Travel USA travel tips and tricks

[alex_is_on_fire]

I meant not tipping at all is a serious insult to the staff, and it'd take something very serious (i.e my example above) for me not to tip at all.

Yeah, fair enough. I'm a self confessed miser when it comes to spending money and giving tips but I make sure I always leave some sort of tip, even if it's not as much s they hoped or expected. Saying that, I'm happy to do it as I'm a visitor to their country but If I lived in the US and it was part of my every day culture, tipping would give me the shits real quick.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

If you don't want to have to tip everyone you can do things like take your bags to your room yourself - just about every hotel you stay at will have elevators anyways.

On the whole I am all for tipping. You really do notice the extra effort those who want your tip put in. Definitely vary your tips though as some don't deserve it whilst others most definitely will. Most places will give you water as soon as you sit down and ask if you want something from the bar, others you just about have to beg for service.

Also keep in mind the waiter will distribute the tip between others that have helped you on the night - i.e. the person pouring you water all night, bartender making you drinks etc. This is what we were told when we asked the waiter if he would get the whole tip on our $250 odd bill.

There were a number of places we gave no tips too, whilst other places got around the 25%. You really will be surprised how much people are willing to do for you for a tip.

Oh and don't be surprised if someone asks you for your ID for the first time in 5-10 years. Anyone who looks under 45 gets asked in the US and the authorities are real hot on it. The bartenders/waiters will be impressed with your ID though, if you have one of the new Victoria licenses.

 

[Nelso]

If you don't want to have to tip everyone you can do things like take your bags to your room yourself - just about every hotel you stay at will have elevators anyways.

On the whole I am all for tipping. You really do notice the extra effort those who want your tip put in. Definitely vary your tips though as some don't deserve it whilst others most definitely will. Most places will give you water as soon as you sit down and ask if you want something from the bar, others you just about have to beg for service.

Also keep in mind the waiter will distribute the tip between others that have helped you on the night - i.e. the person pouring you water all night, bartender making you drinks etc. This is what we were told when we asked the waiter if he would get the whole tip on our $250 odd bill.

There were a number of places we gave no tips too, whilst other places got around the 25%. You really will be surprised how much people are willing to do for you for a tip.

Oh and don't be surprised if someone asks you for your ID for the first time in 5-10 years. Anyone who looks under 45 gets asked in the US and the authorities are real hot on it. The bartenders/waiters will be impressed with your ID though, if you have one of the new Victoria licenses.

Last time I was in the States, my wife got carded. She was in her mid thirties back then. This was at a bar in Pasadena. I was pissing myself laughing at the time and paying her out but that quickly turn to anger They took her driver's licence away at the time and did not return it straight away back to her. It took them 30 minutes to give it back and that was only after I demanded for it to be returned to us. Who knows what they were doing it with it out the back?

 

[smiddaz123]

They were surprisingly lax with their ID checking, in NYC at least. I'm 22, and look young for my age. Most people put me about 20, so I definitely should be getting ID'd over there. Only did about 50% of the time I reckon. Plenty of bars just served me my beer when I sat down and asked for it.

A guy I stayed with at a hostel was actually 20 and got served. I was over there in December and I went out for a few drinks with him early in the month, he turned 21 on the 28th of December. His ID got accepted, so I assume they just saw he was born in 1991 and assumed he was 21.

Just on the tip thing still, I never really tip back home, only very occasionally if the service has been exceptional, so don't think of me as a guy who likes to tip. I reckon you'll find it isn't an annoyance at all over in the States. It's a nice feeling, returning to a bar you've been to once or twice and getting a properly warm welcome from a bar tender who has remembered your name and what drink you asked for last time. They'll be going out of their way to serve you as soon as your glass is empty, if not just before it's empty. Also helps that usually you'll be paying less for what you get over there, even if you include at 20% tip.

 

[JimmyDE]

October was just nice.



