United States

Etiquette & respect

The United States is made up of many diverse ethnic groups and the culture varies greatly across the vast area of the country and even within cities — a city like New York will have dozens, if not hundreds, of different ethnicities represented within a neighborhood. Despite this difference, there exists a strong sense of national identity and certain predominant cultural traits. Generally, Americans tend to believe strongly in personal freedom and responsibility, and that an individual determines their own success or failure. You will find Mississippi in the South to be very different culturally from Massachusetts in the North. Alth…

Tipping guidance

Tipping is widely practiced in the United States. Standards vary, but gratuities are always given to servers in restaurants and bars, taxi drivers, parking valets, and bellstaff in hotels. When traveling in the U.S., try to keep some $1 and $5 bills in your wallet for small tips. Thinking about Tipping Tipping in many countries is very rare or often not done at all, and unthinkable to some visitors. It is, however, an essential part of your trip to the United States, and you will upset people greatly by refusing to tip or tipping too little, as doing so deprives servers of what is often the main component of their income. A good way to approach this is to treat all prices in a restaurant or other service as having an unwritten 20% tax, and adjust accordingly – i.e., that $40 meal actually costs $48 (probably plus another $4 for sales tax). Tipping in the United States is so common that in many service establishments, such as hair salons and restaurants, customers who did not tip are often asked to pay a tip, or in rare cases verbally scolded by staff for "stiffing" them. Servers at restaurants may add an automatic gratuity to the bill if they suspect that their guests, based on their appearance or mannerisms (e.g., speaking a foreign language), are unfamiliar with American tipping customs. While Americans themselves often debate correct levels and exactly who deserves to be tipped, generally accepted standard rates are: Taxis – 10–20%. For livery cabs, if you hail the cab on the street and negotiate the fare in advance, then pay the negotiated amount plus an extra $1–2. Shuttle bus drivers – $2–5 (tip more if they help you with your luggage) Private car & limousine drivers – 15–20% Parking valet – $1–3 for retrieving your car (unless there's already a fee for parking) Tour guides/activity guides – Between $5 and $10 per person per day depending on the size of the group (tips are lower in large groups), the cost of the tour, how funny/informative the guide was. Full-service restaurants – 18–20%; tip higher (~20%) in higher-cost cities like New York and San Francisco. Many restaurants automatically charge a mandatory tip for larger groups, in which case you do not need to add any additional amount. Food delivery (pizza, etc.) – $2–5 minimum; 15–20% for larger orders Bartenders – $1 per drink or 15–20% of total, whichever is higher Housekeeping in hotels – $2–3 per day for long stays or $5 minimum for very short stays Porter, skycap, bellhop, hotel doorman – $1–2 per bag if they assist ($3–5 minimum), $1 for hailing a taxi or calling a cab Hairdressers, masseuses, other personal services – 10–15% The legal minimum wage for restaurant waitstaff and other tip-earners is quite low (just $2.13/hour before taxes in some states where minimums for other workers can be much higher, depending on the area). Therefore, tipping for this service is regarded as even more essential. If you receive exceptionally poor or rude service and the manager does not correct the problem when you bring it to their attention, a deliberately small tip (one or two coins) will express your displeasure more clearly than leaving no tip at all (which may be construed as a forgotten tip). At restaurants, compute your tip based on the subtotal, the cost of your meal before sales tax. If you were provided any free or discounted items, or if you used a coupon or voucher, tip as if you had paid full price. For example, if your party ordered $100 worth of food and drink discounted to $60, compute your tip as a percentage of $100. If you are paying your bill in cash, you can leave the total (including tax) plus your tip in the folio or tray provided. Your server or the bartender can give you change or break bills (e.g., provide two $10 bills for a $20) if necessary. If paying by credit card, you can add a tip by using a payment device or by writing your desired tip onto a charge slip, depending on the payment system that the restaurant uses. Write your tip neatly in dollars, not as a percentage; tipping in whole dollars is generally easier. It is acceptable, and not uncommon, to pay for only the total with a credit card and to leave a tip in cash. Some restaurants apply an automatic gratuity or service charge. This should be disclosed (albeit usually in small print) on the menu before you order as well as on the bill when it arrives. In past decades, this was common only for larger groups, but these mandatory charges became more common in the aftermath of the pandemic and are sometimes used as a way of making the list prices seem lower than the true cost. When the service charge is around 20% of the bill, no additional tip is usually necessary, although you will probably be given the option to add one anyway. If the service charge is smaller than the usual tip, you should add a tip. Tipping at fast food places is neither necessary nor expected, and major chains like McDonald's do not let their employees accept tips. It is also not necessary to tip when ordering takeout from a restaurant that normally offers table service, although many people tip 5% to 10% in this situation. Some eateries, especially in the fast casual sector, have a "tip jar" at the checkout station, but tipping in that scenario is purely optional, and you wouldn't be expected to contribute much more than the coins you're handed back as change. At cafeterias and buffets, a small tip (10% or so) is expected for the staff who clear the table for you and who refill your drinks. At independent coffee shops, if you have an elaborate drink order or if you spend a lot of time in the shop with your drink, the staff will appreciate a dollar or two that you can deposit into a tip jar or add to your credit card charge. If you buy merchandise at a place that primarily operates as a restaurant or a coffee shop, you do not need to tip a percentage of the item's cost. If, for example, a barista helps you pick out a bag of coffee or grinds it for you, you can tip them a dollar or two to thank them. To tip the housekeeping staff at hotels, leave a small amount of cash on a table or nightstand with a brief thank-you note. It is common to do this on the final day of your stay, or for extended stays, once per week. Do not leave cash visible in your room when you go out, as it may be mistaken for a tip. The rules for tipping concierges are arcane. For most servicesasking for maps, information, tours, etc.a tip is not expected. But for things above and beyond like special, unusual, time-consuming requests, if you receive a lot of attention while others are waiting, or even just for an exceptionally high level of service, tips should generally be large, usually starting at $5 (a $1 tip would be insulting). At casinos, dealers at table games such as craps and blackjack may receive tips, such as when the dealers are helpful and particularly when the player has won a significant amount. Players tip dealers by placing chips on the table and saying, "For you" or, "For the dealers." Some players make a "two-way" bet: two bets, one for themselves and one for the dealers. If the bet wins, the dealers collect the bet and the winnings as a tip. If the bet loses, the dealers do not receive a tip. Players are also expected to tip the staff who bring them "free" drinks while playing; tipping $1 or $2 per drink is common, paid with cash or chips. Tipping well can make you look good in front of your American friends, dates and business partners, and could even earn you preferential treatment from staff, with the reverse also being true for tipping poorly.

Health & wellness

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Scams & street smarts

The United States is generally a safe country for tourists, but risks do exist.