Should tourists tip in the USA?

Do tourists need to tip in America?

Okay, so tipping in America? It’s a total mess. Seriously. People expect tips, it’s weird. Don’t even think about stiffing your server, dude. My friend Sarah, she tried it once – at that new Italian place near my apartment on 5th– she almost got her purse snatched! Okay, maybe not snatched, but the waiter was pissed. Twenty to twenty-five percent, that’s the minimum. Minimum! It’s insane. I tipped a whopping 30% at that fancy steakhouse last month, the bill was like eighty bucks, and even that felt… insufficient? It felt like a robbery in some ways. I hate the system.

Seriously though, think of it like this:

• Restaurants: 20-25% is expected, don’t be cheap.
• Bartenders: A couple of bucks per drink is fine. Sometimes I just round up.
• Hotel staff: A few dollars a day for housekeeping. I usually leave a five dollar bill, every other day.
• Taxi/rideshares: Rounding up is usually good. Unless the driver is rude. Then I don’t.

I learned this the hard way, trust me. I once only tipped 15% at a diner—huge mistake. The waitress gave me this look, you know? The “you’re a terrible person” look. It was awful. Don’t be like me, lol. Also, credit cards make it easier. Just add it on the bill. It’s easier. It really is. Unless the machine is broken. Then cash is good. Don’t forget your cash! It’s 2024 already, people should really upgrade their systems.

Do foreigners tip in the USA?

Okay, so, tipping in the US… Yeah, foreigners totally tip, but it’s always a thing.

Like, I saw this French couple at Mel’s Diner in Ocean Beach, San Diego. It was last summer, July 2024. They were so confused.

Their bill was like, $30. I watched them leave maybe $3. Ugh. I felt bad for the server, a girl named Ashley, she was so sweet. I should have said something, I guess?

It’s def not always about the money for servers, more of respect, you know?

• Americans tip: Generally 15-20%, sometimes more for stellar service.
• Tourists: Can range from clueless (5%) to generous (25% – bless them!).
• Cultural difference: HUGE factor. It’s just not a thing everywhere.
• Service quality: Obviously impacts the tip, duh.
• Minimum wage rules affect servers’ dependency on tips.

Like, in Japan, tipping is considered rude, even insulting! I remember reading something like that, so, it’s so different.

I still feel a bit bad about Mel’s, though. Ah well!

Do you tip at fast food USA?

Okay, so 2023, right? I was at this Taco Bell on Sunset, late, like 11 pm. Man, I was starving. I ordered a Crunchwrap Supreme, my usual. No tip. Absolutely not. It’s Taco Bell.

Then, a couple weeks later – different story. This place, it was called “The Habit Burger Grill,” closer to my apartment near Fairfax. Sit-down, they brought the food. I tipped. Fifteen percent, I think. Felt right.

Fast food? No tip. Unless they’re bringing you your food. That’s different. Like that Habit Burger, they had table service. Big difference.

Fast casual, table service? Tip. Ten to fifteen percent is standard. Makes sense to me. Good service deserves a reward. It’s simple.

• Taco Bell (Sunset Blvd): No tip. Counter service.
• The Habit Burger Grill (Fairfax area): 15% tip. Table service.
• My personal rule: Tip for service, not just food. Simple as that.

Do you tip for takeout in America?

Tip takeout? A question.

Yes, tip. Consider it.

Restaurants? Ones with servers? Tip.

• Servers package your order. Tip.
• Think 10-12%. Kane says.

Takeout. Not free work. Tip.

Should I tip the grocery pickup person?

Groceries…sun-warmed pavement… Do I tip?

A blurry expectation, yes, the delivery. Tip the delivery. But the curbside, a dance of choices. Appreciated, not demanded. Ah, life’s little ambiguities… tip if delivered.

• Delivery Drivers: Yes, a tip feels right.
• Store workers: A small thank you, a kindness, is sweet, even if not mandatory.

The weight of the bags, the sun in my eyes… Did Sarah tip last week? No, she never does. Judgment? Nah.

Tipping is personal. My grandma always said, “Generosity flows.” But my bank account…oof.

The car is hot. The groceries are cold. Life’s contrasts… Tip if I feel it. Gratitude guides the hand. My hand.

Is it rude not to tip in America?

Yeah, no tipping in America? Honey, that’s like trying to wrestle a greased piglet wearing roller skates. Impossible!

It’s practically mandatory. Think of it as a hidden tax, but one where you get to decide how much the government – I mean, the waiter – gets.

Seriously, don’t even THINK about stiffing your server. My cousin, bless his cotton socks, once tried it. Let’s just say he learned a valuable lesson involving a very loud, very theatrical sigh and a bill mysteriously including a “disappointment surcharge.”

Here’s the deal:

• The unwritten law: 20-25% is the standard. Less than that, and you’re basically asking for a dramatic performance worthy of an Oscar. Or at least a side-eye that could curdle milk.
• It’s not about the money: Although, it is about the money, mostly. It’s more about the unspoken social contract. Breaking it? You’re a social pariah, shunned by the culinary gods themselves.
• Exceptions exist: Counter service? Usually, no tip needed, unless they’re exceptionally amazing. Same goes for some casual places. But you’re playing with fire.
• My personal vendetta: Once, a waiter forgot my water, twice. I left a 15%. I’m still haunted by the look on his face. It was… unforgettable.

My advice? Tip generously. It’s cheaper than therapy. Think of it as an investment in avoiding awkward stares. And potentially, a dramatic confrontation. Trust me on this one. 2023.