It is sometimes surprising how much more comfortable travelers are in finding cheap travel options such as cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms and cheap vacation packages than knowing how much to tip cab drivers, bellhops, and doormen. Should they all be tipped? Should tips always be the same amount?
The following are AARPs suggestions when it comes to domestic travel tipping:
Hotel Tipping
Bellhops should be tipped $1 to $2 per bag.
Car valets should be tipped $1 to $3 when the car is dropped off, but not when picked up.
Room service tips of 10 percent are satisfactory, but large or difficult orders merit 15 to 20 percent.
Hotel housekeepers should be tipped $2 to $3 per night and $5 nightly if there are over three people in a room/suite. The tips should be left in an envelope with Thank You written on it so that they know the money is intended for them.
Concierges do not need to be tipped but if you request something be delivered to your room, such as a toothbrush or pillow; a $2 to $3 tip is advised.
Cabana attendants should be tipped 15 to 20 percent of the total bill.
Tanning attendants merit $5 to $10 per lotion application.
Doorman should be tipped $1 for help with each bag as well as $1 for hailing a cab.
Transportation Tipping
Cab drivers should be tipped 15 to 20 percent of the fare.
Airport Red Cap/Baggage personnel merit tips of $1 to $2 per bag.
Wheelchair attendants tips should vary depending on the level of service. To transport a passenger from check in to the gate, $5 to $10 is standard. If the attendant helps with bags and stays with the passenger for a longer period of time, $10 to $20 is appropriate.
Airport transportation attendants, such as drivers that help stow away and pull out bags should be tipped $1 per bag.
Restaurant Tipping
Servers merit tips of 15 to 20 percent of the total bill.
Bartenders should be tipped $1 per drink. Courteous bar behavior is to pay the tab at the bar before moving to a table for a meal.
Bartenders should receive 15 to 20 percent when food is ordered at a bar.
Servers should be tipped on the full price of meals if a discount coupon is being used.
Hosts/hostesses/busboys do not need to be tipped.
Coat check attendants should receive $1 per coat and paid when belongings are retrieved.
Bathroom attendants do not need to be tipped unless they do something beyond turning on the water or provide a towel. www.cheapfares.com