Tips on Tipping – Tipping Etiquette

When it comes to your vacation, it’s the littlest details, such as tipping etiquette, that can become the most confusing. Whom should you tip? How much? Do you need to tip at all? Never fear! With this simple guide to tipping, TravelSense will take the guesswork out of tipping etiquette and help you focus on more important things – like enjoying your vacation.

TIPPING AT AIRPORTS AND TRAIN STATIONS

Upon arriving at or leaving from the airport or train station, tip the standard porter rate of $1 per bag; more if your luggage is very heavy. Typically, a $1 tip for hailing a taxi is appropriate for doormen. However, you may want to tip more for special services, such as carrying your bags.

HOTEL TIPPING ETIQUETTE

When you arrive at your hotel after a long flight, first things first: Tip the taxi or limo driver. Ten to 15 percent of your total fare is usually expected. If you drive your own car, give the valet parking attendant $1 to $2. If you take a shuttle van or bus, tip the driver $2 per person.

The bellman, who will be more than happy to assist you with your bags and the door, should receive $1 to $2 per bag. Tip when he shows you to your room and again if he assists you upon checkout. Tip more if he provides any additional service. The concierge, who can get you anything from dinner reservations to hard-to-come-by theatre tickets, deserves $5 to $10 for such feats. You may tip at the time of service or at the end of the trip. To ensure good service throughout your stay, add a $20 tip to the bill.

Add 15 percent of the bill to a room service charge, unless a gratuity is already added, then add no additional tip or simply $1. If you requested something delivered to your room such as a hairdryer or iron, tip $1 per item received. Typically, the maid deserves a $2 tip each day, as well.

TOUR TIPPING ETIQUETTE

If you’re taking a tour and a tip is not automatically included, tip a local guide $1 per person for a half-day tour, $2 for full-day tour. Tip a private guide more.

If you are on a multi-day tour with a tour manager – someone who travels with the group for several days and is essentially in charge – tour operators suggest anywhere from $3-8 per person per day. Don’t forget the bus driver either – $2 per person per day.

CRUISE TIPPING ETIQUETTE

When on a cruise, tip according to your comfort level and only on the last evening of your cruise. As a general rule, dining room waiters receive $3.50 per person/per day whereas the dining room assistant waiter should receive $2.00 per person/per day, the dining room maitre’d $3.50 per person/per day and the dining room manager $1.50 per person/per day.

The room steward, for all his efforts, receives $3.50 per person/per day. Other personnel, such as bar waiters, bellboys and deck stewards may be tipped as service is rendered.

RESTAURANT TIPPING ETIQUETTE

Although excellent service calls for 20 percent of the total bill, most U.S. restaurants accept 15 percent as the standard tip. In restaurants where you sit at the bar or the waiter is a small part of the meal (cafes or pubs), 10 percent is also acceptable. The bar tenders, themselves, generally receive between 15 and 20% when you sit at the bar. If the food or service is unsatisfactory, speak to the manager – don’t walk out without tipping. And pay attention to lunch and dinner bills in Europe and Asia, as some restaurants tack on an additional 15 percent (usually listed on the menu or check as a “service charge”) and do not expect tips.

At fancy restaurants, tip the maitre d’ between $5 and $10 if he gets you a table – more when the restaurant is full and you have no reservations. Tip $1 when you check your coat, and another $.50 to $1 for restroom attendants. For personal service from the wine steward, opt for 10 percent of the wine bill.

This tipping etiquette will hopefully give you a general idea of the standard tipping rate for different stops along your journey. You are always welcome to tip more when the service is excellent, and when you do, you are sure to see the red carpet treatment all the way. Enjoy your vacation, and don’t forget to tip!

This article is being shared courtesy of ASTA – http://www.travelsense.org/tips/tippingetiquette.cfm 

Melissa’s Note: On some cruises, gratuities are already included in the fare you have paid. In some countries, 10% tip is considered very generous or the tip is already included in the bill. Please note this should merely serve as a starting point or guide on what to tip.  If you are unsure about how to tip abroad, ask your travel advisor before heading on vacation. I also recommend this site for more information: Culture Crossing

What are some of your tipping tips? 

Is a Camp In Africa Right Accommodations For You?

My good friends at Hills of Africa shared this recently on their Blog – Live the Magic of Africa.  I thought it was worth sharing. Enjoy!

