Tipping Suggestions - Integrating tips into your creative family beach vacations.

This web page will outline some overall tipping suggestions and ideas. Tipping is often an area of mass confusion, and we hope to be able to clarify this subject for you. Please remember, tipping suggestions are that, "suggestions"...you are free to use this web page as a general guideline, and incorporate your own philosophy.

A gratuity is a payment made to someone that is beyond the price that you agreed to pay for the item. For example, if you order a pizza for $9.99, you might give the delivery person $12.00 and say "keep the change". In this particular instance, you gave the delivery boy 20% over the cost of the pizza as a way of saying, "thanks for your service". In the United States, as in other countries as well, many service employees are paid a minimum wage with the idea that they will make up the difference with this extra cash.

In some countries, it is almost a rule, while in other countries it is illegal...being considered a bribe. Here's a list of some countries of the world, and the customs in each. Be sure to check at your creative family beach vacation destination about the local custom before you start to give gratuities.

Australia
About 10-12% is advised in restaurants. You should also round up taxi fares. Not necessary for the porters who carry your bags to your room. A no-no in Casinos as this is considered a bribe. It is not customary to give extra money to your pizza delivery boy.

Canada
The standard is about 15%, but it does depend on the job or task being performed.

Israel
Hotels add a service charge to the bill, so it is generally uncommon. It is considered custom to give your waiter at a restaurant around 12%.

Japan
Rare in Japan. It is understood that if you like the service you will return.

Mexico
The standard in a restaurant is 10-15% of the overall bill. Give $1-$2 for the porter who carries your bags, and up to $1 for the taxi driver.

New Zealand
Tipping is not expected in New Zealand. It is generally understood that the staff are paid sufficiently, and therefore not necessary.

United Kingdom
Tipping is generally limited to restaurants and hotels. In hotels, the general guide is a pound per person, up to 10-15% of the bill.

United States
The standard at a restaurant is 15%, up to 20% at the more expensive restaurants. The porter who carries your bags is generally given $1 per bag. The pizza delivery boy is given 10-15%, up to a maximum of $2.

Why not implement some of these ideas on your future creative family beach vacations.

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