Tipping: The Key Word is Discretionary

A frustrating and sometimes embarrassing part of vacationing is tipping. Whether you’re dining out, taking a taxi or tipping a luggage handler, it can be a bit confusing, especially if you don’t have an idea of what is expected or customary. There have been situations where I did not have as much money as I would have liked to have, so I just hoped for bad service. Therefore I would have a clear reason not to leave a tip. Unfortunately at times, there was good service. I felt obligated to leave a tip because I knew I would have felt guilty later on.
I’m not aware of any rule about tipping that is “etched in stone” that is applicable worldwide. I want to go out on a limb and say there aren’t any. Some people may believe otherwise.
A man once described an interesting tipping custom to me one day in an Irish Pub I frequented while living in the Caribbean. The Englishman told me that where he’s from, patrons would tip the bartender with a drink rather than money. I didn’t doubt him. It just made me wonder, what if it was a busy night where everyone felt like tipping? Have you ever heard of anything like that where you’re from?
Well, if you’re not sure what to do, like me most of the time, leave what you can. If you aren’t in a position to tip, then don’t feel bad, even though I do. I just try not to make eye contact.
Remember, it’s discretionary. If you feel that it’s not necessary in a particular situation, don’t do it. If it helps, there are some factors that have motivated me to leave a tip. For example, there are some countries I visited and the US dollar was much stronger than their currency. So, it may have been a greater benefit to them than it would have been a loss to me to leave five dollars for example. So I left a tip knowing it might stretch pretty far for them. Just trying to be helpful.
Then there were times when I might have had some extra cash. No problem, I left a tip. I may have been with a group of people and we all chipped in. That’s simple.
The most deciding factor, in my opinion, should be the service rendered. Don’t base it on the fact that everyone does it if that indeed is the case. If you’re in a situation where you feel a tip is necessary, and you heard that you should leave 15 or 20% of the final bill and you know that would be the difference between you walking a long way back to the hotel or taking a taxi, do what you feel is best.
Let’s not forget about ground transportation. If you just took a tour with a group of people, it might not be necessary to be the only tipper. However, if you and your family are the only passengers, leave a tip if you can and if the service was good.
There are other circumstances where you may believe tipping is involved. Check beforehand to see if there might be a tipping policy. Sometimes it depends. Examples would be tour guides, cruise ships or at the airport. Just keep in mind that it’s also discretionary despite what you have may have heard.