Part of holidaying to another country is learning how to adapt to local customs. While America is very similar to Australia in many ways, it has a unique custom or practice that is extremely difficult for some people to understand. That concept is called tipping.
Avoid embarrassment or uncomfortable situations by learning more about tipping while on holiday to America.
Photo by Dan Smedley on Unsplash
What is Tipping?
Tipping is the act of providing additional compensation to an individual for performing a specific task or service. While it is an optional act, it is often considered necessary by many people and industries.
The reason why tipping is so popular in America is that it provides people with the opportunity to earn a little extra money. Some companies and businesses are not required by law to pay their staff minimum wage if they accept tips. This means in order for these people to make a living wage, tipping for their services is required.
How Much is Required When Tipping?
The amount you tip someone is really dependent upon a lot of factors. Americans take a lot of things into consideration when tipping. Some of the things that are taken into account include:
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- Friendliness of service
- Knowledge
- Willingness to go above and beyond
- Length of time the individual worked for you
- Cost of the service before tax
If you feel that you got good service and all of the above was met, most people usually tip approximately 15 to 20 percent. The amount is determined by how much the bill was before sales tax was applied. There are many tipping apps that you can use to work out the percentage due so that you don’t have to scratch your head doing maths every time a bill arrives!
If you get exceptional service, you may wish to tip more. That is perfectly acceptable. However, it is not required.
Who Should Receive a Tip?
The last thing you want to do is offer someone a tip when they aren’t used to getting a tip. It makes things uncomfortable. The following are some of the people who may accept tips:
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- Waiters/waitresses
- Tour guides
- Porters at the airport or hotels
- Concierge staff
- Baristas
- Bartenders
Tipping is Not Always Allowed
Some companies have rules and policies against employees accepting tips. If an employee declines a tip that you offered, it may be because their employer does not allow it. It is always better to offer a tip and have it declined than to not tip.
What Happens with Bad Service
Most of the time you will encounter good service while holidaying in America. However, there is a chance you may have a bad experience. What happens then?
If you have bad service, you are not required to tip. Most people, however, will usually give a lower tip such as 5 to 10 percent of the bill. It really depends on your comfort level and what happened during the incident.
Tipping will be a new concept to you while you holiday in America. Hopefully, this guide will give you a better understanding of this unique service industry related concept and help you know who to tip and when to tip while on holiday.
And before you decide to leave for America, we have a tip for you too. To have a guaranteed smooth check-in on your travel, book a spot at Ace Airport Parking before you leave! We have the best value in long and short-term airport parking deals in town, with a 24/7 secure facility, valet parking option, award-winning customer service, fast and free airport shuttles!
