Sunday, April 16, 2006
We asked readers to send us their tipping stories, and in they poured -- both funny and instructive. Here are some of the best.
After arriving exhausted in Jakarta, Indonesia, and having to change hotel rooms -- no small feat for the bellman -- I had no local dollars to tip and no small U.S. bills. I think I gave him a $10 or $20. The hotel manager called advising that I had tipped the bellman's weekly salary and advised me that he would be holding it for the man's wife to pick up with his weekly check, as she always did.
Kathy Buscher, Reston
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While visiting Rome in 1984, we ordered a pizza at an outdoor cafe. We were traveling with another couple and taking turns paying the tip. Our friend Jimmy handed the waiter the money but converted the exchange rate incorrectly and gave the waiter the equivalent of a $20 tip on a $17 bill.
We realized the error within minutes, but the manager said the waiter had left early for the night. I wonder why?
Nancy Donohue, Burke
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At the bank from time to time, I swap a $20 bill for 10 lovely $2 bills for tips. As the dollar declines in charm and value, the $2 grows and seems to delight recipients, even if it confuses them at first.
E. James Lieberman, Potomac
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While on a business trip in Beijing, I and two associates decided to venture off the beaten path and try a restaurant not frequented by tourists. We ate like kings -- plentiful food and excellent service. The total tab was about $13.
It is not customary to tip in China. However, in recognition of our wonderful experience, we left a tip of about $5. The waiter chased us down the street trying to give us our tip back.
Morgan Hurley, Rockville
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A few years ago, my daughters and I traveled to New York City for a weekend of fun and shopping. As is my normal routine, as we were preparing to leave the room to check out, I left singles and change behind on a desk in the room. Later, while going through security at the airport, my daughter had to empty her pockets, and she had all this change and singles. When I asked her how did she get all that money, she said, "Mommy, you left all your money behind at the hotel, so I picked it up for you."
I had to laugh, but then I took the time to explain that tipping is something you should always do. I am happy to say that as my daughters have grown up, they always tip appropriately.
Kathy Claar, Fredericksburg
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My wife and I have been traveling to India every year for the past three years. We have struggled with the question: What is a fair tip? We have varied our tipping every time. Our test for fair is to see a smile in return and yet not be labeled as outrageous by our local hosts.
We have come to the conclusion that a 5 to 10 percent tip is a reasonable compromise. In situations such as porters at the airports, 20 rupees per bag will pass the smile test. A 50-rupee bill at an upscale hotel will pass the smile test. Although 20 rupees translates to 45 cents and 50 rupees translates to $1.20, one has to view the tip in terms of the local economy.
Harish Kathpal, Vienna
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On a family trip to Hawaii, I let my 12-year-old daughter go by herself, for the first time, to the poolside cafe and order lunch. She purchased a hamburger for $10 and proudly reported that she wasn't sure how much tip to leave, so she left $8. Since then our family game at restaurants is to practice calculating 15 percent.
Julie Liss, Potomac
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If I've never been to a particular country, when I'm on the plane, I look for people around me who seem to be from the country to which I'm traveling. From there, I'll start up a conversation and at some point ask them about local customs, including tipping.
Nik Daftary, Minneapolis
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My first time in London, the bill appeared to be 77 pounds, so I tipped 12 pounds. After I got the credit card, I realized that the sevens were actually ones and that I was fooled by the way they top off their ones across the pond (by putting slashes through them). I had inadvertently tipped more than the cost of the meal.
Bruce Monblatt, Arlington
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It is best to tip in a way that I am remembered. Since I do not drink anything but water, I often come up against the issue that 20 percent is a very small amount, so I generally will tip over 20 percent in those cases. I carry Sacagawea "gold" dollars and normally tip using them, whether it is the person who cleans off my reserved seat at the Nationals game or the "free" omelet bar at the Embassy Suites.
Arthur T. McClinton Jr., Annandale
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Most Americans apply their domestic tipping habits when traveling abroad.
Having lived in Eastern Europe for five years, old habits die hard, and my Ukrainian colleagues constantly accuse me of overtipping.
I know of one business relationship that was nearly ruined because of tipping: An American and his Ukrainian client and their wives had finished dining at a posh Kiev spot, and the American tipped 20 percent. The Ukrainian objected, but the American insisted. The Ukrainians, though quite affluent, were deeply offended and felt they could never return to that particular restaurant because they would not tip so lavishly.
Scott Lewis, Kiev, Ukraine
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To avoid over- or underpaying in a foreign currency, invent a simple proportion guide. Example: 100 klaskies equal almost $2, so 250 klaskies equal almost $5 and 350 klaskies almost $7.
Julie Carvalho, Annandale
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My final morning in Costa Rica, I asked a cabdriver to take me to a music store so I could buy some CDs of Latin music. He found a good store, waited for me and took me back to the hotel, so I gave him a $10 bill as tip. As I was walking into the hotel, the doorman tapped me on the shoulder. Doorman and driver got me to understand that the $10 bill had a tiny corner missing -- so not acceptable. I had to come up with a "perfect" replacement. Advice to all who plan to use U.S. currency in foreign countries: Check the bills before you leave.
Donna Sandin, Reston
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While visiting my parents in Florida, I went on a group fishing trip in Lantana. Not knowing how much to tip the captain's mate, I figured $3 for each of the three people in our group was about right. All I had was a $20, so I gave it to the mate and wound up with 11 ones in return. Later that day, I noticed that my wallet smelled strangely like mackerel. Turns out every bill I got back exuded fish oil from the mate's hands. So, if you go on a fishing trip, bring some ones, or you'll be left with a very stinky reminder of your day!
Mitch Katz, Arlington
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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
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