Help, how much do I actually pay for food and such!

[cccole]

Waihekean - Good for you for planning in advance for all the "little" things that we encounter when traveling. Sometimes I wish that the U.S. would just put a 15% tip on every restaurant charge but then, if service is atrocious, we would not be able to adjust the tip.

 

If you are in a restaurant with a group of 6+ be sure to check if an automatic 15% tip has already been included. Some restaurants are not good about letting customers know this and they double tip.

 

We enjoyed a fabulous family vacation to the North Island of New Zealand last year and even a visit to Waiheke Island. I hope you have a great time in Hawaii. Cherie

 

p.s. If you are getting take out from a restaurant or shrimp truck the tip is usually more like 10%.

Edited April 15, 2016 by cccole

[Waihekean]

Waihekean - Good for you for planning in advance for all the "little" things that we encounter when traveling. Sometimes I wish that the U.S. would just put a 15% tip on every restaurant charge but then, if service is atrocious, we would not be able to adjust the tip.

 

If you are in a restaurant with a group of 6+ be sure to check if an automatic 15% tip has already been included. Some restaurants are not good about letting customers know this and they double tip.

 

We enjoyed a fabulous family vacation to the North Island of New Zealand last year and even a visit to Waiheke Island. I hope you have a great time in Hawaii. Cherie

 

p.s. If you are getting take out from a restaurant or shrimp truck the tip is usually more like 10%.

 

Thank you Cherie for more good advise and your wishes. I'm sure we are going to have a great time in Hawaii. Just have to collect a lot of small change and getting used to have cash on me.

 

Wonderful that you had such a fabulous time in NZ. Is it not amazing how many CC'rs actually visit Waiheke Island?

I feel very lucky to live here:)

[cruzn single]

I just figured out your concern with the tax. If I am reading things right, I am presuming that you are thinking that you have to pay the tax separately. That is not the case.

 

This is an oversimplified example. If you purchase an item for $10.00 and the tax is 7%, you would be quoted $10.70 and you could pay with $11.00 and then will be given 30 cents in change. Figuring out the amount to remit to the taxing authority is the problem of the merchant. The tax will be shown separately on your receipt, but is included in the total you will be paying.

 

Sorry that this became such a confusing thing. Guess we Americans just assume that such things come naturally for our wonderful overseas visitors. You will accumulate plenty of small bills and extra coins. I have to empty my wallet of excess coins about every two weeks.

[Waihekean]

I just figured out your concern with the tax. If I am reading things right' date=' I am presuming that you are thinking that you have to pay the tax separately. That is not the case.[/quote']

 

Indeed that was what I was thinking. Probably because many years ago I was on a stopover (either Los Angeles or Chicago) and when I bought souvenirs the price listed with the items were the exclusive amounts and found they added the tax at the till.

[cruzn single]

Yes, the item will be marked with a price and the tax will be added on at the "wonderful computer" known as a cash register. You will be quoted the total price and as I said before your receipt will show the amount and the tax will be itemized separately.

 

I can certainly understand how this method causes confusion. Just the way things have been set up in this country. Not that either way is right or wrong. Just how customs differ between countries.

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[punkincc]

Oh! Now I understand why you were confused. I just assumed, as a silly American, that things were done the same everywhere. Everything here, items, hotel bills, food prices are all listed with a pre tax price, and then the tax is added in before you pay up.

 

The only thing you will need to calculate on your own would be the gratuity, or tip, you wish to leave a server. They will present you a bill with all taxes added in. If you are using a credit card, you can add the tip to the amount on the card or just leave a cash tip on the table. Some places print a little tip guide on the bottom of the receipt which indicates the 15, 18 and 20% tip amounts based on your total. You of course are free to go by this or not. Great for people like me who don't like to do math in their heads.

 

Sorry if I am telling you things you already know.

[SadieN]

Basic rule of thumb is to mentally add 25% to prices for tax and tip. Tip on pre-tax dollars.

Looking at the receipt ---Here in Los Angeles we simply multiply the tax x 2 for the tip amount. Works when tax is 8%, not too sure what HI tax is.

 

 

Many counter restaurants will have tip jars. Some will tip a dollar or throw their change in, many won't do anything.

Edited April 20, 2016 by SadieN

[Waihekean]

In Hawaii it is 4.5%, so I guess it will be usually x3 for tip.

[WaterView2]

To amplify on the Hawaii questions. The General Excise Tax, commonly referred to a sales tax, is levied on almost everything and is not included in the posted price in a store or menu. Many countries include tax in the posted price but not in the USA. The rate varies a bit by island as there can be county additions. On O'ahu it is 4.71%. Tipping is typically 15-20% in the USA and not normally included automatically unless you have a large group in a restaurant or it states it is included.

 

There are additional taxes on hotel rooms and rental cars which raises their cost quite a bit. When comparing prices check to see if they are including the taxes.

[GUT2407]

In our experience when visiting New Zealand and Australia ( both beautiful countries by the way ) we found the overall price of a meal to be somewhat higher than we would pay in North America. We thought that this was because staff would be paid a higher compensation due to the lack of tipping.

 

You may find that meals in Hawaii might cost a bit less than you are used to at home. We normally tip somewhere around 15%, but whatever you decide base it on the cost of the meal before any taxes are tacked on.

