Although tipping can stretch the traveler’s budget, it’s really quite important. Most waiters don’t make a living wage, so they rely upon the tips to balance out their income. The same goes for taxi drivers, whose tips make up roughly 25 percent of their income.

Related: How to visit New York City on a budget

Tipping isn’t hard or complicated. Here’s a quick overview of how much to tip in New York:

Paying for your taxi by credit card. Add 25%, 20%, 15% or whatever you like. Photo: Wayan Vota

Taxis

Even New Yorkers find tipping taxi drivers difficult at times. It’s no secret that cabbies face long hours and dangerous working conditions. That said, some drivers can be pretty rude, refusing to drive to outer boroughs or ignoring you while chatting on their hands-free phones. Still, you’ve got to tip.

Most passengers tip around 15 percent of the fare. The credit card machines available in all yellow cabs give passengers the option to tip 15, 20 and 25 percent. Don’t panic, Cheapos. You can still tip as you see fit using the keypad.

Restaurants

This is the big one and applies to all restaurants where a waiter brings food to your table. (This does not apply in fast-food restaurants where you order at a counter and take your own food to a table.)

After paying your bill, leaving a 15-18 percent tip is standard. If service is outstanding, reward your waiter with 20 to 25 percent. You can add it to your bill if paying by credit card, or simply leave the money on the table if paying with cash.

Always look carefully at your bill: The tip should not be already included. However, we’ve heard that certain swanky establishments like the Gansevoort Hotel have started adding 18 percent gratuity for everyone.

Larger groups (more than six people) should expect to have gratuity automatically added to their bill (usually about 18 percent). Make sure you check your bill carefully and ask if it isn’t clear.

Note for foreign visitors: We’ve noticed, with some frustration, that gratuity is sometimes added to bills when it’s obvious that the diners are foreigners. It’s annoying, as it sends a message that just because the waiter or manager overheard the table speaking a foreign language, the diners will be unaccustomed to adding a tip on their own. Be aware and check your bill carefully — especially if you’re speaking another language.

Coat check

If you hand your coat, bag or purse to an attendant to be checked away while you dine or attend an event, giving a $1 tip is customary when you pick up your item.

At some bars, you’ll pay a small charge per item when you drop them off. This is a sort of preemptive tip. Feel free to drop off another tip when you pick up your item, although it won’t really be necessary.

Note that tipping is not required (and may be forbidden) when checking items at museums.

Bars

For a drink under $10, a $1 tip per drink is common. Go up from there depending on the quality of the bar. Most bartenders agree there’s a difference between pulling a beer tap at a dive bar and muddling fresh ingredients to make a top-notch drink at a lounge—and they expect customers to tip accordingly.

Tipping in bars has more to do with making sure your next drink comes faster than it is about service. But by all means, give the cute, friendly or super-efficient bartender a couple more dollars.

Salons

In the land of $7-manicures, feel like a big spender with a 30 percent tip—it’ll only set you back $2 extra.

When it comes to the other services at hair salons and day spas, the standard 15 to 20 percent rule applies.

Getting a 90-minute massage? Feel free to go over 20 percent for your tip. You’ve just spent quite a bit of time with a complete stranger!

Your tips?

Have any advice on tipping to add to our list? Tip us off in our comments section.

Also in our guide: Heading to New York and looking for great, affordable places to sleep? Check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in New York City, all visited, inspected and reviewed by our team of editors. Read more in our New York hotel guide.

The post New York: A guide to tipping for foreign tourists appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But never fear, the Cheapos are here, with a list of several spots where you can always find free Wi-Fi in New York City:

Laptops and lattes at a Starbucks in Soho. Photo: Lee Gillen

Starbucks

The unofficial “office” of many a New York-based freelancer, the coffeehouse giant makes up for outrageous drink prices with free Wi-Fi in each of its locations. Lucky for you, there are more Starbucks on the island of Manhattan than you can shake a (peppermint) stick (latte) at. Check their Web site to find the nearest location.

