Tip Chasers and Other Tales From Readers' Wallets

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Before traveling anywhere in the United States, I often stop by the bank and pick up some $1 coins and $2 bills, and use these for tips. One reason is that many years ago, my uncle, a policeman, said that unusual tips are always great for establishing an alibi -- $2 bill or a Sacagewea dollar make the person stand out.

It is never easy or cheap to be eccentric. But it is always a lot of fun, and it helps start conversations with waitresses, kitchen staff and others.

Lee Hadden, Sterling

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About 10 years ago, in Chiclayo, Peru, my then-husband and I stopped at a family-owned restaurant for lunch. The meal included soup, entree and a drink, and cost about $3 each. We put down enough soles for the bill and added $2 for the tip. When our teenage waitress took the money and counted it, she rolled her eyes and said, "You gave me too much." We said that the soles were for the bill and the two $1 bills were her tip. As she held up the dollar bills, the look on her face changed to "Oh my God, I got a tip!" She ran off to tell her parents, bills waving in her hand .

Patricia Dunn, Sterling

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In December 1997, my future wife, my parents and I all stayed at a small hotel in Cebu City in the Philippines. My wife flew on to Cagayan de Oro on Mindanao to finalize our wedding preparations while my parents and I spent the week at the hotel. We ate in the small dining room at least once a day and diligently calculated a 15 to 20 percent tip for the one waiter after each meal. By midweek, he was greeting us at the door and couldn't do enough for us! On the day we left, he came rushing out of the dining room to the hotel lobby and literally pushed the bellhop away from our bags so he could carry them to the waiting cab. I later learned from my wife that each meal's tip was more than a day's wage.

Greg Knee, Chantilly

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Several years ago, I often traveled to Turkey on business, so I was aware that tipping was customary. Turkish credit rules did not allow tips to be put on a credit card bill, so I always made sure that I had some cash to tip service people.

I overheard a conversation in my hotel restaurant when a man with a Texas accent assured his companions that tipping was not done in Turkey. It seems possible that he had mistaken the fact that tips could not be credited to a card to mean that tipping was not a local custom.

In traveling on business, and being lucky enough to have business associates who were natives of the countries, I have been made aware of many ugly Americanisms. Hopefully, more people will make an effort to conform more closely to local customs, even if it doesn't square with what they are used to.

Ames Perry, Bowie

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The night before we left Prague last year, we tried to spend all our local money -- we were leaving very early in the morning and had prepaid a Prague airport shuttle. The next morning, when the driver got there right on time at 6 a.m., we realized we didn't have money to tip him. We felt awful. I remembered that my nephew was going to be in Prague two weeks later. I told the driver that I would have my nephew use their service and also give him a tip from us. Of course he thought it would never happen, but it did, and we made sure he got a good tip.

Next time you're trying to use up your local currency the night before you're leaving, keep a tip for the driver, or be sure you have a friend or relative visiting there soon.

Hilda Weinstein, Fairfax

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I recently returned from a Costa Rica tour where we had several day-trip guides. Our tour leader suggested that when we were unsure whether a tip was in order, we ask her, "Is it margarita time?" A "yes" meant tipping was appropriate.

Jeanette Janota, Gaithersburg

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In 1998, we took the overnight train from Venice to Prague and found a taxi outside the Prague station. We arrived at our hotel and I looked at the meter so I could be prepared with the money when we got out of the cab. I gave the driver the money. He very quickly took our bags out of the trunk, and off he went without a glance back. I was so pleased that I had it all figured out.

All of a sudden, I realized that I had made a major mistake figuring out the currency conversion and had actually given the cab driver $50 for a $5 fare. I was pretty upset with myself for making such a foolish error, but as my husband pointed out, if that was the worst thing that happened on our trip, we would have a very good trip. Sort of puts it in perspective, and the driver probably was able to take the rest of the day off!

Marian Coe, Gaithersburg