How much is polite to tip in New York. In hotels, Rest, bars etc?

Question

I've booked my girlfriend and I into the Waldorf Astoria NY in September. (Before I get a load of flack, we've been saving up for 2 years for this 6 day holiday!!) Anyways, I have 2 problems. I've never been to the US and I've never stayed in such a fancy hotel. How much is the bell boy going to expect tipping? What percentage do you add on for meals? What about when shopping? Where do you drw the line and when is it polite to tip?

Additional Details

Ricardo Kaka and Harley Mike, Thanks for your extended answers, this really is VERY helpful. Please eloborate on your answers. The info about NYC is great for a first time traveller to NY!

There seems to be a slight difference though! In restaurants is it 20% or 25%. It seems alot?!!?!?! Total bill or just food or what?

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Restaurants -- 15-20% of the total bill including drinks but before taxes. 20% is the standard for good service. Some restaurants add this on automatically, some don't, so read the bill carefully.
http://www.itipping.com/tip-guide-restau…
Hint: Within NYC the taxes add up to 8.25%, so if you double the tax amount, that's approximately equal to the low end of the range for a reasonable tip.

Bellhop -- $2-3 for each bag carried.

Hotel housekeeping -- Approx. $5/day for good service, more if you left an especially terrible mess.

Bars -- *at least* $1/drink, more if the drinks are expensive (where $1 is 10% or less, you want to add more) or complex to make ($1 is reasonable for popping the cap on a beer bottle for you, while mixing and shaking a cocktail warrants more).

Shopping -- in general, we don't tip for that...but "high end" shopping is not my thing, it may be different for the sex and the city crowd.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks for the link, its great!

Answer 2

yeah 20% is the average tip for meals. (however some places do add it on as service charge so check - it should say on the reciept)
also, if you go to public toilets and there's a cleaner in there, it's polite to tip them like a dollar or two. I know, ridiculous.
and when you get to the hotel, there'll be a door man who'll help you in with your bags, and you should tip him a few dollars too.

i would advise you get a metrocard for the subway which you can get for a week for like $25 each. it just menas you can jump on the subway anywhere whenever you like. it works for the buses too =)

Answer 3

For restaurants, 20% excluding tax and beverages is the standard, but if it was a good experience, food as well as service, tip 25%. You can always leave less if the service was bad, and you don't have to tip at all, but servers have a low minimum wage because it's assumed they make lots in tips, so only skip the tip if it was really awful. Sometimes a deliberately small tip, like a dollar (or two cents!) sends a hint to the server that they need to work on their customer service skills, whereas if you don't tip at all, they may think you just forgot.

Answer 4

I agree with most of the answers you got. In restaurants I tip 15% for average service and 20% for good service -- that's before tax is added. As others have said some places add the tip to the bill even for a party of 2, so look closely. Tip a bell boy $2 per bag. Tip the cab driver 10-15% plus $1 per bag. Tip the concierge 20%. Leave a tip for the cleaning lady on your last day based on how good a job she did -- usually $3-$5 a day. There is no need to tip at all when shopping in stores. Welcome to the States and enjoy your stay.

Answer 5

I cant believe people are saying 20% is AVERAGE.No wonder service SUCKS these days. People just expect a good tip without giving good service. The whole point of a tip is to assure good service.

I am not cheap by any means, but I tip based on service. That can be anywhere from 5-30%. I have had horrible, unfriendly service, why should i give them 20%?

But an average tip should be 15%. Good service is 20%. Exceptional service goes about 20%. 10% would be for slightly below average service, and if someone is rude or unprofessional, dont feel bad about giving them NOTHING.

Answer 6

the suggested tip in most restaurant range from 15% to 17% so if you feel like giving more is up to you, for bellboys i mean from 5 to 20 dollars is ok i guess if i was you i'll give them a 10. enjoy your time here, let me be the first to tell you welcome to new york

Source(s):

I am a waiter my self so i know what im talking about

Answer 7

You have to be careful when you look at the bills these days. For example, the ones in Pizza Hut have the prices of VAT & tips already included in the price, so if you decide to tip on top of that, you're paying tips TWICE.

Answer 8

When you get a bill it always shows you how much tax you have to pay, tip is twice the tax (7 %) so 14 %. For instance, tax is 2,50 so your tip is 5 bux.

Source(s):

I am an American.

Answer 9

5 dollars for bell boy. 20 dollars room maid (for 1 week)
10% on meals.
1 dollar at bars and minor tips.
More if you want to!

Enjoy NY - its a great city.

Answer 10

The proper tip for meals is 20% of the total bill. ALWAYS 20%!!!

Answer 11

aLL THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON SATISFACTORY SERVICE
AA/BEEL MAN-2.00/BAG
WAITERS/20% OF THE MEAL ....( i DO NOT INCLUDE THE PRICE OF A BOTTLE OF WINE AS THAT WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE- i ONLY LADD AN ADDITIONAL 5.00 FOR THE UNCORKING SERVICE)...bE CAREFUL TO TIP ON THE PRICE OF THE MEAL AND NOT THE FULL PRICE AS THAT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE TAXES
nO TIPPING WHEN SHOPPPING. THERE ARE NO VAT TAXES HERE IN THE USA. YOU LEAVE THAT BEHIND WHEN YOU LEAVE EUROPE.......UNLIKE EUROPE THAT MOST OFTEN INCLUDES THE TIP IN THE BILL YOU WILL NOT FIND THAT CUSTOM HERE IN THE USA...TEH ONLY TIME THEY INCLUDE THE TIP IS WHEN THERE ARE 6 OR MORE PEOPLE IN THE PARTY. THEY WILL MENTION THIS AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL MNUES IN RESTAURANTS.....
ENJOY YOUR FIRST VISIT IN THE USA AND COMING TO NYC IN SEPTEMBER SHOULD PROVIDE YOU FOLKS WITH WONDERFUL WEATHER...NOT TOO HOT AND NOT TOO COOL...ENJOY THE NIC E WEATHER AND THE NICE SITES OF NYC ....YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED THAT YOU CAME...YOUR HOTEL IS BETWEEN MIDTOWN AND DOWNTOWN..RIGHT AT THE SOTUHERN EDGE OF MIDTOWN MANAHATTAN. BUT THEN AS YOU GO FORHTER SOUTH YOU ARE RIGHT INTO SOHO/CHINA TOWN/LITTLE ITALY /GRTEENWICH VILLAGE/ THEN INTO THE FINACIAL DISTRICT AND SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM. YOU HAVE AGREAT LOCATION

Answer 12

Please don't leave a 10% tip to a waiter, the least amount to leave would be 15%, more for great service! We usually tip around 20-25% of our total bill IF service was good.5 dollars for the bell hop is okay if you don't have too many bags, or are asking him to fill your ice bucket or any other special service then tip more.
As far as maid service goes we usually leave an envelope on the bed our last night with about 20 bucks in it-unless the room wasn't cleaned to our expectations! Tip a cab driver a dollar, more if he stops and waits or gives you a suggestion on where to go.
no need to tip street vendors like if you stop to buy soda, water or a hot dog-also you needn't tip anywhere you walk to the counter to order food, only sit down meals.
The Astoria is a really nice hotel, I think you will be happy that you saved two years for your holiday!
Ny has tour buses that also give you an all inclusive sight seeing option for like 80 bucks a person here's the link http://www.citysightsny.com/

Source(s):

live here

Answer 13

You should tip at least 25%.

Source(s):

Life