brits are bad tippers and thus deserve bad service.

And I agree with the previous poster--if you don%26#39;t want to tip taxi drivers and bellhops, don%26#39;t avail yourself of their services.

I ditto crans, especially( servers) or waitress or waiters.They work hard for a living also and depend on customers tipping them.In a taxi even if you all give $1-2 for a short trip it is better than nothing.If you go to mcdonalds you do not have to tip.If you eat in a restaurant Yes tip!If you give the bellperson $2 at least again it is something.I am so glad you asked.In a club$1 a drink.I understand but think of it this way, these people work hard just like you.If you are dining in a restaurant please double the tax and that will be ok at least.Best wishes!Enjoy your trip

p.s. for the taxi and bell person, I meant $1-2 each person in your group. take care!

Definitely avoid taxis, using the services of the doorman, bellman at your hotel. It would still be nice of you to tip the maid, unless you%26#39;re staying in a hostel.

But, unless you plan to eat at McDonalds or slices of pizza or hotdogs from the street you should budget for tips in restaurants. Consider any place you eat will be significantly cheaper than in London, because I assume the wait staff there doesnt work for free and the money comes from the cost of the meal if not the tip.

Coming here assuming tipping is an not an obligation because of your personal situation is like me insisting on driving on the right in London because I%26#39;m more comfortable doing that.

And, I am sorry, but I am really really offended by your post! Is it because you%26#39;re hardworking or a ';girl'; that you assume the local customs don%26#39;t apply?

Would a ';boy'; be more willing to tip?

This gives sophisiticated women travellers a really bad name!

When I was waitiing tables, taxes were with held on my wages for a percentage of my sales, EVEN if no tip was left. (I believe at this establishment it was taxed on 10% of my tickets). So if you do not tip the staff can actually come out behind (not often as it usually evened out for those who tipped ';up';). I am all for budgeting as we are all hard working, but the budget should leave room for tips, dine at places where one can afford the meal with tip or use take out or fast food (no tip required). I often wheel my own bags up or take public transport (no tip required).

JoJoP: You will find most people who work in customer service positions in NYC to be very flexible. So, make their day with a big smile and a warm compliment along with a tip of whatever it is you can give and inform them you wish it could be more, but you are a student. We were all once (or should have or should have been) a student. It%26#39;s the one state in life that allows for some graces of common graces! We get it! Come to NYC, enjoy, tip for ';thanks';, go learn so you can earn the big bucks to tip big! This is all, of course, if you are eating at standard places, etal, like a student traveler. If the other three travelers are better off financially and you know they are going to be taking cabs, eating at better-than-student-traveler restaurants, using bellman, etc. Then it is best advise to tell them of your monetary restrictions in advance and what they can expect of you to contribute in these tipping instances.

evening: This girl is a student so we are teaching her the right thing to do in new york! At least the hardworking girl asked.I can see why that quote hardworking girl was not necessary for the forum to know.I think the hardworking student will think twice now before not tipping LOL.

As DaisyGee recently said, ';release the hounds!!!';

jojopagot - In order to avoid paying tips for dining, go to self-serve or take out places. Pizza, hot dogs, falafel, shish kabab, burritos, coffee bars, salad bars are cheap and delicious options all over the city that don%26#39;t require tips. (Though, many will have a ';tip jar'; on the counter. You cna ignore that.)

Mamoun%26#39;s Falafel

Burrritoville

%26#39;Snice coffee

Aroma coffee

Jamba Juice

Gray%26#39;s Papaya and Hot Dogs

Papaya King and Hot Dogs

There are a lot of things we do in our home countries that we want to continue to do abroad, regardless of local customs. Likewise, there are many local customs that we find bothersome, costly, offensive that we%26#39;d rather avoid when travelling.

(E.g. thoughts that have crossed my mind in past travels: if a donation is only ';suggested'; at certain religious pilgramages, and if they are so gosh-darn pious and religious, and receive so much money from their international parent organization, why should I have to fork over my hard earned money at certain famous religous shrines? I mean, the nerve! Don%26#39;t they know they%26#39;re living off tourism anyway? I%26#39;m just going to hold my head high and not make a donation. )

(What about ';appropriate dress for women'; in certain countries or holy sites? Sheesh! What if I%26#39;m an atheist and think it%26#39;s all bunk anyway? Why should I have to bring extra outfits that I%26#39;m only going to wear for 30 minutes?)

(Why do I have to pay a ';video camera fee'; at certain archaeological locations or ecological parks or rain forest tours?';)

The answer is - too darn bad.

On the other hand, who are we to say how it will work out for you? when you%26#39;re here, don%26#39;t tip if you don%26#39;t want to and let us know what happens.