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Can’t believe I’m reading hacks to scam low-paid hospitality workers by pretending to pay tips that never go through. It’s in pretty poor taste.
It was tongue in cheek aimed at those who have complained at length over US prices and tipping.
I legitimately leave a tip, sometimes over 20% if the server has been particularly chatty but since I don’t carry a lot of cash and usually only $20 bills, it’s not my fault if the establishment doesn’t process it.
If I do have the appropriate amount in small bills I’ll leave the tip in cash. However if the service has been shit I reserve the right to leave zero and have done.
Yes @Andrew.
Currently in Orlando. The Virgin flight was completely full on account of BA cancelling a LGW-MCO flight. It worked out okay for many of the Glaswegians who instead of having to fly down to Gatwick at the crack of dawn to connect had their transfer through to Edinburgh paid for to pick up the direct Virgin flight.
One thing I forget about the States though is how accommodating they are service wise. You want to share a pizza between three of you. No problem. Obviously I forgot this last night and we literally threw away half of the pizzas we ordered.
I can’t believe there’s people in this thread suggesting a microwave dinner as a holiday meal.
You can believe whatever you want. For a lot of people holidays are a lot more than food (and for a lot of us, food is not an “experience” is sustenance). Perhaps consider getting out of your little bubble. Travelling is good for that.
As I mentioned in another thread, we found for us, that a shared starter and a shared main was more than sufficient.
We never had any issues doing this in the wide range of restaurants we used.
It seems to be standard practice for Americans to order a big meal and then take half of it home in a takeout container, even in fairly classy restaurants.
Cold Pizza for breakfast, Yum!Regarding tips; we found that the tip always went through. Our CC would show the pre tip price as pending for about 3 days, and then the full amount would got through.
One time I gave a low tip (5%) as the service was bad. When the bill went through 3 days later, they had obviously added more on than I had signed for. As we were on a road trip and a few hundred miles down the road, plus it was only a few dollars, I didn’t do anything about it.
It is crazy that the so called leaders of the Western world have not fully adopted chip & Pin yet.We’re heading for a 3 week road trip round Colorado in Sept. No fancy accommodation for us – HIE, a couple of small independent places and a Hilton in Moab. All but 4 nights on points. Only one place has a parking charge. Most provide a breakfast and I’ll be taking away the delectably delicious cinnamon buns for later. We usually collect car then head to Walmart and load up with bottled water and a variety of snacks. As for timed entry slots to various National Parks- what a pia! Really does mess with the itinerary and spontaneity of tripping. Not to mention diarising dates to bags slot 3 months away!
As for dining out, this is not a fine dining gourmet trip, and sounds that even a trip to a Wendy’s diner will set us back a bit.
Next trip, next year South America for 6 weeks.Can’t believe I’m reading hacks to scam low-paid hospitality workers by pretending to pay tips that never go through. It’s in pretty poor taste.
Be even better if the local laws and restaurants exercised transparent pricing and charged properly so they could pay the staff a proper wage and tips were actually for good service.
@Froggee I don’t think sharing a pizza between 3 people is a problem anywhere in the world
@CJD “I can’t believe there’s people in this thread suggesting a microwave dinner as a holiday meal.” Travelling isn’t all about meals out either obviously a proper stove would be better than a processed microwave meal but that’s less of an option with Hotels.I don’t think it would be better on vacation really. Like many times I wouldn’t want to leave the hotel to have dinner (thus being able to order or heat something up is useful), cooking a meal from scratch would not be of my interest as well.
But of course, to each their own. If you fancy fancy dining every night while you are on vacation, good for you.
@CJD – if you’re spending 3+ months of the year travelling like many readers, it’s very unlikely that you’ll be eating in a restaurant every single night.
We use timeshare accommodation quite a bit and love that we can stick to our own schedule, eat out when we feel like it, and the rest of the time cook or get something quick from the supermarket.
Of course if you’re time-poor with a busy life and limited annual leave, it’s a completely different matter!
Ordering food to be shared around the table is the norm in many countries – Greece, Italy, Spain, for example, as well as North America.
I also can’t imagine having a microwave meal on holiday, not least because I can’t imagine having one at home; I don’t even possess a microwave. I share the European perspective that there is no better way to spend an evening than lingering over food in the company of those you love. Our kitchen table is a TV-free zone, and phones, newspapers and laptops are unwelcome there. If I don’t want to dine out every night when I’m away, I stay in a cottage or apartment, not a hotel.
