Guide to tipping?

Hi all,

Looking forward to my first ever visit to LV (and the US) and living in the UK we rarely tip so was wondering if someone can give me an idea of who you tip, how much, etc..

Thanks in advance.

 

Here's a good list to start:
https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/tipping-in-vegas.91255/

 

LOL, every one of those in-room magazines will have a "tipping guide", often written from the perspective of those who are tipped.

 

thats easy just tip barstaff and waiters, the people who blow the whitsle for a cab can whistle for their tip

 

That's a good linked post from Sonya, not much to add there. It does feel like everyone you meet in Vegas expects a tip, and we normally fall into that trap, not wanting to create bad energy.

 

Tip a buck a drink, and 15-20% for meals(less at buffets) and you'll be ok, if you ever get bad service - no tip.

 

easy basicaly everyone from maid to drink person get a tip.
tipping is not a city in china

 

On Usenet that guy was known as "Tootie the Taxi Twerp."

 

As a former bartender, bar mgr and gm, you might want to update that buck a drink concept. That was the standard when I entered the F&B biz in 1980. In 2016 I'd say two bucks is closer unless it's a $15 drink in a club or at the pool, which calls for a better upgrade. As to not leaving a tip for bad service, that's fine if it's really bad, but let a mgr know why you didn't tip. This can help. Managers can't solve a problem that it doesn't know about. Otherwise, you solve nothing and get to add "stiff" to your name.

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

 

People weren't tipping $1.00 a drink in 1980. We started going in 1983 and all through the 80's we tipped a quarter. Her cup would be full of quarters, not dollar bills.

 

Most servers will get a $5 tip for the first round, and $1 for every one after. Unless I'm up, then it'll go back to $5.
For the maid, figure $2-$3 per day.
If you take a limo from the airport, I tip $20 each way.
Taxi...depends. If they are a good driver, and try to engage, I'll tip the most on the payment screen. If they are just silent, I'll tip the least.
For dinners, the quick way to figure out the "normal" tip is 2x the tax. Then you can adjust from there.

Like others have said, just about everyone tips everyone in Vegas. I've even tipped my host before.

 

Your forgetting your dealers here, they work for tips as well

 

They would rather you place bets for them.

 

I think most servers and bartenders know what they're doing, when they ignore you, they're aware of it, they just dont care, the tip(or lack of it) is the message, as for the $2 a drink tip, other than the occasional guy that tips a red chip for a drink, $1 is the norm where I go, not unusual for people to give nothing either.

I really think the best earning servers and bartenders stay focused on providing good service to everyone, instead of labeling their customers as 'service worthy" or not.

 

In the mid-nineties we were tipping two quarters on a comped drink and bartenders were falling over themselves to serve us. A dollar still rules unless you are paying for fifteen dollar cocktails.

 

i dont tip dealers, the amount i would tip that dealer wont see much from it when its split between the others, i let the high rollers take care of the dealers

 

Dealers determine their own tips. I'll tip them a little bit as I play and then when I color up, if they've been above and beyond I'll tip them a little more. I have zero problem stiffing a dealer if they are nasty.
Waitstaff also determine their own tips. My baseline is 15%. Poor service or poor attitude and they'll certainly get less. Great service and I'll gladly give them up to 25%, less at a buffet.
Housekeeping I do different. I leave them $5 per day and each time I need to go ask them in the hall for hangers, towels etc. I'll give them a few bucks.
I do not believe in entitlement but have no problem tipping for excellent service.

 

I've heard it both ways. Some casinos even tell them what to say if they're asked witch one they would rather have.

I'll do both normally. I'll place a bet for them, then after I cash out, I'll tip them the white's.

 

Another tip is to never ask tip tips to Americans, as you will likely go broke

Joking aside, travelling to tens of countries around the world, I observed that the importance that is given to tipping in the US is out of this world. I am not going to debate whether to tip or not as I am a tipper, wherever I travel (except in some Asian countries, where tipping is considered very offensive). But I do tip on my own terms, not based on entitlement. I also sometimes do my research as minimum wage is extremely different in various states in the US (range $2-$10 per hour).

But I think one of the main reasons for this culture is that most Americans work in service jobs (mainly waitstaff at restaurants) throughout their college years and thus, empathize with all the service workers.

 

Tips should be earned, not given out matter of factly. Bar workers get a dollar a drink because that's all it's worth. If you don't like it, go pick lettuce.