Tent is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as: “a collapsible shelter of fabric (as nylon or canvas) stretched and sustained by poles and used for camping outdoors or as a temporary building.” Often associated with “camping,” tents have always had this reputation for being flimsy, rugged, buggy, mobile, and adventurous-extreme. With that said, tents are probably the polar opposite of what comes to mind when you think of a luxurious African honeymoon or family vacation. But this mindset is, in fact, inaccurate.

Associating all camps and mobile safaris in Africa by these rugged stereotypes is a false assumption. In fact, there are many camps and mobile camps found throughout each country in Africa that are high-end, extremely comfortable, and equipped with all necessary amenities and highly attentive staff. Although mobile camps are a little more rustic and adventurous than non-mobile camps (mobile camps can be moved, non-mobile camps remain in one location and do not ever move, unless they are semi-mobile), there are many that offer the same luxurious features and amenities.

Below are descriptions and benefits of mobile camps and non-mobile camps to give you a better understanding of what a camp is and what it’s not:

Mobile Camps:

Depending on your personal tastes and preferences, you may choose to experience a four-day mobile safari, where your tent will be moved and set up for you each day as you venture to new locations.

Wilderness Safaris is one of our favorite mobile safari providers. They provide a variety of mobile safaris, which they call Adventurer Explorations. Each of their Adventurer Explorations uses lush duvets, cotton sheets, and GI stretchers for bedding, and is equipped with en-suite bathroom amenities including a toilet, bucket shower, and a hand wash basin, so that each guest’s room is transformed into a luxurious suite.

A mobile safari is perfect for you if:

• You crave the old-fashioned, 19th-century safari feel. Created using eclectic tin finishes, a canvas covering, and lantern illumination, Wilderness Safaris’ mobile camps are direct reflections of safari camps utilized by past celebrities such as Theodore Roosevelt and David Livingstone.
• You want to experience a more rustic safari adventure and discover as much as you can while feeling relaxed and comfortable—all without having to do the hard work associated with camping such as making food, pitching your tent, carrying your tent, cleaning, or anything else laborious. Your tents are taken down for you and are set up at the next location before you even arrive.
• You desire highly personalized safari tours where you explore the most secluded areas of Africa.

Non-Mobile Camps:

Tents used in non-mobile camps are often constructed using more durable materials such as wood or dried clay. Many do, however, incorporate canvas and lighter materials into the design of the tent so that the sights, sounds, and scents of nature can permeate through the tents. Some camps also do not refer to their accommodations as tents; many prefer to call them chalets, bandas, or bungalows.

Non-mobile camps are perfect for you if:

• You want to have a more intimate and private experience. Camps are often much smaller and more intimate than hotels. Although hotels are wonderful to stay at in cities and outside of the bush—such as Cape Town and the Garden Route—they are not ideal for the bush. Because camps are often much smaller than hotels, personal staff is always attentive to your every need, catering to even the smallest of details. The intimacy of the camps also means no children running around, no large groups taking up space in the dining room or on safari, and no wait on anything.
• You wish to seamlessly connect with nature and your immediate surroundings. As camps are designed to incorporate natural elements within their décor, exposure to the breeze, wildlife, and towering fynbos of the bush is effortless. Each and every day, you’ll feel your cares and thoughts of responsibility melt away as you find peace in the surrounding sounds, sights, and aromas of the bush.

You want to feel secluded while still relishing in luxurious amenities such as underground plunge pools, bomas, and fireplaces. As for meals, dining arrangements often differ at various camps—some are equipped with a main dining tent, others offer lantern-lit outdoor seating, while others offer both.

Are you a mobile camp person or a non-mobile camp person? 

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 6

By now you’re beginning to see why Cunard Line published this list on their website, and in their new electronic brochure for transatlantic cruises. Queen Mary 2 is probably now the most famous destination between New York and London, carrying more passengers transatlantic than any other cruise liners. It is the definition of luxury travel, and getting there is truly half the fun. Truly an icon for the modern era, Queen Mary 2 has all of the majesty of her historic Cunard predecessors, plus a complete list of amenities to appeal to the 21st-century sensibilities of its clients. Show Stoppers and Life’s Simpler Pleasures make up our final post in the series of 101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing. I’m certain you’ll see why.

