What is a reasonable tip for a driver?

How much should I tip a driver?

Tipping’s a minefield, isn’t it? Like navigating a particularly aggressive game of Frogger, only instead of dodging cars, you’re dodging awkward silences.

Ride-sharing (Uber/Lyft): Aim for 15-20%—unless they wrestled a rabid badger to get you there on time, then maybe a bit more. Think of it as a small price to pay for avoiding that “awkward staring contest” while you awkwardly fumble for your phone.

Taxis: Same deal: 15-20%, or at least $2-3 for those sprints from the airport to your hotel, my friend, those sprints. It’s not a huge sacrifice, unless your tips are funding your extravagant kombucha habit.

Delivery drivers (food, groceries, packages): $3-5 is a decent baseline in 2024, especially if it’s pouring cats and dogs. Consider adding a dollar or two for large orders or navigating that ridiculously hard-to-find apartment building I once had to visit myself. Seriously, the address didn’t exist on the map. My GPS practically sobbed.

Bonus Tip: Cash is king, my friend, but apps are fine. If paying with an app, however, do so cheerfully, like a well-trained puppy getting their treat.

• Remember: Tipping isn’t optional; it’s a social contract. It’s our way of saying, “Hey, I appreciate that you haven’t yet abandoned humanity and taken up residence in a remote mountain cabin.”

• Exceptional service? More tippage for you!

• Bad service? I would say the app has a system to complain, but we all know how much that helps.

My personal experience (last week): tipped my Uber driver $5 because he played my favorite 80s power ballad at full volume upon my request, even though he is too young to know it.

How much do you tip a private driver in Vietnam?

Ugh, Vietnam. Hanoi, July 2024. Sweltering.

I hired a driver for a day trip to Ha Long Bay. Dude was early, which is rare!

So, here’s the thing. It felt weird asking about tipping. Like, is it expected? Am I being a clueless tourist?

I ended up giving him 80,000 VND. He seemed… pleased? I think. I mean it was a LONG day.

• Why 80,000 VND? I’d read somewhere that around 50-100k was normal.
• He was a decent driver, and the traffic? Insane. Worth extra just for keeping me alive.
• Seriously, the honking… my ears still ring.

I wish I knew how much he REALLY expected. Next time, I’m straight-up asking. Is that okay?

Maybe I should have given more? Aaargh!

What is considered a generous tip?

Ugh, remember that Italian place, Luigi’s? Last month, maybe July 27th? The anniversary dinner. My wife, Sarah, wanted it. Expensive. The food was okay, I guess, but the service? Slow. Our waiter, this guy with a really bad mustache, kept forgetting things. Seriously, three times I had to ask for water. Water!

Fifteen percent felt wrong. I was fuming. Twenty percent? Are you kidding me? Sarah wanted to tip 20%, said to be nice. I wouldn’t. It felt like a bribe for mediocrity. I ended up leaving $10. The bill was $75. Cheap, I know, but I wasn’t happy about it. It was principle. It wasn’t great service. Maybe seven percent.

My mood was ruined. The anniversary dinner? A disaster. Seriously, a disaster. I think a bad tip was better than rewarding bad service. Next time we’re going to try that new place everyone’s raving about.

• Average service: 15% is insulting. I’d give at least 18% if the food was good.
• Good service: 20% is the absolute minimum. Excellent food and service? 25%+ for sure.
• Bad service: Complain to the manager. A smaller tip doesn’t solve anything. No tip ever for truly awful service. I’m not a charity case.

I’m sticking to my guns on this one. Tips are about rewarding good service, not just paying for the meal.

What percent is a generous tip?

Okay, so tipping, right? It’s a total crapshoot. Fifteen percent’s, like, the bare minimum, for decent service. You know, if they just did their job. Twenty percent? That’s if they were actually, you know, good. Really on the ball. Like, went above and beyond. My cousin, she works at that new Italian place on Elm street, she says twenty-five percent is awesome. It makes their day. Seriously.

So here’s the breakdown:

• 15%: Meh, average. Bare minimum. Don’t be a cheapskate.
• 20%: Good service. They earned it.
• 25% +: Excellent service. Exceptional. Go nuts! You’ll feel good about it. I tipped a guy 30% once, because he was amazing. He even remembered my drink order from last week, crazy.

I personally aim for 20%, unless it was total disaster. Then I might leave less. Or nothing. It depends. Last time I went to that sushi place, the service was slow and the food kinda sucked; I only tipped 10%. They deserved it. Totally deserved it. I’m a firm believer in fair tipping. It’s only fair.

What is a generous tip in the USA?

Twenty percent. That’s generous. A true gesture. Feeling the weight of the coin, the clink against the tray. A small act, a huge statement. It resonates, the space between giver and receiver, charged. Time slows, the air thickens with unspoken thanks.

Fifteen percent feels…inadequate. A mere whisper. The unspoken dissatisfaction hangs, a phantom. It lacks that fullness, that emotional generosity, the unspoken acknowledgment of service rendered.

Ten percent? Oh, my sweet mother of pearl, an insult. The chill of stinginess lingers, a stain on the otherwise vibrant exchange of goods and services. It echoes with the unspoken judgment, a cruel reminder of the economic imbalance. I’ve felt that chill several times in my life, the unsaid condemnation.

Generosity, a fluid thing. It depends on context. My experience in New York, 2024? Twenty percent, easily. Chicago, same. A perfect balance. In upscale establishments, though, twenty-five percent, maybe even thirty. My personal philosophy, my rule of thumb.

• Fine dining: 25-30%
• Upscale casual: 20%
• Casual dining: 18%
• Counter service: 15-18%
• Outstanding service? Always more. It’s about emotion, isn’t it? The feeling.

Think of the weight. Think of the warmth. The subtle power. That’s what makes it generous. Not just the number, but the feeling behind the number. It’s a silent conversation across the table, a pact formed, a connection made. This is my opinion, it’s what I’ve felt.