The biggest problem with dining in North America isn’t the price – although that’s often outrageous – but the environment and the food itself. Restaurants must be booked months in advance, and you’re allocated a stupidly short slot. Plates are rushed to your table with indecent haste, and the food itself is usually ultra-processed, over-seasoned, hyper-palatable muck that encourages you to eat like a pregnant sow but leaves you strangely hungry shortly afterward. Spontaneity, conversation and appreciation of food are not encouraged.
It’s no wonder 82.3% of US adults are overweight or obese. Unless you’re careful, a holiday to the USA risks causing serious harm to your health.
Our recent experiences (none this year yet) have been broadly consistent. Over three and half weeks in Texas last October we (wife and I) averaged USD 160 per day on
Dining (includes drinks). We stayed mainly in the big cities, other than a week in Fredericksburg. Over a week in December in New Orleans the average was USD 168. It helps considerably that we book, where possible
Via FHR or similar which often includes free breakfast which can in a lot of city hotels be fairly punchy in terms of price. In terms of budgeting both these were within what I had expected.To give the US of A credit, they do cater well for people on a budget – places like Homewood Suites with kitchen and BBQ facilities can be as nice as some 4 star hotels in the U.K.
I am a big fan of Homewood suite rooms. The less said about the breakfast the better.
I go to Atlanta/Charlotte once a year and noticed that prices really shot up last year and have stuck. $3.20 for a Walmart loaf just seems crazy. However, in my experience, hire car prices have certainly gone down.
Our last road trip was round southern Arizona Jan/Feb 2023. I don’t recall being outraged at the cost of dining out and we had some really nice meals. Seems we’re in for a shock in Sept.
To give the US of A credit, they do cater well for people on a budget – places like Homewood Suites with kitchen and BBQ facilities can be as nice as some 4 star hotels in the U.K.
$3.20 for a Walmart loaf just seems crazy.
You haven’t been to Gail’s in the UK then!
Walmart is hardly Gail’s! Wonder what the prices are for the Gail’s equivalent in LA or Miami these days! Eye watering for sure.
Edit: looked at what a well known bakery / cafe like Republique LA is Charging for a few staples.
Croissants – $6
Sourdough loaf – $12
Avocado Toast – $19Taxes and tips not included ofcourse.
I can get a very nice hotel breakfast Avo on Toast with tea and/or coffee and free rein at the buffet for £20.
Sourdough loaf costs me £5 and Croissant £3 in a nice local bakery/cafe.
@jj, thanks for sharing your insight into those exotic and undiscovered countries 😂
Just to make anyone in the USA feel a bit better, I was perusing the menu before ordering my (thankfully free, IHG diamond) breakfast at the Indigo GCM earlier and remarked to my OH that (e.g.) extra bacon was $8 CI, or just over £7 😱
For all the complaints about cost I thought that their £1100 each for Flight and hotel for 13 nights was excellent value on a BA holiday.
Unless you’re staying in a crackhouse then that really is quite a bargain. Bravo!
It is crazy that the so called leaders of the Western world have not fully adopted chip & Pin yet.
I was very surprised last year in NYC to see Apple Pay adverts all over the subway, billboards and bus stops. Don’t recall ever seeing a single one ’round my way’ – us Brits just seemed to accept it and adopt it very quickly without much persuasion.
It is crazy that the so called leaders of the Western world have not fully adopted chip & Pin yet.
I was very surprised last year in NYC to see Apple Pay adverts all over the subway, billboards and bus stops. Don’t recall ever seeing a single one ’round my way’ – us Brits just seemed to accept it and adopt it very quickly without much persuasion.
Thats because they have competition in the US with other payment apps.
I can’t believe there’s people in this thread suggesting a microwave dinner as a holiday meal.
I assume you havent heard about people staying in $1000 a night Maldives resorts and saving lunch money by eating pot noodles.
Could be worse could book AI but take an extra suitcase full of crap with them to eat
Wasn’t it Bora Bora where the couple took a camping stove (and possibly pot noodles) 🤷♀️
Wasn’t it Bora Bora where the couple took a camping stove (and possibly pot noodles) 🤷♀️
Exactly – I remember that!
Agreed with many on here, I often feel ripped off but you just have to be savvy and see it as part of the experience or not bother going. I love Rhode Island and really enjoyed Sedona and the Grand Canyon.
Free breakfasts with Hilton status followed by energy bars and bananas from Target, and then just getting a large iced water when out can go a way to offsetting the extortion.
Well, that and the fact I can fly to the US and back just paying taxes in J – that definitely helps (but it’s not very useful advice) 😂
Even flights are crazy. I go with work to Boston occasionally and my flight in September is over £6k. That’s double similar dates 2 years ago
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