Originally Posted by Nimetic

Ok. Well I'm from Aust and I haven't travelled to the US, but here's my quick thoughts.


1) We don't tip here, usually. Rest. staff are trying to encourage it a little now though.
2) Yes, I'll read the brief local guide.
3) When transiting through I will probably read only the official tourism pamphlet - but I've recently found that this can be very misleading.
4) I'm ok with leaving extra for dinner (easily done). But handing cash directly to a person still feels real weird. (How exactly to do it?) I'm thinking hotel porters here. I'll feel like an idiot if I don't carry my own stuff. I feel even weirder doing handing over small change... it's like a cross between bribery and passing crumbs, since it's not big $ yes?

[And then there's the issue of finding correct change]

What I'm saying is this. It's not necessarily that we're stingy. Remember that people are judged in different ways in different countries. In fact, your typical tourist can get home feeling like they've been insulted all day. They have their own culture shock to deal with.