Visiting USA

[Winston]

Can anybody answer a couple of questions on tipping?

I know it's customary to tip at restaurants and bars, and also for cab drivers and room maids. My impression is that 15% at restaurants is the minimum, 20% if you get good service, and I've read that one should leave $2 per day for the room maid.

My questions then are:

1) How does one tip at restaurants, in practice. Do you hand the money to the waiter when he brings the check or leave it at your table when leaving the restaurant?

2) Should I tip 15% minimum at bars also. Or is it less, say $2 tip for a $20-25 check?

3) How much should I tip a cab driver?

4) How do I practically tip the room maid. By leaving a $2 bill in the ashtray/on the desk/on the bed or what?

5) Are there any other situations where one is expected to tip people?

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Winston
1) How does one tip at restaurants, in practice. Do you hand the money to the waiter when he brings the check or leave it at your table when leaving the restaurant?

At most restaurants you pay your server, so you can either just leave the amount of the bill plus your tip on the table and leave, or pay your bill, get some change and leave the tip on the table when you leave.

2) Should I tip 15% minimum at bars also. Or is it less, say $2 tip for a $20-25 check?

I don't think bar tipping has protocols as well established as restaurants. Part of it depends on how you're getting your drink (straight from the bar, from a server, are you sitting at a table, etc), part on the quality of the establishment, part on the size of the bill (one or two drinks at a time, or are you running a tab) and part on how hot the bartender/waitress is. If I was just getting one drink and then paying, I wouldn't tip less than $1, even if the drink was $4-$5. But again, I think there's more room to play on bar tipping.

3) How much should I tip a cab driver?

Standard protocol, IIRC, is 10-15% - but again, I'd never tip less than $1.

4) How do I practically tip the room maid. By leaving a $2 bill in the ashtray/on the desk/on the bed or what?

Just leave the money in an obvious place in the room at the end of your stay - on the desk, dresser, night stand, etc.

5) Are there any other situations where one is expected to tip people?

Yes. If you have food delivered, 10-15% of the bill. One dollar per item at a coat check. Two to five dollars to a valet for getting your car. At least $1 per bag for a hotel bellhop (minimum $2). In theory, 50 cents to a dollar for a washroom attendant, although I almost never tip them since I always help myself to towels, etc.

Here's a good reference:

http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/tipping/

[Winston]

Thanks alot Kontiki, that was very helpful information all around. Now I have no excuse for not doing it right!

I actually thought the $2 per day for the room maid was to be left on a daily basis, but of course it makes more sense to add it up and leave it at the end of the stay.

[Joseph]

I not rich, so I give 15% plus a little. That is I will round up. Say the bill 24.95. 10% is 2.50 + 1.25 = 3.75, so I would give them 4.00 even.
In Las Vegas we gave 5.00 for cabs + fare, bellhops, valet etc. In nice restaurants 20% or round down to the next dollar.

No. 5 I would say no.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Winston
Can anybody answer a couple of questions on tipping?

I know it's customary to tip at restaurants and bars, and also for cab drivers and room maids. My impression is that 15% at restaurants is the minimum, 20% if you get good service, and I've read that one should leave $2 per day for the room maid.

We paid the last day.

My questions then are:

1) How does one tip at restaurants, in practice. Do you hand the money to the waiter when he brings the check or leave it at your table when leaving the restaurant?

Leave it at the table or if you used a CC, there will a tip line you fill in and then total your bill.

2) Should I tip 15% minimum at bars also. Or is it less, say $2 tip for a $20-25 check?

I will ask my daughter when they are here.

3) How much should I tip a cab driver?

5.00 No more. However get a map and know where you are going and about how long to get there. An SF cabs took my daughter and her sons from P-39 to the Science bldg. near the Golden Gate bridge. My wife, son and I took another cab just behind hers, we arrived 10 min before she did and we paid like 15.00 and her driver wanted 25.00 and my son 6' 2" and 270 lbs told her drive to fvck off and threw 15.00 in his face and told if you don't like it call a cop.

4) How do I practically tip the room maid. By leaving a $2 bill in the ashtray/on the desk/on the bed or what?

On the desk were she will see it.

5) Are there any other situations where one is expected to tip people?

No, I hope.

If you ever get to SF again, PM me and I will give my phone no. to you and show you around. I live in the Napa Valley. One of my daughter works at the Silverado Country Club and the other at the Marriott. .

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Winston

1) How does one tip at restaurants, in practice. Do you hand the money to the waiter when he brings the check or leave it at your table when leaving the restaurant?

2) Should I tip 15% minimum at bars also. Or is it less, say $2 tip for a $20-25 check?

Actually, if anything you should tip more on bars. Especially if you are going up to the bar, and paying for drinks as you get them. This insures prompt service and good drinks.

I have tipped as high as 100% at bars (highest on purpose was closer to 50%).

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

another thing, if you get a drink for free...

increase the tip by the price of the drink

Jon Miller

[Winston]

Thanks Joseph! I really liked San Francisco the last time, lots of sights and a friendly atmosphere, so I could be going back to revisit some time. And I must say the climate there was more suiting for a Nordic guy like me than it was in e.g. New Mexico and Arizona.

