Jo Ellison’s column (“Who should get my tip?”, Opinion, Life & Arts, January 13) helped me understand the mystery of my husband’s tipping habits, having reduced an old lady to tears, who was on room service during our stay in Paris. As the column mentioned, big tips are not customary in France and Italy.
In a digital era where transactions happen with a touch of the screen, life is made easier when you only have to carry plastic cards in your pocket or swipe your phone. However, what is lost is the human touch. So I think, before leaving home, we should all make sure to carry some small change.
A few coins is not going to hurt your pocket. And if you can afford to eat in a fancy restaurant, you can surely tip the doorman who flags down a taxi for you.
Aisha Amjad
Dubai, UAE
