At times it can be difficult to determine when tipping is appropriate and when it’s unnecessary. Tipping is done because many service providers receive a relatively low base pay and depend on tips to earn a good rate.

Tipping is not a mandatory practice; however, in certain scenarios, it is an expected or appropriate course of action. In Canada, tips generally range between 15% to 20% but can vary depending on who is being tipped. 

Tipping at Restaurants

Tipping in restaurants is a common practice in many countries. In Canada, tips for wait staff/servers tend to range between 15 to 20% of the before-tax total. 

Tipping at Hotels

Tipping at hotels can apply in a number of different scenarios. For instance, when hotel staff bring your baggage to your room, a tip of  $2 to $5 per bag is an appropriate gesture of thanks. Another example is with valet service. If you make use of this feature consider tipping the valet $5 to $10, upon picking up your car. Your hotel room attendant is another person who should be tipped for their service. Consider writing ‘thank you’ on a notepad and leaving a tip with it. 

The above scenarios are all common instances when you would be tipping hotel staff; however, there are other scenarios, such as if the hotel concierge does an extra service, like securing theatre tickets for you. This would deserve a tip. 

When staying at a hotel, it’s important to check if a tip is included on top of the cost of service, as it would then be unnecessary to tip on top of this amount. 

What Other Instances Should I Tip?

Other instances when tips are still an acceptable practice are with hair stylists, beauticians and masseurs. With these services, it’s still appropriate to tip between 15 to 20% of the before-tax total. 

At the end of the day, we all want to feel the love! If you feel someone has really provided exceptional service, be kind and leave them a good tip as a sign of appreciation!