Annoying? Yes. Legally required? No. Basically expected? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. You can generally stiff the counter tip jar without risking social opprobrium but there are plenty of times you're more or less expected to say "thank you" with money in the United States.
The dreaded tip jar —
Annoying? Yes. Legally required? No. Basically expected? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. You can generally stiff the counter tip jar without risking social opprobrium but there are plenty of times you're more or less expected to say "thank you" with money in the United States.
CNN
No need to pay for smiles, doors opened or highlighting a city map. Or to tip each individual member of the bellman tag-team between curb, lobby and guest room. One handout ($1 to $2 per bag) when you've reached your room will suffice.
Hotel staff —
No need to pay for smiles, doors opened or highlighting a city map. Or to tip each individual member of the bellman tag-team between curb, lobby and guest room. One handout ($1 to $2 per bag) when you've reached your room will suffice.
Image Source /Alamy
Tips for the spa therapist are a similar to the ones for hairdressers and manicurists: 15% for a decent job and 20% for outstanding service.
Spa and salon —
Tips for the spa therapist are a similar to the ones for hairdressers and manicurists: 15% for a decent job and 20% for outstanding service.
Mandarin Oriental, Miami
Lifting your luggage is no easy feat -- $1 per bag and $2 for heavier bags will be much appreciated by airport skycaps.
Skycaps —
Lifting your luggage is no easy feat -- $1 per bag and $2 for heavier bags will be much appreciated by airport skycaps.
William Thomas Cain/Getty Images
Average tip for limo, taxis and paid shuttles drivers is 15% of the total fare, and 20% for a driver that can work miracles behind the wheel.
Taxi drivers —
Average tip for limo, taxis and paid shuttles drivers is 15% of the total fare, and 20% for a driver that can work miracles behind the wheel.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
A waiter's juggling skills can be awfully impressive. Leaving 15% of the total bill (before tax) is the standard; 10% reflects substandard service; 20% or more is the range for waitstaff with great service.
Waiters —
A waiter's juggling skills can be awfully impressive. Leaving 15% of the total bill (before tax) is the standard; 10% reflects substandard service; 20% or more is the range for waitstaff with great service.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
It's not the 1980s anymore. You can't buy gas for a buck a gallon and you shouldn't tip the person who parks your car at the restaurant or hotel or big night out less than $5, provided they do a good job.
Valets: $5 is the new $1 —
It's not the 1980s anymore. You can't buy gas for a buck a gallon and you shouldn't tip the person who parks your car at the restaurant or hotel or big night out less than $5, provided they do a good job.
CNN
Finding a good tour guide can be hard. The average tip for tour guides is around 15%. For the outstanding tour leaders, 20% is the norm.
Tour guides —
Finding a good tour guide can be hard. The average tip for tour guides is around 15%. For the outstanding tour leaders, 20% is the norm.
Christopher Capozziello/Getty Images
Those rooms don't tidy themselves. Often unseen, hotel housekeepers rarely get a "thank you." You can slip $2 to $5 a day under the pillow to ensure the right person receives it.
Hotel housekeepers —
Those rooms don't tidy themselves. Often unseen, hotel housekeepers rarely get a "thank you." You can slip $2 to $5 a day under the pillow to ensure the right person receives it.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Marriott places envelopes in more than 160,000 rooms in the United States and Canada to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.cnn.com%2F2014%2F09%2F15%2Fnews%2Fcompanies%2Ftip-hotel-housekeeper%2F">encourage tipping</a> the people who clean guest rooms.
Envelope etiquette —
Marriott places envelopes in more than 160,000 rooms in the United States and Canada to encourage tipping the people who clean guest rooms.
Courtesy A Woman's Nation
Some places get creative with tip solicitations. Who'd win in a battle between Patrick Stewart and the Beebs? You can "vote" with your tip at the Oasis Cafe in Portland, Oregon.
More bang for your buck —
Some places get creative with tip solicitations. Who'd win in a battle between Patrick Stewart and the Beebs? You can "vote" with your tip at the Oasis Cafe in Portland, Oregon.
CNN