USA tipping allowance anyone?

[PickwickPaperFile]

Does Anyone have any idea how much to budget for a couple of weeks travelling round in the US? Mix of staying in national parks and LA, mid range hotels will be eating and drinking at mid range bars, cafes and restaurants. Is 20% the norm? Don’t want to stiff people and equally don’t want to pay over the top unnecessarily. TIA.

I got back from Florida last week. Pretty much everywhere had suggested tips worked out for you on the bill, usually 18%, 20% and 22%. We tipped 20% across the board and always asked the staff if they would prefer cash, most didn’t have a preference but at Denny’s they specifically asked us from the outset to tip in cash.

We cleared customs in under five minutes. The border guard scanned our passports and asked us when we were last in the USA, the purpose of our trip and how long we were staying. We were not asked to provide any evidence of accommodation or return plane tickets and they didn’t ask to see our phones.

Tip for a positive experience with US immigration:

Fly via Dublin and you do US pre-clearance before you board the transatlantic flight.

The officers aren't having to deal with high volumes/peaks of passengers (who are generally tired and tetchy) as flights arrive, and are (from.my experience) much friendlier than those at the big US airports (Denver was an exception). Plus, if your are unlucky enough to be denied entry, you haven't wasted your time on a multi hour flight.

Also, if you can start your journey in Dublin (take a cheap flight from GB ?) you'll benefit from much cheaper flight - especially Business Class ones - due to the much lower air passenger tax

Can you expand on this?

Ok just read previous posts. Came in last Friday - no issues whatsoever.

Re the National Parks, do you know to buy an America the Beautiful pass?
I didn’t so thank you @PoppyBaxter

@LifeExperience come on, it’s why I started the thread to be able to find out

Great! It saved us loads and we didnt see it advertised anywhere over there. We went to 6 or 7 parks and some were charging $35ish each to enter.

I think people have not travelled there in recent years if they think 15 is fine. 15% would be considered a bad tip. 20% is standard. Qantas even state its 20-25% in their travel guide.

don’t have to believe me just look online. Some websites say 15-20 but when you read the text they inevitably say 15% would be considered a bad tip for substandard service

I spend a few weeks a year working in the US and 15% is no longer considered acceptable.

many many restaurants now have a discreet reminder on the menu to say that “20% tip is customary and expected”. Most cheques come with options 20/25/30% tip, some still have 15/20/25% but they were the minority.

They didn’t complain to your face. But they did complain about you, believe me.

When I worked at restaurants in the US we had to play rock paper scissors to decide who would have to take the Brits and Europeans. I often took them if I’d already made good money that night but I remember one time I spent ages helping this British couple plan the rest of their weekend in the city, giving them recommendations and making sure they had a lovely evening, and they left me loose change on a $75 bill. I wanted to cry.

20% is the absolute minimum. We spend a lot of time in the US and less than 20% is stingy.

Tipping culture has always made me really dislike visiting the US

It all feels so euphemistic and untransparent and coercive and manipulative. The pretend options, debate, emotive arguments and fake individual choice when in fact it’s a mandatory 20% tax but nobody will say that.

Please just give me one clear set end price for a service or product!

They’re not paid by their employers. That’s how it’s set up.

I know. Believe it or not I’ve worked in a job in the US where the tips are wages. I understand but I still find the country is disingenuous.

Just say what it is.

The customer must pay for both the service/product and for the wages.

This is what it will cost you. Set amount upfront. No variation based on people’s feelings (customer or client) or cultural know how or background or trends.

Dressing it up as a choice not a tax.

@cyclingmum67 We’ve got companion flights. Not going near Dublin as we are 35 mins from Heathrow. Cannot see why we would have issues on entry. I would rather pay more for convenience. Or use my vouchers.

The reality is that wait staff earn $2.13/hr PRE TAX. That’s £1.60/hour.

@YankTank Cripes, where are wait staff paid so little? 😕 Where we are, it’s $13-16/hr, I know this for sure as I have teenagers and they/their friends work in restaurants.

I agree with PP’s that 20% has become the norm, at least where we live.

Makes sense given you're so close + using a companion voucher.

I was just making the general thread aware of 2 benefits of flying to the US via Dublin, e.g. for those who may find it just as easier to take a regional flight there vs LHR.

(Off topic, but I wasn't aware of how punitive UK APD was until I started flying via Dublin. For work, its generally 1-2k cheaper for me to fly DUB-LHR-SFO vs BHD-LHR-SFO, all with BA on both routes, with the only downside being having to drive the 100 miles from Belfast to Dublin)

This is another good reason not to go to the US! So many other places I would rather go now. DH wanted to go last year but thankfully he has seen sense.

It's not nice to stiff the server because you think the payment system for servers is unjust or yours is superior.

It doesn't even make sense.

Agree - but give yourself plenty of time in Dublin to clear security and USCIS as lines can be long. Don't waste time in the duty free shopping/ restaurant area. Three hours is a decent cushion.

20% is standard, I live in the USA. 15% is technically okay, but stingy.

In California and a few other states, there is no tip wage, so servers receive the minimum wage. However California is expensive, so while being entitled to the full minimum wage is an improvement, it is not enough money and they still need the tips.

There will be (unscrupulous) places that “helpfully” show you the tips - say,
15% $10
20% $25
25% $45
Do NOT rely on those figures. They’re inflated and the owners are doing this purposely to fleece you.
I’m American, in California.
In these cases, figure out your own tip - I tip 20% for good service, more for excellent service. Rarely any more do I experience bad service at a restaurant.
Have an absolutely fabulous time here and be safe.

You will see tip jars and tip prompts on payment screens everywhere. Unless you’re requesting a song from a live musician, being assisted by a bellhop or valet, ordering food delivery to your location, or directly being served at a sit-down restaurant, it’s unnecessary to tip.

20% is standard at restaurants unless the service is sub-par or very minimal.

Again, tip on the amount for the service, not on any taxes added on

How do you do that if presented with a card machine with % options? Are they % of the bill including or excluding tax?

Those saying they played rock paper scissors to avoid waiting on non-Americans - didn't you have set tables allocated to you?

I will say, don't be afraid to skip the tip at the register for self service or the like. There's quite a backlash against it, actually. I would tip the barista for a complicated drink, but I am not doing it for something I got from the self-service. case!

Sit-down is another matter.