Tips on Tipping

As a top tourist destination, Las Vegas thrives on tips. It's sometimes difficult for outsiders to remember that tipping is not really "an extra" for the folks who work in this town - it's an expected part of their income. But how much is enough? How much is too much? What's the average Joe to do???

I think of it this way. Las Vegas is my escape from the real world, and as such I am happy to help out the people who make that escape possible. Now, I don't go as far as Steve Martin's character Vinnie in My Blue Heaven when he said "it's not tipping I believe in. it's over-tipping." But I probably spend a few extra bucks in Vegas than I would in other places.

Now for the details:

Who should I tip? And How much?

Well, it's never an insult to tip anyone, so in theory you could tip everyone from the costumed characters at Caesars to Steve Wynn. But, here's a basic list of folks you should always tip provided they give you good service:

• Valet - $1 to $2



• Casino employees who assist you with gambling (dealers, slot attendants, keno runners, etc.) - $1 to $2 regularly, especially if you're winning. If you're losing, tipping dealers and such is not expected, but still tip cocktail waitresses if you're getting drinks. If you hit a big jackpot, tip much more.



• Waiters/waitresses and other food services folks - 15 to 20%



• Taxi/service car drivers - 15 to 20% for taxis, $1 or $2 per bag for other service car drivers



• Hotel employees who assist you (Concierge, bell hop, maids, front desk people, etc.) $1 or $2 and up for special services



• Tour guides - depends on the tour, but for the average tour a $5 or $10 tip is nice.
  

If you think you should tip someone, do it! If employees can't accept tips for some reason, they'll let you know. What if I get really bad service? I've been fortunate enough that I've almost never received bad service in Vegas. I'll tip less if the service is sub-par. If you feel an experience is not worth a tip at all, it probably means that you should talk to a manager. I've never had that happen.

When I'm on vacation, I don't like to hassle with people for small things because I do that enough in the real world. If a dealer is unpleasant, I move to another table. If the guy who drives the van from the airport doesn't get my bags for me, he doesn't get a tip. For me, it's gotta be something pretty big for me to get upset about it. Your mileage may vary, but remember that tips are such a huge part of what drives Vegas, you should include them in your budget for your next trip.

Viva la tip!

Mike