The Union Square East Starbucks (14th Street and Park Ave South) offers plenty of seating and a great view of the hustle and bustle along 14th Street. We also suggest the Starbucks on 63rd Street and Broadway, a place that sees its fair share of laptops given its proximity to the Fordham University and Juilliard School.

New York City parks

New York, the “concrete jungle,” is also home to tons of green space. Beginning this year, AT&T allows you to take your laptop to one of these verdant pastures to do some work or Facebooking, free of charge:

Manhattan:

• Battery Park (Battery Place and State Street)
• Central Park – Mineral Springs
• Central Park – Rumsey Playfield
• Central Park – Tavern on the Green
• Marcus Garvey Park (East 120th Street and Madison Avenue)
• Thomas Jefferson Park (FDR Dr., bet. E. 111 St. and E. 114 St.)
• Tompkins Square Park (Avenue A and East 7th Street)

Brooklyn:

• Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 1
• Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 6
• Herbert Von King Park
• McCarren Park Field House
• Prospect Park Picnic House

Bronx:

• Devoe Park in the Bronx
• Joyce Kilmer Park

Queens:

• Astoria Park

Staten Island:

• Clove Lakes Park

Once you find the network “attwifi” in these locations, you’re ready to go. No need to sign up for anything or enter any password.

And if these locations aren’t convenient, stick around; within five years, 20 parks across the five boroughs will offer free Wi-Fi. Check nycparkgov.org for updated locations.

New York Public Library at Bryant Park

Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, nypl.org

The main branch of the New York Public Library, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is worth a visit for the architecture alone. Built in the Beaux-Arts style in 1911, the library’s main entrance, flanked by two lion sculptures, is iconic and has been featured in films since the 1930s.

All visitors (even those without library cards) are welcome in the library and those with laptops can set up shop in the magnificent Bill Blass Reading Room, which should certainly inspire some great emails… Simply find the network and get to work in no time.

For hours, times, and other Wi-Fi enabled libraries in New York, consult the library’s Web site.

McDonald’s

McDonald’s is no longer just a place for a post-club snack. Believe it or not, the mega-chain is adding free Internet access to its menu (and yes, you can still get fries with that).

Check the restaurant’s Web site for Wi-Fi enabled locations, but we recommend the McDonald’s near Columbus Circle on 57th Street and Eighth Avenue, as it’s one of the nicest locations in the city. The location on Sixth Avenue between 14th and 15th Street also offers plenty of seating and outlets for laptops.

Also in our guide: Planning a trip to New York City? Check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in New York, all visited, inspected and photographed by our editors. (Some of them even have free Wi-Fi!) Read more in our New York City guide.

The post Free Wi-Fi in New York: Where to go online for free appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A stop by one of these bars should guarantee some great booze for your Cheapo buck:

Spain Restaurant
113 W. 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site

Spain Restaurant, a popular Beat generation haunt, dishes up Spanish-themed food and drink for a new crop of thirsty and fabulously interesting patrons just south of 14th street in the Village. Sit at the bar or a table in the front, order a $4 drink, and the (sometimes gruff) servers will bring free plates of tapas (meatballs, Spanish tortillas, fried potatoes). Cheapo groups should consider splurging on a pitcher of their famous sangria for $17.

El Cantinero Mexican Cantina
86 University Place, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site

Prepare for a Cheapo fiesta: Mexican food is all you can eat for $11.95 on Mondays and Thursdays. After you’ve eaten your fill, head to the second floor where drinks are just $4 during the all-night happy hours. If you enjoy yourself during the week, head back to El Cantinero on the weekend when a DJ spins salsa (for dancing, not for eating!) and other Latin genres on the second floor. Friday and Saturday a happy hour starts at 5 p.m.

Verlaine
110 Rivington Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Web site

Southeast Asian tapas bar Verlaine is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by falling back to their 2001 happy hour prices on Sundays and Mondays. Cocktails, including their famous lychee martini, are just $4. Can’t make it down to the Lower East Side on those days? The lychee martinis will set you back an extra dollar until 10 p.m during the rest of the week. We’ll definitely drink to that.