We flew from NYC to Buffalo, had a car pick us up and take us to Niagara Falls, got there around lunch time. Straight to Maid of the Mist, dinner at a half decent place, up the next morning, went behind the falls, car picked us up in plenty of time to get back across the border (takes longer going back in to US than leaving). 24 hours in Niagara Falls, beautiful. The Canadian side is very clean and beautiful. You could do the day trip but I would find room for a night.

Oh, this was our first view of the falls, from our hotel room.

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I loved the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We also did the Maid of Mist tour it was a thing of beauty. Got soaked tho but that's to be expected it's a nice drive from Toronto if your staying there.

 

[jerry springer]

In Boston(Massachusetts) make sure you take your passport out when you go for drinks. They will not serve you no matter how old you look/are.Your aussie drivers licenses/Id cards wont work. This was everywhere,bars,strippers,basketball games etc

 

[Nelso]

I loved the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. We also did the Maid of Mist tour it was a thing of beauty. Got soaked tho but that's to be expected it's a nice drive from Toronto if your staying there.

Yes Toronto is a fantastic city. Lots of things to see and do. Watched a MLB game there which is played in the dome.

 

[TheStinger]

In Boston(Massachusetts) make sure you take your passport out when you go for drinks. They will not serve you no matter how old you look/are.Your aussie drivers licenses/Id cards wont work. This was everywhere,bars,strippers,basketball games etc

They are the same in Chicago, although I got away with my SA drivers licence there. They do look at them with a fair degree of scepticism though before letting you in. I felt sorry for a young couple from Brazil who were refused entry into a blues bar because they had a Brazilian passport. Apparently they are one of the most forged passports going around and the bouncer wasn't having it. Sucked because I knew they were both 25, but no amount of us vouching for them would persuade him. They take it serious there.

 

[JimmyDE]

Yes Toronto is a fantastic city. Lots of things to see and do. Watched a MLB game there which is played in the dome.

Wish I got to see a Bluejays game, went on a tour of that stadium it's amazing then went to the CN tower after that. Toronto is a great city wouldn't mind living there for a couple of years

 

[TheStinger]

Yes Toronto is a fantastic city. Lots of things to see and do. Watched a MLB game there which is played in the dome.

Did you do the tour of the Sky Dome (or the Rogers Arena as it is now)? I did the tour and the guy we had was without doubt one of the funniest tour guides I have ever had. He knew all about the place, but he just kept you entertained the entire 50 minutes. Well worth the money.

This isn't a good photo of him, but this is the dude. He even took his glasses off for the photo "because I take a better picture this way."

 

[Nelso]

Wish I got to see a Bluejays game, went on a tour of that stadium it's amazing then went to the CN tower after that. Toronto is a great city wouldn't mind living there for a couple of years

Ah yes the CN Tower where part of the tower has a glass floor. The trip up in the lifts on the outside of the tower is fantastic. The CN tower is taller than the Empire State Building.

 

[Nelso]

Did you do the tour of the Sky Dome (or the Rogers Arena as it is now)? I did the tour and the guy we had was without doubt one of the funniest tour guides I have ever had. He knew all about the place, but he just kept you entertained the entire 50 minutes. Well worth the money.

This isn't a good photo of him, but this is the dude. He even took his glasses off for the photo "because I take a better picture this way."

My wife has cousins who live in Toronto. So they took us to the game. I did not do the tour of the Sky Dome.

However, I did do the behind the scenes tour at Madison Square Garden which was awesome. It is unbelievable how quickly they change the floor. We went to the Eric Clapton concert at MSG on a Saturday night and then came back the next day and it was already set up for the ice hockey. From what I can remember our tour guide, says that they have 5 different floors all under each other and they just roll them out depending on the event.

 

[TheStinger]

While we are on a Toronto swing, I went to the Air Canada Center as well, where the Maple Leafs and the Raptors play. Great stadium.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Anyone done the Yankee Stadium tour?

Can you do it in a wheelchair? Do you get on to the grass?

