Back in January, I posted an entry in which I discussed tipping etiquette.
On Tuesday, Jim Boulden, a CNN correspondent, discussed the subject of tipping in a CNN business blog, and I wanted to share it here as a follow-up to my previous post.
Boulden identifies the problems with tipping within America, both inherent and brought upon, and I think he raises a few interesting points.
Tipping continues to be an unfamiliar concept to most people who are foreigners to America. After all, in places like Italy, India, and Costa Rica, it's not customary to tip waiters or bartenders—the number at the end of your bill is usually all you're expected to pay.
Conversely, Americans who go into another country are probably instinctively ready to tip at the end of a meal. In many countries, servers will probably willingly take your money, and your ignorance will translate into an unexpected profit for them. However, there are other countries in which servers will be either confused, or worse, insulted, by your attempts to give them money for a job for which they are already receiving a (non-paltry) salary.
I don't want there to be some worldwide tipping protocol—these differences are part of what make traveling to new locales a unique experience—but this subject just goes back to the benefits of being as informed a traveler as you possibly can.
It's easy, really: If you're going abroad, do your homework.
No comments:
Post a Comment