The Grateful Art of Gratuities

So you’re in a little café outside Bangkok enjoying a local dish. Your waiter has been very good, providing you with just the right amount of attention and information. You figure he deserves a reward for his outstanding service, so you leave him a nice, fat tip. Suddenly your friendly waiter is smashing a glass at your feet. Was your tip too small? Well, no, the thing is, tipping in many Asian countries is seen as a vulgar display of wealth. You were seriously flaunting your thick wallet at the poor, lowly waiter. Can you say culture shock?

When it comes to tipping, many places outside the U.S. are much less entrenched in the practice, but here at home, tipping is pretty much mandatory. Some say the acronym TIPS has a meaning, from “To Inspire Promptness” to “To Improve Performance.” Whatever the meaning, there’s a whole army of service-industry people out there expecting a bit of financial reward from you “To Inspire Promptness.” But when and how much?

The Overnighters
Whether for business or pleasure, when you’re away from home, it’s likely you’ll be spending time in a hotel of some kind, and that means there are people there whose job it is to make your stay as pleasant as possible. It’s nice to tip them.

• Hotel porter carrying your bags: $2-3 per bag toted
• Concierge, after performing a difficult task (getting you tickets to a sold-out show): $5-15
• Housekeeper: $2-5 per day. Please note, the cleaning person may change each day, so leave a tip daily on the desk or counter (not the nightstand)
• Room service: 20% of the charge

Table Manners
This is probably where people tip most, in restaurants. What’s a fair gratuity? A tip of 15-20% should show your pleasure with the service. And please remember, even if your waiter left much to be desired, the tip itself is shared with other wait staff (dishwashers, bussers, etc.) who likely had little to do with any below-average service.


On the Road Again
You don’t have to be simply eating or staying overnight to worry about tipping. There’s plenty to cover while you’re on the road, too.

• Airport curbside: $1-2 per bag, more for bigger bags
• 15% of the fare
• Airport shuttle: $2-3
• Limo drivers: 10-20% of the bill

For Weddings and a Funeral
With strong emotions running wild at weddings and funerals, it’s easy to overlook the showing of appreciation with gratuities.

Here are some wedding tips to consider:

• Wait staff: 15-20% of catering bill
• Bartender: !0% of liquor bill
• Disc jockey: $50-100
• Presiding official: No more than $100
• Alter boys: $10-15
• Wedding planner: $50-100

For funerals:

• Presiding official: $50-300, if an honorarium is not preset
• Tips for funeral home staff are usually handled by the funeral home

Mane Event
Those people who make you look/feel fabulous for those special occasions, or just for your daily routine, are often paid by commission or minimum wage, so tips are important for their livelihoods. For salons/spas:

• Hair stylist: 10-20%
• Massage therapist: 10-15%
• Manicure/facial: 15%
• Barber: $2-3

And don’t forget those furry family members …

• Pet groomer: 15-20%

Of course, these amounts are only guidelines. You’re free to use your best judgment on what you think any service is worth. A warm smile and genuine “Thank you” goes a long way when matched with any amount of gratuity.

Speaking of tipping while on the road, are you longing for a vacation? Doesn’t matter where, as long as you get to relax and take your mind off your day-to-day worries. Don’t forget our options for saving for that dream vacation. And when you set up an automatic transfer to your savings account, it makes it even easier. No need to tip your Vantage employee, though, we enjoy helping members!