 

[TheStinger]

While we are talking about stadium tours, I could not believe that the Miami Heat don't run one. The security guard told me they used to do it but there wasn't enough demand so it was costing them too much and they stopped. Funny, because while I was there at least five other people asked about a tour. No demand huh?

 

[Nelso]

While we are talking about stadium tours, I could not believe that the Miami Heat don't run one. The security guard told me they used to do it but there wasn't enough demand so it was costing them too much and they stopped. Funny, because while I was there at least five other people asked about a tour. No demand huh?

That is because they now have to pay for LBJ's salary

 

[TheStinger]

That is because they now have to pay for LBJ's salary

And D-Wade and the Velociraptor....

 

[Nelso]

And D-Wade and the Velociraptor....

I am going to the Staples Centre in March for the Lakers v Hawks game. I don't think I will have time to do a tour while I am there.

 

[TheStinger]

I am going to the Staples Centre in March for the Lakers v Hawks game. I don't think I will have time to do a tour while I am there.

I'm not exactly sure if they do one. I can't remember asking. It is a great stadium though. I saw the Clippers play Minnesota there and also the Lakers against the Nuggets. Even saw Jack that night.

 

[Nelso]

I'm not exactly sure if they do one. I can't remember asking. It is a great stadium though. I saw the Clippers play Minnesota there and also the Lakers against the Nuggets. Even saw Jack that night.

Yeah I will go down to the front row and introduce myself to Jack.

Did you introduce yourself to Billy Crystal when you saw the Clippers play? He is a mad Clips fan and is at most of their home games.

 

[TheStinger]

The only bad thing about the Staples Center is they are sticklers for keeping you where your seat is. You can't go past what section your seat is in. Which meant no front row looking for me. I was in the lower bowl behind the basket for the Clippers in Row 20, but I was in the upper deck for the Lakers, although I was center court. At the United Center in Chicago they will let you go down almost to courtside before the game to take photos, no matter where your seat is. That was cool. UC is a massive stadium, well worth going there for a Bulls or Blackhawks game.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

In Boston(Massachusetts) make sure you take your passport out when you go for drinks. They will not serve you no matter how old you look/are.Your aussie drivers licenses/Id cards wont work. This was everywhere,bars,strippers,basketball games etc

Funnily enough, I went to a few famous establishments for tourists in Boston and my ID did me just fine for drinks. We did tend to get asked for ID more at restaurants than pubs. Very hard to buy grog in Boston to take back to your room, at least that's what I found Christmas night when we just wanted to sit back and watch the bball over a few drinks.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

The only bad thing about the Staples Center is they are sticklers for keeping you where your seat is. You can't go past what section your seat is in. Which meant no front row looking for me. I was in the lower bowl behind the basket for the Clippers in Row 20, but I was in the upper deck for the Lakers, although I was center court. At the United Center in Chicago they will let you go down almost to courtside before the game to take photos, no matter where your seat is. That was cool. UC is a massive stadium, well worth going there for a Bulls or Blackhawks game.

I think that maybe a California thing as they don't allow that to happen at Golden State Warriors games in San Fran.

 

[alex_is_on_fire]

Funnily enough, I went to a few famous establishments for tourists in Boston and my ID did me just fine for drinks. We did tend to get asked for ID more at restaurants than pubs. Very hard to buy grog in Boston to take back to your room, at least that's what I found Christmas night when we just wanted to sit back and watch the bball over a few drinks.

You mean they don't sell booze at places like Wallmart, 7/11 or the corner shops?

Booze seems to be sold everywhere on the West coast, even at fast food outlets in the food malls.

 

[ThePezDispenser]

You mean they don't sell booze at places like Wallmart, 7/11 or the corner shops?

Booze seems to be sold everywhere on the West coast, even at fast food outlets in the food malls.

Nope, by law. It's the same in the whole of MA and MIN too if I remember a mate telling me correctly.

Not even at the pharmacies.

I saw a few bottleshops around the city, but none in close enough walking distance on the day.