Your questions: Do I have to tip everyone in the US and Canada?

We are heading to the US and Canada. Do I tip everyone and how much? Last time we were in the US we were chased by the concierge because we didn’t tip for storing our luggage. What about Canada?
A. Llewellyn-Evans, Moss Vale NSW

Tipping in the US: not optional.Credit: iStock

As you’ve discovered, tipping is not optional in the US in most service-related industries. Even when buying a take-away coffee, a tip is customary. As a guide, in restaurants tip 15-20 per cent of the pre-tax bill, even if the service is ordinary, as much as 25 per cent for going above and beyond. In taxis and rideshares such as Uber, 10-20 per cent of the fare. For bartenders, one or two dollars (US) per drink.

In hotels, $US2-4 per bag for the porter, $US10-20 for the concierge for special service and for housekeeping $US2-5 a night. Canada’s tipping culture is only slightly behind that of the US. Deduct about 5 per cent from the figures for the US, and pray it doesn’t become common practice here.

After spending most of September in the UK visiting family, my wife and I plan to visit Athens, Crete and Cyprus for three to four weeks. Our interests are history, food and wine rather than beach activities, and we were thinking of basing ourselves in small villas or apartments. Is this feasible, how should we best allocate our time and what would be the best routing? K. Hawke, Annandale, NSW

Peloponnese: packed with wonders.Credit: iStock

That sounds like you’ll be spending October in Greece’s capital and Mediterranean islands, and that’s a perfect time for a visit. The crowds and the heat are gone but the temperatures in Crete and Cyprus should be perfect for swimming and dining outdoors. You could easily spend five days in Athens, but you could also include a trip to the Peloponnese which is packed with wonders from the ancient world – the Theatre at Epidaurus, Messini, Mystras, once known as Sparta, Mycenae, Corinth and Olympia, original home to the Olympic Games to name just a handful. You could take a tour from Athens but driving yourself around is a better option.

Following that, take a flight from Athens to Heraklion and spend 10 days on Crete. The medieval town of Chania is Crete’s beauty queen, with architecture reminiscent of the Venetian and Ottoman empires that once ruled it. Rethymno comes a close second, although you’d be perfectly satisfied with either. Agios Nikolaos is chic and pretty, and livelier, although this might not be such a great choice if quiet and calm are high priorities.

A short flight from Heraklion will take you to Larnaca and you could spend a week visiting the island’s historical sites. These include Kourion, a Greco-Roman site with a well-preserved amphitheatre, mosaics and bathhouses, the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, Kolossi Castle, a Crusader fortress linked to the Knights of St. John and Limassol Castle, where Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre. If you’re departing from the UK for your return flight to Australia, you can take a non-stop flight from Larnaca to all the major UK airports.

The problem with Viber (Your Questions, February 28) and WhatsApp powered by data-only eSIMs is they don’t work if you need to call an organisation back home. Nor do they work for “two-factor” authentication” needed to access accounts. So global roaming is almost essential. What are some good value and reliable options?
P. Prentice, Parkville VIC

Provided you are using Viber Out, you can dial any landline or mobile number in the world, including Australian 1300 numbers, via an internet connection. To receive two-factor authentication messages you need a cellular connection to your usual phone number. Although this alarms some travellers who want to avoid data roaming charges, whether you have an iPhone or one based on the Android operating system, it’s simple to leave cellular on and turn data roaming off using the settings function on your phone.

For instructions, Google provides the answer. I’m travelling in India right now and to maintain data connectivity I’m using a Jetpac eSIM which costs $US28 ($45) for 10Gb of data with cellular on and data roaming off for my regular phone number.

My Qantas credit card gives free travel insurance via Chubb. I asked for a certificate of insurance, but they only provided a letter. Can a traveller rely on a general letter when requiring a medical service overseas as compared to a certificate of insurance provided by RACV travel insurance? S. Vlamis, Highton VIC

A lot depends on where the medical treatment happens and under what circumstances but it’s possible that neither this letter nor a certificate of insurance is going to cover your costs at the time of treatment. You might need to notify your insurer before treatment is provided to ensure you’re covered. Upon verification your insurer may settle the bills directly with the treatment facility.

However, it’s not uncommon to have to pay for any treatment you receive and reclaim from your insurer. In that case, when you file your claim you will need to produce receipts and other records relating to the treatment received. Your claim should be submitted as soon as the treatment is complete.

Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances