How Much Cash do you Bring to a Bar? - Page 3 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**joe7f** · 01-22-2007, 05:50 PM

Arg, I wish I could edit that. I meant to say, "That is why American waiters and waitresses hate to get foreigners for customers."

--Joey

**TheJake** · 01-22-2007, 11:20 PM

so you dont have to tip over there? WTF... I hope they get paid more than our typical servers do over here!

**raoulduke** · 01-22-2007, 11:56 PM

I would generally tip for the service in a restaraunt but not at bars and clubs.

**MeTurk** · 01-23-2007, 02:51 AM

Always tip in restaurants and cafes but not in pubs, it's an honer and a privilege to work in a pub, it's it's own reward. :D You can buy the barstaff a pint but I can't imagine them expecting a tip when the pub is any way packed.

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In the US, that is an insult worse than not tipping at all!

A barman in NewYork threw my change back at me because he thought that's the tip he was getting, little did he realise I wasn't going to tip him at all. After pulling that stunt he's lucky he didn't get the two drinks back in ontop of him.

**joe7f** · 01-23-2007, 04:10 AM

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A barman in NewYork threw my change back at me because he thought that's the tip he was getting, little did he realise I wasn't going to tip him at all. After pulling that stunt he's lucky he didn't get the two drinks back in ontop of him.

The typical thing is to tip a dollar on a pint. Frequently that is why beer/mixed drinks are 4 bucks. Also, if you tip well, you will get more attention if the bar is crowded.

As TheJake alluded to, waiter and waitresses, make very little here. They actually make below minimum wage (the expectation is they will either make it up in tips, or that the restaurant will supplement it). A Norwegian girl I met told me she made the equivalent of 12-13 Euros per hour. This is roughly what American waiters and waitresses make after tips. They sometimes "pool" tips and usually share them with their bus boy.

On this point, I think the Europeans have it right. There is a base level of service expected, so the prices should be adjusted by 10% or so. Then the customer should give between 4% - 9% (works out to 15-20%) based on the level of service.

--Joey

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-23-2007, 05:22 AM

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On this point, I think the Europeans have it right. There is a base level of service expected, so the prices should be adjusted by 10% or so. Then the customer should give between 4% - 9% (works out to 15-20%) based on the level of service.

I disagree, I have found overall that restaurant and bar service in countries that do not generally tip, or tip very little, is much, much worse than what I am used to in the States. In Australia, for example, in virtually every restaurant I went to, the waiter/waitress would come by the table once at the beginning to take a drink order, once to take a food order and once to bring the food and that was it. No follow up drink orders, no checking in to see how things are, nothing.

Many places in the UK and parts of continental Europe I have seen the same thing. I would much rather tip and get decent service, or have the luxury of not tipping as much when I get shit service. There is no incentive for a service person to go the extra mile if there is no tip riding on their performance.

**MeTurk** · 01-23-2007, 08:59 AM

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The typical thing is to tip a dollar on a pint.

That makes drink fairly expensive, things in Ireland at least are already moving towards drinking at home and only going to the club when your already half locked due to the price of drink and with the ammount we consume we have to watch the pennys there's nothing worse than running out of money before the bar closes.

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No follow up drink orders, no checking in to see how things are, nothing.

I don't think that's the done thing in Ireland, their not really supposed to interupt your meal. At the same time it can be a headache to get any sevice when you do need it. It is definetly allot easier to get service in America, any resturant you go into is very egar to make sure you have everything you want, some places in Europe seem put out when you show up looking for food.

**The Sasquatch** · 01-23-2007, 02:17 PM

After staying for an extended period of time at a hostel in London, I started tipping maybe 20-50p when i got a drink or a round at the hostel bar and i would def. get served first and sometimes they would just start making my drink when they seen me walking up. It was def. money well spent.

**benna2** · 01-23-2007, 03:16 PM

I'm working as a bartender here in the DR and I'm not afraid to say this...I get annoyed when people don't at least give a small tip when I serve them. I realize that in some countries, tipping isnt part of the culture but you know that old saying "when in rome..." A typical salary for a bartender here is about 10-12 US dollars PER SHIFT. Not per hour. So tips really do help supplement our income. I also realize that people like to tip for service given (I am one of those people as well, if I receive poor service, I don't leave much of a tip.) But I do like to pride myself as a good bartender who deserves the tips!!

When people go on vacation they should not be shy to ask the service person if the tip is included in the price, if tips are expected and leave one! At the end of the day the couple of dollars it is that you leave (or pounds, pesos or euros...) doesn't really make a difference to you. But it does make a big difference to the person working.

