Some more tipping questions

[aussiegirls]

Hi guys,

So I think I have the basics of this tipping thing down - nobody has chased me down the street yet, so I gather I did it right. But I have a few more questions that I was hoping you guys may be able to help with.

If I get a bill at a restaurant that already has a gratuity % charged on it does that mean that I don't have to tip - is the gratuity already the tip?

How much does everyone tip cab driver?

I know there has been much discussion on the Dis about leaving tips in the room for housekeeping. I have never done this, does anybody else do it?

Thanks guys

xxx

 

[PrincessInOz]

At the risk of being shot down in flames (again!) for tipping in the US.

If a restaurant has gratuity on the bill, this is the tip. You don't need to add anything else. I think this is normally added for tables of 6 or more. Problem is that the gratuity added is usually 17 or 18%! irrespective of whether the service warranted this tip or not!

Whilst we rarely use a cab, I believe that cab driver tipping is also about 15%; and more in NYC.

I tip mousekeeping in Disney. I usually tip $1 per person. I even prepare mousekeeping envelops beforehand. Let me know if you want me to post an example. I've got a picture somewhere.

 

[Jade+3]

I have never had to catch a taxi, but have tipped the shuttle bus driver and porters $1 per bag.

Gratuity on the bill means the tip is included (at least that is what I always have believed).

We leave $2 per day for housekeeping. There are 5 of us, so I think we should be leaving $1 per person - not really sure. Some days I just stick the do not disturb sign on the door, especially if the room is a mess.

I get confused about tipping at buffets. Should it be per person, or a % of the cost.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I understand that the Wishes Dessert buffet includes tips in the price. As tipping was not expected, I did not leave anything.

For the other buffets, I would leave about 10 - 15% of the buffet price. As most buffets are about $30 in WDW, I'm leaving about $3 - $5 per person depending on how much $1 notes I have.

 

[aussietravellers]

For taxi's it's 15 to 20%. I just do between 15 to 20% depending on what ever it is rounded up to the nearest note, so I don't get change in coins (hate coins am always stuck with a pile when it's time to come home )

You know, I used to tip mousekeeping and staying at 4 to 5 star hotels I would leave $5 a day and $2 for turndown. But housekeeping is not a tipped position and room service is included in your nightly rate, I often found that I was not getting any better service by tipping that much. So this trip, on the first morning I did leave a tip, but on returning to the room at 3pm and it was not done. I took the tip back and I have not left one since! If I am at a hotel in Australia I do not leave a tip for the housekeeper so am not doing it this trip. I did leave actually hand one $4 to the mousekeeper the other day when we go back from the room at 9am and she had done it and had left extra towels and extra shampoos, shower gels, lotions, mouthwashes etc. You will not get worse housekeeping by not leaving a tip as it is not compulsory like for wait staff.

I have tables in wonderland and it has an 18% tip added automatically, I have not left extra tip, except last night at Yachtmans steakhouse. The service and food was just exceptional, best we have had anywhere all trip, so add an extra 5% on top of the 18%. But that's totally your choice. So if a tip is already added, you can add more but you do not have to.

At PCH Grill at DL (paradise pier) in December, the tip was added automatically and I was charging it to the room. I asked for that tip to be removed and I would pay the tip in cash (thought they would like cash better). Anyway, when the waiter bought back the reciept and my room key, they tip was still included (18%), plus he had taken the 20% that I had put in in cash I asked why the tip had not been removed and he took the money. He said he thought I gave him extra YEAH RIGHT! He was not worth a 38% tip.... at a buffet..... where he delivered me a tea pot of water and not cup..... and I didn't see him again for about 20 minutes! He wasn't even worth 18%. So he threw the cash on the table and said, fine, have it back then. I said thanks and off I went. What a cheek!

 

[aussiegirls]

So he threw the cash on the table and said, fine, have it back then. I said thanks and off I went. What a cheek!

Love it !!!!!

xxx