On Tipping

A gratuity acknowledges service under a local convention which both parties generally understand, though the amount and occasions vary enough that a traveller should learn them in advance.

One has stood on both sides of this exchange. One has received tips from gentlemen who understood exactly what they were acknowledging, and one has watched men of considerable fortune fumble through the act as though they were being asked to solve a problem in algebra under observation. The matter is simple enough, though it requires something money cannot purchase: an awareness of the person standing in front of you and the work they have just performed on your behalf.

In Canada in 2026, restaurant prompts commonly suggest fifteen to twenty per cent, though convention varies by province, establishment, and type of service. Check whether the bill already includes a service charge and whether the percentage is being calculated before or after tax. A payment terminal is an insistent machine, not an authority on manners. If service was seriously poor, speak with the manager; an unexplained sum communicates little.

At a hotel, local travel guidance can establish the current amounts for porters, housekeeping, and concierge service. Leave a housekeeping gratuity each morning because the person cleaning on Tuesday may not return on Thursday. These sums belong to the cost of personal service and should be considered when the journey is budgeted.

For a barber, salon, taxi, or car service, follow the local custom and account for any service charge already present.

For a delivery driver, distinguish the gratuity from delivery, service, and platform fees, which may not go to the driver. Weather, distance, and difficulty may justify more. Coat checks and similar services vary by venue. The exact convention changes by country and over time, which is why a brief inquiry before travel is worthwhile.

Meanness and display are the two common errors. The first ignores the labour involved; the second understands it but makes the recipient sit through a performance of generosity. Place the gratuity quietly and without commentary, expecting no ceremony in return.