A couple more tipping questions

Tipping is not a big part of the culture in New Zealand so tips are a bit of a mystery to me.

I usually tip housekeeping, bell-hops, CWs, taxi drivers and restaurant servers, but this year I'm planning on trying some new things.

Questions:
Barkeep: If you are playing VP at the bar, do you tip after every drink or at the end as you leave?
Spa: Do you tip for a mani-pedi and, if so, what percentage?
Show: I redeemed some myvegas points for a show. Is tipping required on picking up tickets, or being shown to my seat, or any point in the process?
3 card poker: What's the best way to tip at the table when playing 3 card poker?

 

as a general rule, best to tip upfront for any type of ongoing service just to let them know you're serious. then good to tip again at the end if you feel they deserve more.

for spa, I always tip at least 25% and often up to 50% because it's comped anyway and I request certain therapists and they often come in for me on their day off, so I tip them well. 20% is the standard if you're paying for it.

no need to tip at a show at any part of the process.

3-card best to throw down some money on the pair plus for the dealers. put the chip right next to yours on the left or right side and they will know it's for the dealers. you could also play for the dealers, but that would require putting a second chip down for them if you decide to play.

 

Shifter covered it well. When I play at the bar and get comped drinks, I will usually leave a $5 for the first round (2 people), so he knows we are worth coming back to. Then I will tip anywhere between $1-2 per drink for subsequent rounds, going back to $5 on occasion if the bartender is friendly/attentive/ keeping the drinks coming.

 

At VP tip them a buck or two on each drink, if you wait, they will prob think you're a cheapskate and you'll get bad service. Just because you're a foreigner doesnt mean you should overtip though, sometimes people try to con the unaware into thinking you need to throw money around like crazy. You dont.

 

Agree with most of the above.

The SPA thing can get crazy. A 50 minute massage will cost about $140 or so. Doing 20% is $28. So, they get that plus whatever wage the spa also pays them.

Only time you MIGHT tip for shows is when you have general seating and want a good seat. $10-$20 a head is common as far as I can tell.

 

As for playing at a bartop VP machine, I have found that a lot of places will put a glass with the "receipts" in them at your seat. I throw a couple of bucks in there every time they bring us a drink (wife and I) and have never had service issues. I always try to let them see me put money in the glass and it makes them aware I tip every round..YMMV of course

 

For tipping at the spa:

Most of the spas will have mandatory tips added on to your bill, usually 20%.

I have no problem tipping, but this can lead to some pretty hefty overtipping if you aren't aware. As an example: you go to the spa and get a massage for $100. The spa adds a mandatory tip to the bill making it $120. When you are going you look at your bill, see it is $120 and that 25% of $120 is $30 so you leave a $30 tip and head off...

In this case, you didn't leave a $30 tip on $120 worth of services (a 25% tip)... you left a $50 tip on $100 worth of services (a 50% tip).

 

For tipping on drinks, whether at a bar or anywhere else in the casino, tip more if it's busy or if you want more frequent service. If you're just having one or two drinks, $1 a drink is fine at the time the drink is delivered. If you're getting top shelf booze, a bigger tip is more appropriate.

The more remote you are located in the casino, the bigger you want to tip if you want the waitress to make it back to you in a timely fashion.

It also depends where you are. If you tip $10 in the excalibur, it's the equivalent of a marriage proposal to the waitress.

 

most of the auto-added charges at the spa are "service charges" that don't go to the therapist, not gratuities. you have to be careful that you don't stiff the therapist because you think the 20% service charge they added actually goes to them.

 

Very enlightening. Thanks all.

 

My suggestion on the 3 card poker question is simply ask which method of tipping they prefer. I've experienced some dealers prefer just a flat out tip and they put it in the tip box and other dealers like the idea of playing their tip for the possibility of increasing up to 40 times (placed next to the pairs plus circle).

I have used both methods but remembered a statement from one dealer at the PHO. She said one fellow kept tipping her $5 nest to the pairs plus numerous times in one of her sessions that amounted to well over $100 but he lost every time the tip was made, hence not a penny earned. That's why she preferred the straight tip, where she knew something was going into the tip box.

 

she's obviously not a gambler. every dealer I know that's also a gambler would much prefer to be tipped with a bet so they have a chance to win much more.

 

There is no need to tip at a show IF you have assigned seating. If you don't, then slipping the usher $10 bucks will get you a MUCH better seat!

 

Not to hijack the thread but since we are talking about tipping.... what about tipping for a hand pay? I have never had one but if I win something requiring what is the general percentage you all tip?

 

Here's a recent thread on that subject:

https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92956

The cliff's notes: anywhere from nothing to a couple percent of win. I go 1% with a minimum of a twenty.

 

3-card poker tipping

Actually, you can tip just the ante for the dealer, placing just to the right of the ante-box with your bet.
You do not have to also tip the 'play', so long as you don't fold. That way, the dealer will get the tip on any dealer non-qualifier and on any hand where you beat the dealer.

I usually give them the option of 'pair-plus' or ante for their tip. If I'm just holding my own or losing slowly, I tip a buck every 10 hands or so. If I'm consistently winning or pushing, I tip a couple of bucks.

Also - I tip on any trips or straight-flush win... usually $10 for a drop and then $5-$5-$5 tip-bet on my next hand (which I always play blind).

If I get a two straights within 10 hands or so, I will tip a $5 drop and a $5 pair-plus after the second one.

 

Yeah, for spas, the trick is determining if they auto-add a tip. Otherwise I think 20% is about right. For shows, in your circumstance, no tips are needed.

 

Thank you!