In college, my roommate and I would rarely eat at sit-down restaurants (even the cheaper ones) because we didn’t want to spend extra to tip the server.
I didn’t wait tables during college, but if I did I would certainly hope that patrons would be generous (or, at the very least, fair) when it came time to dole out a tip.
But what is “fair” these days?
Unless the service truly stinks, I don’t tip less than 15-20 percent at restaurants. Is that fair? And who deserves a tip anyway? Should I be tipping the woman who washes my hair, plus the guy who cut and styles it? What about the hotel housekeepers? Should I tip them daily or at the end of my stay, and how much is too much?
I couldn’t find a resource that offers hard and fast rules on tipping; however, I feel Anna Post, Emily Post’s great-great-granddaughter and the spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute, has a good handle on common sense tipping that will clearly show your appreciation for a particular service, without draining your wallet.
Here’s her advice:
Doorman: $2 if he helps with your bags, $1 if he hails you a cab.
Taxi Driver: Tip between 10 and 15 percent on the total charge, then add an extra dollar or two if he helps with bags.
Airport Porter: Most porters charge $2 for the first bag. If they do, then tip a dollar. If they charge less than $2, then add a couple of bucks for good service.
Hotel Housekeepers: Traditionally, housekeepers are tipped $2 to $5 a day. According to Post, you should leave the cash tip daily, as hotels usually have a different person cleaning your room each day. If you want to make sure that a certain housekeeper gets the tip, leave a note with the money, so that it gets to the right person.
Concierge: Post says you should fork over $5 to $10 every time a concierge goes above and beyond to accommodate a special request, such as scoring tickets to a popular show or getting you a table at an exclusive restaurant.
What are your rules on tipping?