So you know that when you go to a restaurant you're expected to tip at least 15% to 20%; but what about all of those other services you receive that also "suggest" tipping? Do you know how much you should really tip the skycap, the bellman, the concierge, the maid, and all of those other helpful folks out there who depend on tips to make a living?
It's extremely confusing, and it varies not only from country to country, but from city to city as well. No wonder we need those little pocket tipping charts! Below are some general guidelines for tipping the more common (and a few of the less common) services we receive. Who are we NOT supposed to tip?
There are still a few people out there who we are NOT supposed to tip. Some of these include:
Now here is a TIP on who to TIP!
Restaurants and bars
Most of us know we should tip waiters at restaurants 15% to 20% of the bill. But what if you bought a $100 bottle of wine? It didn't take any more effort for the waiter to open and pour it than it would have if you'd bought a $15 bottle. Should you still tip $20 extra? Although there is some debate here, it is often acceptable to tip less than 15% to 20% on an expensive bottle (or bottles) of wine that is served with dinner. Depending on the restaurant, you may also need to tip the sommelier or wine steward 10% to 15%. What you also have to remember is your waiter tips all of the other servers who assisted them throughout your meal, such as the busboy, the bartender, and others. Take into consideration special requests you or your guests made and how well the servers were able to accommodate them. This extra effort often deserves extra tipping consideration. If the maitre