Traveling is supposed to be relaxing, but many feel their chest tighten when they encounter multiple tipping opportunities: cab drivers, bellhops, doormen.
Do you tip them all?
AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.
Do you tip them all the same amount?
How do you know?
To help Americans better understand appropriate gratuities, Angie's List, a consumer website for rating service professionals, surveyed members and service professionals to get their take on tipping protocols in the United States. The tippee's unsurprising consensus: When in doubt, tip big!
Hotel Tipping
- Bellhop: $1 to $2 per bag
- Car valets: $1 to $3. You can tip when you drop off the car if you like, but definitely tip at pickup.
- Room service: 10 percent is acceptable, 15 percent to 20 percent for a large or difficult order.
- Housekeeping: $2 to $3 per night; $5 if you have more than three people in a room/suite. Leave the money in an envelope with "Thank You" on it, so they know the money is for them.
- Concierge: Nothing. But if you have something brought to your room, such as a sewing kit or extra toothbrush, a $2 to $3 tip is appropriate.
- Cabana attendant: 15 percent to 20 percent of your total bill
- Tanning attendant: $5 to $10 per lotion application
- Doorman: $1 for help with each bag, $1 for hailing a cab
