Tips & Gratuities (value, old)

[tvdxer]

Have you ever seen somebody REFUSE to give a tip in a foreign country (e.g. Mexico, Egypt, etc.) where it is obviously expected? For example, I could not imagine stiffing the man who brought my luggage from the drive to my hotel room in Merida, as he probably does not make much from the hotel alone. Yet I could imagine a very miserly tourist, or one who is from a country that does not tip doing so.

[Flamingo13]

Surely you're aware that tipping is not the norm in all countries?

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

Surely you're aware that tipping is not the norm in all countries?

Didn't you read "where it is obviously expected"?

[CTGirlNoMore]

I've never seen that, but I did go on a cruise once where the shuttle driver (airport to cruise port) wouldn't handle your luggage UNTIL you tipped them. You give a tip and they ask where your bag is. No tip means your bag sits there and either you lug it to the ship yourself, or if you are unaware of this, then it just stays there and you're in trouble when your luggage doesn't make it to the ship.

[TabulaRasa]

It's not always obvious where it is expected.

[Bakeneko]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Have you ever seen somebody REFUSE to give a tip in a foreign country (e.g. Mexico, Egypt, etc.) where it is obviously expected? For example, I could not imagine stiffing the man who brought my luggage from the drive to my hotel room in Merida, as he probably does not make much from the hotel alone. Yet I could imagine a very miserly tourist, or one who is from a country that does not tip doing so.

Sort of. Travelled once with a couple who were Japanese to Thailand (long story) Anyway - I thouht that they might have tipped a little better (?) than they did.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

Have you ever seen somebody REFUSE to give a tip in a foreign country (e.g. Mexico, Egypt, etc.) where it is obviously expected? .

Heck, I've seen that here in the USA. No need to travel to see cheapness!

[k374]

My biggest pet peeve is the guy who carries my little suitcase to my room and shows me how to use the TV remote control...it is a useless service that has no absolutely value. My suitcase has wheels and even a 4 yr old can roll it to my room and I certainly know how the TV remote works.

This has become so bad that at one place this guy insisted on pulling my suitcase from right outside the hotel room door to inside the room (1 step) and then wanted a tip.

I have no problem tipping for legitimate services.

[ReblTeen84]

My wife goofed up one time in Mexico on our honeymoon. She tipped the guy that brought up our breakfast to the room and messed up on the exchange rate - she'd tipped him 7 pesos (around 70 cents at the time) instead of 70 pesos. I'd remembered seeing the guys face as he left and was trying to figure out why he looked freaked out, then caught sight of the reciept. Poor guy, he'd thought something was wrong and my wife wasn't telling him! I caught up to him and he was trying to figure out what the hell he'd done wrong, I fixed it quick though and told him what had happened. On the flipside, tipping well had its perks. We got flowers every morning on the breakfast table and damned quick service no matter where we went on the resort.

[ChiGuy2.5]

What about bathroom attendants at bars and clubs in major cities? I usually do not tip those guys. I cant stand having a guy hand me a towel and squeeze the $1 soap pump for me. I tip them only when I take some gum/mints.