**joe7f** · 01-23-2007, 07:39 PM

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Originally Posted by LiveFreeorDie

I disagree, I have found overall that restaurant and bar service in countries that do not generally tip, or tip very little, is much, much worse than what I am used to in the States[...]I would much rather tip and get decent service, or have the luxury of not tipping as much when I get shit service. There is no incentive for a service person to go the extra mile if there is no tip riding on their performance.

Oh don't get me wrong Jamie, I totally agree. However if the service is meh... don't you usually tip 10%? I only tip less than 10% when it is the absolute worst service. If it is just not attentive (the kind you find in Europe) I usually tip a hair under 10% and write "Inadequate service" on the bill. Maybe I high balled the base tip and it should be 7.5%.

--Joey

**MeTurk** · 01-24-2007, 04:08 AM

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When people go on vacation they should not be shy to ask the service person if the tip is included in the price

I'd say the answer is always no.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 01-24-2007, 05:54 AM

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Oh don't get me wrong Jamie, I totally agree. However if the service is meh... don't you usually tip 10%? I only tip less than 10% when it is the absolute worst service. If it is just not attentive (the kind you find in Europe) I usually tip a hair under 10% and write "Inadequate service" on the bill. Maybe I high balled the base tip and it should be 7.5%.

--Joey

Yes - I agree with you. I think I misread your quote. I would agree that the Euro tip percentages appear to work out right to ensure overall same amount of pay to the service staff when compared with the U.S., which I think is what you were saying? I initially thought you meant that you favored the European style of lower tips, higher base salary, which I personally don't favor. But hey, if everything were the same everywhere, traveling would be dull.

**BigE** · 01-24-2007, 05:56 AM

I went to a fancy night club a couple of weeks ago and I bought A BEER for $10. Now I know why I don't go to night clubs. I am not kidding. Fortunately, I had 6 beers before I went there.

I usually bring $30 with me to the pub. I have a few and save the $10 for the possible love of my life, who may just walk through those doors. I'm still waiting.

Once in a great while (every three or four weeks), I'll get myself some good beers and enjoy them. But usually I can enjoy a Miller Light or Coors. Doesn't matter to me. Alcohol is alcohol.

**MeTurk** · 01-24-2007, 06:06 AM

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I initially thought you meant that you favored the European style of lower tips, higher base salary, which I personally don't favor.

You don't favor a higher base salary?

**BelfastFlyer** · 01-24-2007, 06:48 AM

I used to be a bar man when I was a student (8 freakin years ago!) I didnt expect a tip (apart from the older ladies trying to shag me) and didnt really care. To be honest in the Uk bar jobs have a good hourly wage.

But I dont mind tipping in the US, 99% of the waitress and bar folk work hard for their tips.

**omisan** · 01-24-2007, 09:40 AM

Keep in mind that in many restaurants in non-US countries, tip is included in the bill. Remember to look at the bottom of your receipt!

**maracle** · 10-11-2007, 12:49 AM

The US is fairly odd in that tips can vary wildly based on the job. In some cases a bartending job can pay quite a bit...there are places in Austin (and I'm sure in just about every other decent sized city) where bartenders are getting $500 in tips during the busy days, Thursday-Saturday.

Not that they're easy jobs to get, these are the super busy bars that are absolutely packed all night. And being female and hot is probably worth $200 of that amount

**simply_angelic** · 10-11-2007, 05:22 AM

^ Yeah but that doesnt mean you SHOULDNT tip...because if nobody tipped then they'd be making peanuts as the hourly wage is ridiculously low

Oh, and tips mandatory in CAN as well...just read omi's post on non-US countries

**Sijuki** · 10-11-2007, 12:26 PM

Gee... when I used to go to clubs, I could easily drop a couple hundred dollars. Now, I don't drink nearly as much and I just go with friends. So $50 is more than sufficient. If I were to actually go out, at least $100.

As far as tiping goes, I tip totally based off the service I get. Basically anything between $.01 and 35%. I realize how hard a waitstaff job is, but I do at least expect to get some sort of service.

**pinknic38** · 10-11-2007, 01:25 PM

shit, when I was in cancun, I was at an all-inclusive resort, and I made sure I had like an assload of $1's. if there is a crowd of people at the bar, you hold up a few $1 bills in your hand, you are at the front of the line. that's the way it goes.

in the us, tipping like that isn't as effective, but some of the mom and pop bars that me and my friends frequent, we always tip cos they take care of us. other bars, I may tip a little, depends on service. everyone thinks there's such an obligation to tip, and I understand waitresses and bartenders work off tips, but look I'm paying out the ass for drinks already, and if I paid a big cover to get in, if I am going to get less than stellar service, you're not getting any of my damn money. but on the flip side, if the service is great, I will def tip.