Tipping in New Orleans

Question

We are from outside the US and having found out that we should be tipping the airport taxi driver 20%, I would like some advice on tipping.

How much is it advised to tip:

1) the bell boy

2) hotel concierge

3) Tour guide for walking / swamp tour

4) Uber drivers - do we do this on the app or separately?

5) Bar men if we’re having drink and do we tip per drink?

6) Restaurant after a meal

7) if we are buying poboys or drinks from a mini mart/ French market, do we also need to tip?

8) street jazz players

Is there anyone else we need to know about tipping?

As this is all new to us, any advice would be greatly appreciated

Answer

Tipping can vary across the US, and New Orleans is no exception. It's always a good idea to show appreciation for good service, but here’s a breakdown of standard tipping practices in the city for various services:

1) Bellboy: It’s customary to tip the bellboy $1 to $2 per bag, depending on the level of service. If the bellboy helps with a particularly large or complicated task, a bit more may be appropriate.
2) Hotel Concierge: If the concierge provides you with special services, such as booking reservations, arranging transportation, or offering helpful recommendations, a tip of $5 to $20 is appreciated. For small tasks like general information, tipping is not necessary.
3) Tour Guide (Walking / Swamp Tour): For a walking tour or swamp tour, tipping is typically around $10 to $20 per person. If you feel the guide went above and beyond, you can give more. The better the tour, the higher the tip.
4) Uber Drivers: Uber drivers can be tipped via the app, and it’s totally up to you how much you want to tip. A tip of 10% to 20% of the fare is typical, but you can give more or less depending on the service. There’s no need to tip separately in cash unless you prefer to do so.
5) Bartenders: For drinks at bars, it’s common to tip $1 to $2 per drink. If you are having a cocktail or something more involved, consider tipping $2 or more. Some people also tip $5 for a round of drinks for a group. If you're sitting at a table and a bartender serves you, tip about 15% to 20% of the total bar bill.
6) Restaurants: For standard dining, a tip of 15% to 20% of the pre-tax bill is customary. If the service was exceptional, you can go above 20%. For more casual dining, 10% to 15% is usually acceptable. Note that some restaurants in New Orleans may add a service charge to the bill, so always check before adding your tip.
7) Mini Mart / French Market (Po-boys or Drinks): For quick counter service at places like mini-marts or French markets, tipping isn’t usually expected, but rounding up to the next dollar or leaving a small tip (like $1) for friendly service is a nice gesture, especially if they’ve made something custom for you.
8) Street Jazz Musicians: New Orleans is known for its live street music, and tipping musicians is a common way to show appreciation. A tip of $1 to $5 is typical, depending on how much you enjoy the performance. If you really like the music, feel free to give more!

Other Tips:

There are a few other situations where you might want to consider tipping, such as:

Taxi Drivers: Taxi drivers typically expect a tip of 10% to 15% of the fare, just like Uber drivers. Some may add a small fee for luggage or special services.
Housekeepers: If you’re staying at a hotel for multiple days, it’s a nice gesture to leave a tip for the housekeeping staff. A tip of $1 to $2 per night is typical, left in an envelope or with a note saying “Thank you” on the bed or pillow.

Tipping is an important part of New Orleans culture, and the service industry workers appreciate the recognition. While tipping isn’t mandatory, it’s a great way to show gratitude for good service!

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