courtesy of Trey Ratcliff
When it comes to vacationing in New York City, there are endless ways to spend a good chunk of change during your trip. From costly must-see attractions and overpriced souvenirs to expensive dining and not-so-cheap hotel accommodations, there are a lot of things to consider when planning out your budget. One of the most commonly overlooked expenses, however, is tipping.
For many people in the U.S.—especially those who live in southern states, rural areas, or even less-populated major cities—there are many services that travelers don’t even realize they need to tip for. For instance, for Floridians, it’s common to forget that venues in the North have coatroom attendants because they simply don’t have them in Florida.
Because there are many instances in which a tip is expected (or at least is proper etiquette) in NYC, we at E-Z Rent-A-Car came up with a list of the most common places to tip in the Big Apple. Here’s our E-Z guide for who should be tipped and at what percentage:
Transportation
Taxi Drivers: 15–20% of your fare
Shuttle Drivers: $2–3 per person
Limousine Drivers: sometimes, if you pay for this service in advance, the tip is included in the bill; however, if it isn’t or if you’re paying at the end of the service, you’ll want to tip 15–20% of the fare
Hotel Accommodations
Doormen: $1–2 per service - services may include hailing a taxi, retrieving your vehicle from valet, etc.
Bellhops: $1–2 per bag
Housekeepers: $2–5 per day - this tip is typically left on the nightstand prior to the housekeeper coming in to clean each day
Concierge: $5–10 per service- services may include
Room Service Servers: tips for room service is often already included in the bill, but if it isn’t, 15–20% of the bill is common courtesy
Dining
Servers: 15–20% of the bill
Bartenders: $1–2 per beverage
Coatroom Attendants: $1–2 per item
Bathroom Attendants: $1 per visit
Food Delivery Persons: $2–5 depending on the amount of food - but if the weather is poor, it’s common to tip a bit extra
Tour Guides
Small-Group Tour Guides: for tour guides with groups of 10 people or less, a $15–25 tip is appropriate
Medium-Group Tour Guides: for tour guides with groups of 11–25 people, a $10–15 tip is appropriate
Large-Group Tour Guides: for tour guides with groups of 26 people or more, a $5–10 tip is appropriate
Bus Drivers: a $5–10 tip is a nice gesture for the tour guide driver
Of course, there are many other places to tip for services provided in New York City, including hair or beauty salons, spas, etc., but these are the main ones to prepare for before your trip. Luckily, if you plan on renting a vehicle from our John F. Kennedy NYC Airport (JFK) location, you won’t have to tip for driving!
Learn more about our featured rental deals today by calling (855) 550-0008 for more information.
courtesy of Nick Harris
