Money, cards and tipping
Tax is always added, tipping isn't optional and your debit card behaves differently. Here's how to avoid surprises at checkout.
Prices exclude tax
In LA County, 9.5% sales tax is added to nearly everything except basic groceries. A $20 menu item is $21.90 before tip. At restaurants, multiply by 1.3 to estimate the real total.
Tipping: what's normal?
Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% (20% is safe). Bar: $1–2 per drink or 20%. Hair and nails: 15–20%. Uber/Lyft: 10–15%. Hotel housekeeping: $3–5 per night. Coffee counter: the screen asks 15–25%, but $1 or 'no tip' on a takeaway coffee is fine. For parties of 6+, 'gratuity included' is often already on the bill: make sure you don't double tip.
Receipts often print three suggested tip amounts. They're sometimes calculated on the total including tax. Use the subtotal.
Debit and credit cards
Dutch Maestro/V Pay cards often fail; a Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card works everywhere. Enable 'payments outside Europe' in your banking app. Always pay in dollars if the terminal asks 'USD or EUR' (dynamic currency conversion costs more). You rarely need cash, except for small tips and food trucks.
ATMs and Wise
ATMs charge $3–5 per withdrawal plus your own bank's fees. Withdraw a larger amount once at a bank branch rather than often at 7-Eleven. A Wise account with a USD balance saves exchange fees and gives you a US account number, handy for Venmo and refunds.