After weather like this, going on a vacation can be particularly exciting.

Friday, March 15, 2002

After weather like this, going on a vacation can be particularly exciting.

Unless you’re not going until June.

If that’s the case, planning ahead for all your expenses is probably a good idea, if you haven’t done so already.

And you’d better set aside money for tips.

Tipping, as least in American society, is pretty important. In my book, wait staff at restaurants and similar venues, along with beauticians, usually deserve tips.

Now, over in Ireland and other places in Europe, it’s different. You may get slapped if you try leaving a Euro or two on the table after your glass of wine. Or two.

Anyway, back to America.

The guy that cuts my hair will expect an extra greenback next time I’m in the chair. Which is fine. He does a good job and knows how I like my hair cut.

And I apologize in advance for any other professions that also rely on tips for a portion of their income. But is there any place that you draw the line?

My last extensive vacation was unplanned on the budget, especially when it came to tipping.

Last Memorial Day weekend, I met a friend of mine down in Key West, Fla. Nice place. No, I didn’t have a slice of Key Lime Pie and I skipped the Hemingway Home.

There were many other activities I participated in. And we’ll get to those in a second, because we have to start at the beginning of the tip adventure.

After getting off the Park and Ride shuttle, the skycap greeted me and asked if he could take my bags. I only had a carry-on, so I politely declined.

But I couldn’t help but thinking about that Seinfeld episode, when one of the characters gave the skycap their bags and didn’t leave a tip.

Needless to say, their bags ended up in a destination far away from society.

Next was the shoe shine guy. He did a good job and politely asked for a tip when he finished. I gave him an extra buck.

After arriving in Miami and getting the rental car, we made it down to Key West about 3 1/2 hours later on one of the most scenic drives I’ve ever taken.

We later went on a boat that took us roughly 10 miles south of Key West. We were going snorkeling in the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/whatever you want to call it (all I knew is we were only 80 miles from Cuba). Anyway, a good time was had, but the captain and the workers asked for a tip at the end. In a nice way, of course.

"If you enjoyed your trip today, you can thank us by kindly leaving us a tip in the jar at the front of the boat."

That line must be given to everyone that sets up a business there, because that’s all I heard on similar excursions.

We went snorkeling the next day and heard the same line. Later, we went parasailing. When we finished, the driver of the boat gave the same line.

It’s probably not surprising that when we didn’t leave a tip (along with two others in the boat), he dropped us about 50 feet from the shore and we had to slog through two feet of seaweed.

I don’t consider myself cheap. I do leave tips.

Maybe I’m too old fashioned. But, in my opinion, there’s just some services that you should receive when you pay for them – without having to fork over extra dough for a tip.

Other people just don’t see it that way. Which is fine.

But I’d rather pass on the seaweed next time.

Dan Fields can be reached at 434-2230 or by e-mail at dan.fields@austindailyherald.com