 

Yep, way more, minimum wage is about $17 an hour for an adult and then penalty rates on top.

[Waihekean]

Well, I'am back from lovely Hawaii!:)

 

I did find that the meals and drinks in Hawaii were a lot higher then in New Zealand, but I heard this from Americans too, so it seems a Hawaiian thing, the high prices. The general tax was low though, but was not included on sales prices and found that quite a hassle.

 

Did not like that on a bus transfer included with a Luau before dropped back to hotels, we were told by the Tour Escort (he said he was not a Guide) that we had to pay his wages i.e. tip. Asked a Pax how much we should give and she said $10 was the norm. Considering there were about 50 of us on the bus, he made a good wage for just an evening and only working on the bus and not the luau.

 

Another time on a bus with no escort, but just a driver who was entertaining and had a great attitude, we gladly gave $20, as we felt he really deserved it.

 

But overall we just went with the flow, kept taking money out of the ATM and try not to think too much about all the add ons. Like 4.5% tax, 18 or 20% tip, plus 50-60% for the currency exchange. Ouch!

 

Alcohol was really not affordable, especially on the ship. $45 NZ for a small and a medium glass of wine. $18NZ for a cocktail. Paid $140 NZ for a meal at Cagney's, which would be comparable with fine dining restaurant in NZ and we found the meal worth it.

 

Managed to not overspend on souvenirs, except for a piece of art that with the exchange rate came out very expensive. However, this is a Hawaiian mask and a special memento of the fantastic holiday we had. Plus it will look great with our two Venetians masks in our lounge. Of which one was also very expensive, but we never regretted it.

 

So, overall we did sort of got used to it to keep adding money on all the time, but glad that it was only for a few weeks, as it sure make life more complicated!

[GUT2407]

Well, I'am back from lovely Hawaii!:)

 

I did find that the meals and drinks in Hawaii were a lot higher then in New Zealand, but I heard this from Americans too, so it seems a Hawaiian thing, the high prices. The general tax was low though, but was not included on sales prices and found that quite a hassle.

 

Did not like that on a bus transfer included with a Luau before dropped back to hotels, we were told by the Tour Escort (he said he was not a Guide) that we had to pay his wages i.e. tip. Asked a Pax how much we should give and she said $10 was the norm. Considering there were about 50 of us on the bus, he made a good wage for just an evening and only working on the bus and not the luau.

 

Another time on a bus with no escort, but just a driver who was entertaining and had a great attitude, we gladly gave $20, as we felt he really deserved it.

 

But overall we just went with the flow, kept taking money out of the ATM and try not to think too much about all the add ons. Like 4.5% tax, 18 or 20% tip, plus 50-60% for the currency exchange. Ouch!

 

Alcohol was really not affordable, especially on the ship. $45 NZ for a small and a medium glass of wine. $18NZ for a cocktail. Paid $140 NZ for a meal at Cagney's, which would be comparable with fine dining restaurant in NZ and we found the meal worth it.

 

Managed to not overspend on souvenirs, except for a piece of art that with the exchange rate came out very expensive. However, this is a Hawaiian mask and a special memento of the fantastic holiday we had. Plus it will look great with our two Venetians masks in our lounge. Of which one was also very expensive, but we never regretted it.

 

So, overall we did sort of got used to it to keep adding money on all the time, but glad that it was only for a few weeks, as it sure make life more complicated!

 

 

Food in Hawaii can be expensive mainly due to shipping costs.

 

Tipping for that bus driver sounds crazy, but that seems to be how it goes, the tax added is also, in my opinion plain wrong, you have to pay it, show it so I actually know what something costs, it's OK for me, my maths is pretty good, hate to think how Mrs Gut (who struggles with 10% of 100) would get on by herself.

[GUT2407]

Forgot to say, hope you had a great trip in spite of those issues.

[slidergirl]

Thank you for coming back and giving us your post-cruise comments on your adventures in money matters in a US Tourist Economic Area. Yep, Hawaii is definitely more expensive than your average US (or NZ) town. First, so much has to be shipped in that those costs have to be factored in. Second, you are a tourist in a tourist area and prices will be adjusted upward for the "captive audience." But, we all have to pay for that, regardless if you are a tourist off the ship for 5 hours in a port or staying for a week on a land vacation.

There are many encampments of homeless in Hawaii (a daughter of a dear friend lives in one on Oahu). Now, some are unemployed, but there are entire families with children living there with working parents. The cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical and the wages to service workers, are at times not enough to feed a family of 4, rent a 2 bedroom apartment, have transportation to/from work. When you are working at a resort hotel in a non-tipping position for $8.25/hour, you can't pay a $800/month rental bill. I've had friends leave positions here and to to Hawaii to work because it sounds so much fun - they never last more than a year because they can't make ends meet.

 

Since I am in a service business in a resort town, maybe I am more acutely aware of financials of hourly service employees. Some of the kids I work with work 2 other jobs just to be able to make enough money to pitch in for the rent of the 2 bedroom apartment they share with 4 other people. I also always tip 20% in a restaurant in the US, regardless if it's a classy restaurant or my neighborhood diner. I leave $5/day in my hotel room for the Housekeeper. If I have a car and it is valet'd, I'll give the attendant $3 coming and going.