Yes one has to be careful when riding a cab in an unknown city, but there really isn't a lot you can do to avoid being cheated "a little", if that's what the driver wants to do. I'll try to stay alert though.

And thanks Jon Miller for the bar advice. I'll be attempting to tip "on purpose" most of the time.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by Winston
Thanks Sikander!

I'm getting more excited about it with each passing day, now it's only 14 days till I arrive. Today I got my hotel in New York booked, at a very favourable price, it's on E. 57th St, close to the Southern end of Central Park.

Your point about experiencing the beauty of the open countryside, and the stunning scenery in the West is well taken. In 2000, I had a fantastic time travelling along the old Route 66 in a rented car. I was "on the road" for 14 days and travelled through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, a little bit in Utah, and finally California. I also ended up in San Francisco and had 4 days there before flying home. It was a marvellous trip, and I would highly recommend it to others, although it can be a little exhausting and also quite expensive when you're travelling alone like I did. But you get to take in some fantastic sights which you can't really get any other way.

This time, it's about the big city sights. If I go again sometime, it will probably be a combination of the two.

Ah, I thought you went to New York last time, my bad. I agree that even by going with one other person you can cut your expenses nearly in half. Probably less than that if you can hook up with an American who wants to make a similar trip and already has a car.

[Sikander]

If you tip daily at the hotel sometimes your maid will leave extra stuff in your room. This might not be worth anything to someone who doesn't need a whole lot of crap in small portions, but at a nicer hotel it can sometimes work out to be more valuable than the tips themselves.

[Timexwatch]

Here are some of my recommendations for cheap/resonable places to eat. These are the more corporate/chain places that will give you bang for your buck. I'll follow with some restaurant recommendations later.

Chipotle

It's basically a Tex-Mex Burrito place. The inside is modern (corregated metal celings, steel tables). You go inside, select burrito/fajita/etc, then the meat, then the insides, like salsa/beans/lettuce/etc.. It's a bit assembly line, but you're in and out quick. The reason to go are the burritors that are three or four inches thick and at least 5 or 6 inches long. The cost of a burrito usually tops out at round 6 bucks, but it's two meals worth of food. Here are the locations:

2600 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

1837 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036

1629 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009


Five Guys

Five Guys are the premier burger place in D.C. No arguments. They combine cheap prices with burgers comprised of several large, freash meat patties with toppings of your choosing. The fries are cooked in peanut oil and given out in generous portions. When you get a drink, you get as much as you want. While you wait, you can munch on peanuts and chat. Everytime I go, I get a delicious, juicy burger. I've never been dissatisfied. You can find them here:

Five Guys Howard University
(202) 986-2235
2301 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

Five Guys Chinatown
808 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC
202-393-2900

Five Guys Georgetown
1335 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-0400


Julia's Empanadas

It's kind of ghetto and not that fancy, but you can get an Empanada (kind of like a hand-held pot pie) filled with meat and veggies. The upside is that it's a tasty little package that you can take and eat with you. It's good if you have to eat and walk. Here are some of the locations:

Julia's Empanadas
(202) 387-4100
1410 U St NW
Washington, DC 20009

Julia's Empanadas
(202) 861-8828
1221 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

Julia's Empanadas
(202) 789-1878
1000 Vermont Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005


Moby Dick House of Kabab

Moby's is a local chain that's pretty barebones in terms of presentation. It's good because the food is fairly authentic and tasty. The kebabs are served on styrofoam plates with lettuce, tomatoes, rice, nan and a little bit of yogurt. It's quick to go on, have a short, decent and authentic kebab and then leave. I go only to the Georgetown location. That one is a hole in the wall, but it has character. It's located here:

Moby Dick House of Kabab
(202) 333-4400
1070 31st St NW
Washington, DC 20007


Like I said, more to follow on restaurants to sit down and eat at.....

[Winston]

Ooh! Now I'm getting all hungry.

Thanks very much, these will be good to try out while I'm out seeing the sights. They'll go into my (rather casual) day-planning, which is an ongoing project at this time. So it comes very convenient for me right now, I really appreciate this Timexwatch.

[Timexwatch]

I'm formulating my restaurant list (Places I've been and places friends recommend) but I think I'm going to have to go out for a run or a bike ride before I finish that up. It'll be posted tonight

[Winston]

That's perfectly all right, Timex, don't set aside other things for this. Any time within the next week will do fine!

Maybe someone could answer me if it's always 110/120 V voltage you get in the U.S.? Are there any places where you get 220/240 V? And also how many Herz, 50-60 Hz, right? I've bought an adapter plug that I can use for American outlets, but I'm a little lost on the common voltage/Herz thing.

[KrazyHorse]

120 Volt

The only 240 volt outlets you will find commonly in residential settings are those which are for large appliances (electric ovens, for instance).

These don't have the same plug configuration as your appliances, and might be (not certain) triphase, which would wreck anything not configured to work with that.

For euro appliances you need a 120 to 240 voltage converter. They're available in any electronics store.