Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Notwithstanding the fact that the Canuck Buck has risen vis- a- vis the USD, there is still good value for Americans traveling to Canada.So come on up ! The price is right !
A few tips: If staying at a hotel, tip your chambermaid a few pennies each day, she will be so appreciative and she will leave your towells in interesting animal shapes. Ask them to leave you a beaver, our national rodent.
If your hotel offers valet service for your car, insist on seeing the lad's Driver's Licence, few Canadians actually have one. If you tip the valet a dime, upon return of your vehicle you will find that it has been washed, waxed and been given an oil change. For an extra 5 cents, the valet will get his cousin to do a minor tune-up.
Restaurant tipping norms: Maitre'd, 1 penny per person in your party, to a maximum of five cents. Somelier, five cents per bottle (but only if he has provided truly exceptional service and advice). Wait Staff, three to eight cents to be split amongst the staff depending on the number of courses served.
Please do not exceed these norms, it will only make the staff more indolent than usual if they come to believe that their rich American cousins are going to give them large sums of hard currency for doing very little. Also, remember that these people are already receiving VERY high wages by Canadian standards. Some earn the equivalent of $ 0.78 USD per hour !!!
A few tips: If staying at a hotel, tip your chambermaid a few pennies each day, she will be so appreciative and she will leave your towells in interesting animal shapes. Ask them to leave you a beaver, our national rodent.
If your hotel offers valet service for your car, insist on seeing the lad's Driver's Licence, few Canadians actually have one. If you tip the valet a dime, upon return of your vehicle you will find that it has been washed, waxed and been given an oil change. For an extra 5 cents, the valet will get his cousin to do a minor tune-up.
Restaurant tipping norms: Maitre'd, 1 penny per person in your party, to a maximum of five cents. Somelier, five cents per bottle (but only if he has provided truly exceptional service and advice). Wait Staff, three to eight cents to be split amongst the staff depending on the number of courses served.
Please do not exceed these norms, it will only make the staff more indolent than usual if they come to believe that their rich American cousins are going to give them large sums of hard currency for doing very little. Also, remember that these people are already receiving VERY high wages by Canadian standards. Some earn the equivalent of $ 0.78 USD per hour !!!
