The Tipping Thread

Originally posted by mdvipond
In the interests of avoiding MRSA and other such bugs profligate in our health 'service', I choose to avoid hospital corners altogether.

Or simply take your own mattress and linens, as Camilla does [:p]

You would have thought Camilla could have afforded to send someone in her place...

Japan is a non-tipping culture.[y]

It felt strange getting out of a cab and not giving a tip.

Mrs D

Japan is a non-tipping culture.

It felt strange getting out of a cab and not giving a tip.

Mrs D

We had a taxi driver in Tokyo who wouldn't take the fare at all because he got a bit lost in the road maze around the Conrad hotel.

[Scrooge]

Originally posted by jaguarpig

Japan is a non-tipping culture.

It felt strange getting out of a cab and not giving a tip.

Mrs D

We had a taxi driver in Tokyo who wouldn't take the fare at all because he got a bit lost in the road maze around the Conrad hotel.

Wow a driver with ethics, has to be a first [?]

[RichardMannion]

It was strange in Japan with the no tipping thing, as the service really was stellar at every turn. There is a 10% service charge in the hotels/some restaurants to cover tips though.

[Scrooge]

It would be strange, I know I stand out when I am in other countries just because I tip everyone, living in Vegas where alot of people make their living from tips it has just been hammered into me.

The whole tipping thing seems to be grounded in the culture you are in - tend to agree that unless you know the local "do's and dont's" its probably better to tip and have it declined than not tip and the person giving the service left feeling aggrieved!!

The first time we went to Tokyo a couple of years back we had an escort from the 4 seasons to the NRT express platform in the bowels of Tokyo station.The guy was so nice I made him except a tip probably about £10,he came back about 2 minutes later with £10 worth of cakes for us to eat on the train.Because I had given him something he was obliged to give a gift of the same value back.I did pen a letter to the GM complimenting him and every other member of staff we encountered.Service of this standard does come as a shock sometimes.

I haven't had the time this morning to fully read the whole article, but it seems that The Times have now got in on the act. However, the online version doesn't seem to have the 'at a glance' guide that the print version has.

Jonathan