Show Stoppers

64.  Dance, dine and enjoy music from the classical to salsa at the Captain’s Black and White Ball.
65.  Watch 16 sensational dancers and singers from Europe perform in the extravagant Apassionata at the Royal Court Theatre.
66.  Delight in our newest musical show, Crazy in Love – laced with satire and a spake of romance.
67.  Take a salsa, cha cha or Latin dancing class, then try line dancing in the Queen’s Room.
68.  Delight to the performance of Oscar Wilde’s famous comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest, at the Royal Court Theatre.
69.  Join the pianist in the Gold Lion Pub for a chorus of “Ship of Fools”.
70.  Enjoy live jazz in the Chart Room…
71.  …Or classical concerts in Illuminations.
72.  Relive the Golden Age of Travel, when Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller ruled, with Big Band Night in the Queen’s Room.
73.  Take a complimentary gaming lesson in the Casino, then see if what you learned pays off at the tables.
74.  Let loose and boogie down in the stylish G32 nightclub.
75.  Join Robert Redford – or at least his voice – for Cosmic Collisions, a riveting film on cosmic phenomena presented by the American Museum of Natural History.
76.  Enjoy the serene sounds of a piano and violin trio in the Grand Lobby.
77.  Experience Viva Italia! – our new original Cunard musical celebrating everything Italian.

Life’s Simpler Pleasures

78.  Drop into the largest library at sea. With over 8,000 books, it’s sure to have at least one of those titles you’ve been meaning to read, and now have time to.
79.  Send a postcard to friends, stamped “Posted Onboard – QUEEN MARY 2 -Transatlantic Crossing” at the traditional red Royal mail postbox onboard-a symbol of Cunard’s history as the first provider of mail service between England and America.
80.  Embark on a literary journey at a meeting of the Cunard Book Club.
81.  Find your favorite vintage Cunard poster in the bookshop to take home.
82.  Schedule a primping and manicure in the Canyon Ranch Spa Salon before the Captain’s Cocktail Party.
83.  Attend a book signing with the best selling mystery author Dick Francis.
84.  Check out the gorgeous pavé earring set at H. Stern in the Mayfair Shops
85.  Drop the kids off for fun in The Play Zone.
86.  Learn critical survival skills like napkin folding or knitting with the Social Hostess.
87.  Join a dart competition at the Golden Lion Pub.
88.  Buy an extra bag for all you’re bringing home from the Logo Shop.
89.  Join musicians and fellow guests for an afternoon sing-along in the Grand Lobby – lyrics included.
90.  Admire the $18,000 “Happy Queen Mary 2″ watch at Chopard. (You can dream)
91.  Take a glass elevator ride to the observation deck for a sky-high ocean adventure.
92.  Laugh ’till you cry at John Cleese who’s appearing in the Royal Court Theatre.
93.  Practice your karaoke at The Golden Lion Pub.
94.  Enjoy a nighttime turnaround on the Promenade Deck and stargaze.
95.  Pamper yourself with a facial or pedicure at Canyon Ranch Spa Club.
96.  Attend a champagne art auction and bring home a memory in oil or watercolor.
97.  You’ve always wanted to learn shuffleboard, right? Here’s your chance!
98.  Pick up some gifts for those poor souls back home in the Mayfair Shops.
99.  Relax like a celebrity, in true Golden Age style, on a Deck 7 teak chair, and check The Crossing off your life list.
100.  Let an Ayurvedic massage prepare you for your return to the real world.
101.  Six days aboard Queen Mary 2 is not nearly enough time – so visit the onboard sales office to begin planning your next Cunard
voyage!

What is your favorite part of a transatlantic crossing on a larger ship?

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Line

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 5

Now that we have virtually sampled our way through the bountiful and delicious dining options, it is time to decide whether to work on keeping our figure fit and healthy or keep on celebrating the good times. Maybe we will try a little of both! Queen Mary 2 offers the opportunity and possibility to do it all.

Today’s categories are Fitness Fare – to offers you a wealth of suggestions for keeping the figure in its original state if you’re fit, or getting that “out of control” shape back into a workable frame; and Cordially Yours – to keep the celebrations going. No matter which direction you go, it will be a good choice!

Fitness Fare

48.  Now that you’ve mastered St. Andrews, hit the links at Pebble Beach or any of the 51 courses available on the golf simulator.
49.  Take some Canyon Ranch fitness classes like YogaLates and spinning. Follow up with a latté or spin through King’s Court.
50.  Awaken with a brisk walk or jog around the third mile Promenade Deck.
51.  Demonstrate your superior wrist/eye coordination in a Table Tennis Tournament.
52.  Revitalise body and mind in the Canyon Ranch SpaClub Aqua Therapy Pool, where the water jets massage your every muscle.
53.  Feeling energetic? Test your strength at the Indoor Cycling Power Hour.
54.  Sign up with a personal trainer in the Fitness Centre and work off the calories.
55.  Prove to yourself that you can still make jump shots on the basketball court.
56.  Show off your swing at the Longest Drive Competition.
57.  Work up a sweat at the Canyon Ranch Gymnasium-one of the largest and best equipped sports facilities at sea.
58.  Paddle tennis anyone? Get to know new friends even better over a friendly match.
59.  Make up for that baked waffle; swim a few laps in the domed Pavilion Pool.

