I've recently stayed at several hotels that offer valet service for parking- with no other "self parking" options. The rates have been quite high (of course, this is in New Orleans and Miami- two areas where parking is hard to come by), but when I am charged over $25 a night for parking, how much is appropriate to tip? Do I tip when I drop off my car and pick it up again? That could add up to well over $30 a night for parking. I usually tip around $2-3 when I get my vehicle, depending on how quickly they bring my car around, but I feel bad if I don't tip when I drop off my car.
This brings me to another dilema. IfI am paying for a spa or salon service from someone more experienced and they charge more, does that mean I have to tip more as well (if I am tipping based on a percentage)? What is the going rate for a hair cut and color? 5%? 10% 20%?
And then there's the restaurant tab. My husband thinks that you should tip on the total, minus any bottles of wine purchased, as the mark up is so great. I say it should probably be on the total, since all food in a restaurant is marked up. I usually tip around 20%, slightly less if the service is bad or if I do order a bottle of wine and the bill is unusually high but the service was average. If the total bill is cheaper than expected, but my server did a lot of running around for me, or went above and beyond, then I will tip accordingly as well.
Any comments on how you tip would be fun! Please share!
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Comments: 5
Personally, I don't tip for hotel parking. It's totally wrong to the parkers, but the fact that they hotels force guests to pay those outrageous fees keep me from tipping in that area. You don't have to feel guilty when they pick it up though, you are only expected to tip when you pick it up.
However, when it comes to services, whether dining or personal services like hair dressing, it is still 10-20% depending on the service. My standard tip for dining is 20% of the complete bill unless the service is terrible. If the service is great I might tip higher or try to tip in cash, rather than on my credit card.
I'm sort of spoiled for personal services because I go to a friend who won't take even full price for my hair services, let alone tips, and my masseuse works for herself and does not accept tips. But you should plan on tipping 15% to get your hair done and that doesn't matter if you go to an upscale salon or Supercuts. The idea there is that, like a restaurant, you should plan for the tip and if you can't afford it, don't go there - of course, I guess that applies to parking, too, but man, that whole situation just makes me so angry. The tipping thing has pretty much gotten out of control I think... why don't employers just pay a decent wage instead of expecting the consumer to pick up the difference. How did this happen?
Oh well- that is a great link, thanks for sharing!!
Restaurants are another story depending on the service you get but 20% is usually fair for good service, especially since waiters and waitressed usually get paid so little
Cheers