Common Ground
206 Avenue A, East Village, Manhattan
Web site

Well drinks (not made with top-shelf liquor) and wine are just $4 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day at this East Village bar, but the $2 pints of beer are the real cheapo deal. Soak up your drinks with buy-two-get-one-free appetizers and paninis and choose from a fun selection of board games. During the weekend all 12 of their draft beers go for just $3 starting at noon. Risk a double hangover with a $4 hair-of-the-dog Cajun Bloody Mary. Go on, you can afford it.

Cherry Tree Bar
65 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Even if you don’t live in Park Slope, this semi-divey bar is worth the trek. Go for the backyard garden (during the warmer months, at least) and stay for the deals: from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 gets you the Cherry Tree combo, a beer and shot of whiskey. Chase your combo with $3 shots and PBRs, and $4 well drinks.

Have a happy hour to add?

Do you have another favorite downtown happy hour to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.

Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple, be sure to check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in New York City. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed hotels throughout Manhattan, from Battery Park to Harlem, looking for the best hotel values.

The post New York: 5 bars with great happy hours appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here’s a quick overview of where audiophiles can enjoy classical music on a shoestring budget:

Carnegie Hall
881 7th Ave (at 57th Street)
(212) 247-7800
Web site

Music lovers in New York must make a pilgrimage to Carnegie Hall. Happily the world-famous music hall provides several options for ticket discounts.

Starting at 11:00 a.m. on the day of concert (noon on Sunday), the box office sells “Public RUSH” tickets in the balcony for $10 each (limit two per person). This offer is valid for all Carnegie Hall presentations in the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, and excludes gala events and family concerts (which are already cheap, at $9-20 per ticket).

Students can also pick up $10 tickets to select shows with their student IDs at the box office. For more information, and to buy student tickets in advance, see www.carnegiehall.org/students.

If you generally close your eyes during concerts, consider getting 50% off the usual ticket price when you purchase partial view tickets for seats with obstructed viewing or a little less leg room. Check out CarnegieHall.org for more information on discount ticket programs.

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
10 Lincoln Center Plaza
(212) 875-5456
Web site

Home to big-name ensembles like the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center offers day-of-performance discounts at the Zucker box office in the David Rubenstein Atrium. Performances are held Tuesday through Sunday and discounts vary depending on show.

The Atrium handles same-day discounts for performances in all Lincoln Center spaces, including Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, David H. Koch Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center Theater and the Metropolitan Opera.

The Atrium is open Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m., and
Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.. For more information on Lincoln Center ticket discounts, check out this page on their Web site.

Juilliard School
60 Lincoln Center Plaza
(212) 799-5000
Web site

The world-famous Julliard conservatory opens its doors for student and faculty performances. Most performances are free and don’t require tickets. For the shows that do require tickets, be sure to show up at the 65th Street box office as soon as tickets are available. Can’t get a ticket? A standby line starts about one hour before the concert.

Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Performances throughout New York City
Web site

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. The 2010-11 season includes concerts, both chamber groups and full orchestra, at The Morgan Library and Museum, Dia:Beacon and the Brooklyn Museum. (Tip: See a concert at the Brooklyn Museum or Dia:Beacon and get access to the exhibits.)

Take advantage of the special occasion and get seats for as low as $25. Hungry after the show? Your ticket stub gets you 10% off at some local restaurants. For more information, check out the groups Web site.

Symphony Space
2537 Broadway (at 95th Street)
(212) 864-5400
Web site

This Upper West Side gem is home to performances that span genres but the classics are never forgotten. Many performances offer student tickets for as little as $10. The post-grad among us can grab “Under 30” tickets for $15. For concert schedule and ticket information, visit http://www.symphonyspace.org

The post New York: Cheap tickets and discounts to classical music concerts appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.