Cordially Yours
60.  Enjoy one of 50 different martinis and the detailed scale model of Queen Mary 2 in the Commodore Club.
61.  Meet old friends for drinks in the cozy Chart Room, or pop in alone and make some new ones.
62.  Puff a fine cigar while sampling an aged Napoleon Cognac in Churchill’s.
63.  Unwind with a soothing nightcap in a lounge before heading off to dreamland.

We are coming to an end in the voyage.  Next in our series is Show Stoppers and Life’s Simple Pleasures to depart on a high note.

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Lines

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 4

Now let’s get to the meat and potatoes of the cruise – so to speak. Today’s category covers Fine Dining and Divine Wining. There is an abundance of restaurants and lounges onboard for your dining and drinking enjoyment, and all served on the finest of china and glassware afloat! Celebrate the exciting choices to select from for your culinary pleasures onboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2.

Fine Dining and Divine Wining

32.  Welcome the morning with a cappuccino and pastry at Sir Samuel’s.

33.  Enjoy a jolly good pub lunch, perhaps fish & chips?  –  at the Golden Lion Pub.
34.  Live la dolce vita with Spaghetti Puttanesca and other Italian specialties at La Piazza.
35.  Sample the Pan Roasted Turbot Fillet at the trendy Todd English restaurant or try the extraordinary tapas.
36.  Indulge in five courses including snow crab soup, duck spring rolls and more at Lotus.
37.  Watch the bubbles rise in your Waterford flute at Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar.
38.  Join the chief sommelier to sample sangiovese, dolcetto, and other varietals as you taste your way across Northern Italy.
39.  Hone your culinary skills at a cooking demo and feast in Chef’s Galley.
40.  Start the day in a sinfully decadent way with a baked waffle, maple syrup, and whipped cream in King’s Court.
41.  Counting calories? Try Canyon Ranch Spa Selections, available at every meal.
42.  Burger lovers rejoice! Follow the crowd to the Boardwalk Café.
43.  Mais oiu! Celebrate with a bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild from the largest wine cellar at sea.
44.  Is that the sound of a trolley? Why yes, it’s Afternoon Tea on the Promenade Deck.
45.  Fall in love with a signature truffle Love Letters appetizer in Todd English.
46.  Order in from room service. After all, it’s available 24 hours a day.
47.  Choose from the cheese trolley and enjoy some vintage ruby port at Sir Samuel’s.

Did we whet your appetite with the many cruise dining options? 

Next in our series is Fitness Fare for those who may overindulge in food and wine and Cordially Yours for those who want to keep on celebrating!

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Lines

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 3

Cunard truly believes its heritage is one of its utmost important assets. It has been a voyage of dreams for nearly two centuries. A travel tradition. Today’s installation of the 101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing covers one of my favorites!  Here are just a few of the on-board activities that may spark that nostalgia.

Thoroughly British Moments

25.  Don’t miss Afternoon Tea in the Queen’s Room, complete with scones, fresh cream, strawberry jam and white gloved servers.
26.  Toast your good fortune to be here over a pint or two at the Golden Lion Pub.
27.  Get a deck quoits lesson from that nice English couple you met at breakfast.
28.  Savour fork tender roast beef at The Carvery – a true English specialty.
29.  Watch actors from RADA perform scenes from your favorite Shakespeare plays.
30.  Play a round of golf at the one that started it all, St. Andrews, on the golf simulator.
31.  What does it feel like to be royalty? Dress to the nines for the sophisticated Ascot Ball and experience for yourself!

The departure from what we experience in our lives every day makes this section so great. Who does not love fresh hot scones? If nothing else, the cruise experience is like a step back in time with the modern conveniences of today.

What is your favorite part so far? 

Next, we will present Fine Dining and Divine Wining.

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Lines

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 2

Our continuation of the Cunard Line Queen Mary 2’s list of 101 things to do on a transatlantic crossing covers the Cultural Affairs category. If you missed part 1 of our series, you can view it here. Each new post, I’ll be adding to the list that was originally published in the Cunard Line 2010 Transatlantic Crossing. Thought provoking from the perspective that you are only limited by your own imagination as to what you can do on-board. We hope you find some inspiring cruise ideas.

Here is the next list of things to do under Cultural Affairs.

