Tipping in Hawaii

Looking for some advise on how to tip in Hawaii!!! In the UK we really only tip in restuarants - 10 per cent if the service is good. I have heard that staff actually ask for their tip and tell you if it is not enough!! Are they not just doing their job and should get a tip if the service i really good or exceptional? I look forward to your replies on this as I do not want to be getting chased for being mean.

Tipping in Hawaii

Awhile back a thread was posted about tipping...I think it went to 100 pages...a lot at any rate. Do a search here using the seach function.

Some places for tips (if you want to tip):

Restuarants

Valet parking

Your room maid

Tour Guides

Tipping in Hawaii

You will be tipping more in Hawaii! The normal restaurant tip in the US is 15% for a good meal and 20% for a better meal/service.

The maid, bell hop, and taxi driver will all expect something. A few dollars a day for the maid, a dollar or two per bag for the bell hop, and about 10% on a taxi ride.

Large resorts seem to have someone for everything which usually means a few dollars here and there.

Some people tip the concierge at a hotel for making reservations. I don%26#39;t unless they would do something extraordinary for me. Making reservations is their job.

Oh and don%26#39;t forget a dollar here and there for your favorite bartender by the pool.

Tipping in the US is customary and some depend on it for their livelihood. Waiters and waitresses in restaurants make most of their living off tips.

Hope I helped out.

Thank you both for your replies!! Do I tip the maid daily or at the end of the stay?

I generally tip the maid a few dollars daily (if they are doing a good job) since you may have a different one each day. Leave a short note with the money so they know it is a tip and is ok to take it.

Tacky or not, I rarely tip the maid ... although it is probably expected in some places it is not necessary.

As for the valet, you%26#39;ll want to tip when you pick up your car (question on this on a previous post, so in case it%26#39;s an issue... $2-$3 is fine.)

I%26#39;m sure I overtip in the UK ... just to be safe!

In the US in restaurants at least (and maybe in other service jobs) the tip is included to be part of the salary and employers can actually pay less than minimum wage b/c of this. (Not sure if this is absolutely the case in Hawaii, since a particular state may have a law to the contrary) but ... keep this in mind when you are tipping in a restaurant.

That is why the one tipping thread went 100 pages....

2 or 3 dollars to the person who hands you your keys....zip to the person who cleans your bathroom.

I found an excellent website yesterday that is the most thorough I have ever seen on tipping guidelines.

http://www.findalink.net/tippingetiquette.php

I am certain that this will answer any question you may have regarding tipping practices and expectations in the US. And Hawaii should be no different than New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles in terms of tipping practices.

Aloha!

Thanks again everyone! I will look up the old postings on this.

I remember that tipping thread! LOL

In any case, I never had anyone ask me for a tip or tell me it%26#39;s not enough, so I don%26#39;t think that will happen at all. However, tipping is customary in the U.S., although some people tip for different things. I do tip for maid service. Before I was tipping like $3 bucks a day but after that tipping thread, I started tipping $5 bucks because I was shocked most people don%26#39;t tip the maid. In any case, I normally tip between 15 to 18%, if it%26#39;s really good service, 20%. But in Hawaii it can be tricky because the taxes are cheaper, like 4% vs. 8.25 for me in L.A. Many people just double the tax, then round up but don%26#39;t do that in Hawaii because it will be less than 15% of the bill.

I started tipping the maid a little each day. (5 dollars for our family of four). I know that she comes in every day. I sometimes ask for more towels or pillows. I ALWAYS get better service if I tip a little each day.

I know that some don%26#39;t tip maids and sometimes I don%26#39;t for a one night stay. But they are probably the least paid and I like to have a clean room. I also know that we are slobs and so she deserves it! :)