An Important tip!

''Tipping', gratuity or 'service' is handled very differently in the UK and America. It's important to get this right when you visit each place as it can affect whether the staff in bars, cafe, restaurant, hotels, hairdressers, and the drivers of taxis or buses think that you are lovely, rude, strange, or whether they chase you down the street! :)

In the UK...

In the UK the reason for tipping is to show that you really liked the service. In the UK we have a high minimum wage, and no-one can be paid below this amount for any work, so when you tip, it is mainly showing politeness to the service person, and to acknowledge that they did an excellent job.

You can tip more or less depending on how good you thought the service was, and the average tip is around 10-20%. So if you loved your new 50 pound haircut, you should add another 5-10 pounds onto your bill, and this will go directly to the hairdresser! If you didn't like the service, don't tip! This is the case even if 'service' has been added to your bill. If you didn't like the service, you can always refuse to pay. Or if you are a student, traveller on a budget, or simply can't afford to, it's also ok not to spend the extra money.

In the US...

In the US, you will often hear 'tips' called 'service'. It is essential to tip in the US, because the waitresses, bar staff, maitre'd's in these industrys are paid a low wage which they cannot afford to live on, and therefore your tip is much needed by them.

It is actually part of the payment that you make and very often is not optional! Especially in restaurants, if you do not pay the service, you have not paid your entire bill, so watch out!

【Brush up on Britain 重温英伦】

原来，在英国给小费意味着你对店员的服务很满意哦！英国政府规定了最低工资标准，所有雇主都要遵循这个规定，所以员工的工资不会低于最低工资。

【Spot the Difference 差异点播】

1. 给小费的不同理由：

UK：以示礼貌（英国人绅士风度根深蒂固啊~）；表示服务质量真的不错。

"That waitress was so friendly and quick! Give her a big tip!" （那个服务员服务态度好并且效率高，我要给她一大笔小费！）

US：在美国，服务员、酒吧侍者等工作者工资很低，生活十分艰辛，所以小费对于他们来说十分重要。

"The 15% service charge has been added to your bill." （15%的服务费已计入您的账单。）（此处省略N个字……）

2. 给多少小费较合适？

UK：根据服务质量而定，一般在原价的基础上增加10-20%。所以如果理发的价格为50英镑，另外给5-10英镑就很合适。值得注意的是，这些小费直接属于美发师！如果你对服务质量不满意，不给小费即可，即使小费已经算入了你的账单中！如果你囊中羞涩付不起小费，不付就行了。

US：通常小费是账单的一部分，而且非付不可！尤其是在餐厅，如果不给小费，就被认为是没有付完账单，所以要小心了。

3. 各种场合：