11.  Capture memories on your digital camera and have them printed in the onboard photo lab.
12.  Renew your wedding vows and enjoy a ceremony conducted by the Captain.
13.  Brush up on your Excel spreadsheet skills at a computer learning class in ConneXions.
14.  Sit in on a reading by mystery author P.D. James followed by a book signing.
15.  Have a body composition analysis with experts in the Fitness Centre.
16.  Be inspired to start your own epic tome at a workshop with a published novelist.
17.  Strap yourself into your seat and enjoy a virtual ride through space in Illuminations – the only Planetarium at sea.
18.  Head to Deck 2 to begin a Cunard history lesson with the Maritime Quest Exhibit. The 10 historical “pathways” located throughout the ship include A Great History, On the Bridge, Stars Aboard and more.
19.  Attend a lecture about Beethoven’s Fidelio and find out why it was his only opera.
20.  Enjoy the classic works of the great 20th Century masters such as Dali, Chagall, Erte, and Picasso in the Art Gallery.
21.  Take a third and final Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) workshop, “Speaking the Speech”. You’ll learn to perform a Shakespeare monolog.
22.  Listen to the dramatic reading of The Old Man and the Sea in Illuminations.
23.  Shiver me timbers. Sit in on a lecture about piracy with English diplomacy expert, Vincent Strudwick.
24.  Brush up on your Russian, French, Spanish, or even Mandarin. Parlez vous chinois?

Are you dreaming of a transatlantic crossing voyage yet? Share with us what cruise journey you have been deeply enriched on. 

Next, we will present Thoroughly British Moments.

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Lines

101 Things To Do on a Queen Mary 2 Transatlantic Crossing: Part 1

Have you ever wondered what all there is to do on a transatlantic crossing cruise? Cunard offers a timeless adventure, an iconic experience. What a fun piece to share with you to show that transatlantic cruises can be fun, relaxing, and provide a wealth of things to do. Cunard offers so much inspiration that I will divide the activities up over a six part series. You will learn about Leisurely Pursuits, Cultural Affairs, Thoroughly British Moments, Fine Dining & Divine Wining, Fitness Fare, Cordially Yours, Show Stoppers and Life’s Simpler Pleasures. So relax, sit back, and enjoy what the possibilities are on a transatlantic cruise aboard the Queen Mary 2.

The first category is Leisurely Pursuits.

1. Relax in the soaring Grand Lobby and enjoy the angelic melodies of the harpist.
2. Take a watercolour class and paint your own impressions of “The Crossing”.
3. Play duplicate bridge in the Atlantic Room.
4. Be forward looking. From the Sports Deck, head to The Lookout – an observation platform with endless views of the bow.
5. Log onto the Internet and stay in touch with the outside world.
6. Take a “Finding Your Voice” or “Filling the Space” acting course with Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).
7. Invite new friends over for a cocktail party with canapés in your stateroom.
8. Learn more bridge conventions from an ACBL Certified Master Instructor.
9. Spend a lazy afternoon with a recently released film in Illuminations.
10. Hit or stand your hand at the Blackjack Tournament in the Empire Casino.

Are you dreaming of a transatlantic crossing voyage yet? Share with us where the longest voyage is your have taken.

Next, we will present Cultural Affairs.

All images are courtesy of Cunard Cruise Lines

When to Use A Travel Consultant, When Not To

Travel Consultants can and do add value to justify their support and fees on many types of vacations. As an intelligent buyer, you must first determine whether you’re better off using their services or making the arrangements yourself. Generally speaking, if you are someone who likes special VIP treatment or added amenities, hire a consultant. And if you are short on time, hire a consultant; it will make everyone much less stressed and happier for it.

Do Hire a Consultant For…
•  When you want to relax, enjoy yourself and be spoiled
•  Start-to-finish customized itineraries created with all the bells and whistles
•  Once-in-a-lifetime splurges (e.g., wedding anniversaries) involving four- or five-star hotels
•  English-speaking guides and drivers
•  Special access to monuments, events, or people
•  Cruises with private shore excursions
•  When you want to avoid lines and crowds
•  Receive extra amenities and VIP treatment
•  Experience a vacation that makes a difference and fills you up

Don’t Hire a Consultant For…
•  The cheapest options
•  Airline tickets only - a simple, domestic, round trip
•  Single components of a trip (e.g., a one-day tour, transportation, restaurant reservations)
•  B&Bs or budget and mid-range chain hotels
•  Redeeming frequent-flier miles or guest points only

You hire a professional do other tasks for you, why would this be any different?

How has your professional travel advisor helped you?