Tipping Etiquette While Traveling

Tipping is often one of the most confusing aspects of traveling to navigate, since you have to take into consideration everything from how employees are paid to cultural customs that could have you making a fool of yourself and your server just by leaving that 20 percent tip. So here is your essential guide to all things tipping, from bellboys to waiters.

Lugging Your Luggage

Over the course of your vacation or business trip, you'll probably encounter a host of bell staff, sky caps, porters, shuttle drivers and other attendants ready to save you the trouble of hoisting those heavy bags. Tuck a small roll of dollar bills in an easily accessible pocket, and you'll be ready to produce a buck or two per bag toted. The same tipping practice also applies on multi-day tours when your driver loads and unloads your bags each day. If you need wheelchair assistance to your room or airline gate, tip the assistant at least $3 to $5 in addition to tipping for the bags.

They Know Where You Sleep

Besides your bell staff at your hotel, you'll want to tip your housekeeper. Leave a note marked "Housekeeping" with $1 to $5 attached for each day of your stay. Alternatively, leave the tip on the dresser when you check out, especially if you've had extra towels, ironing boards or other special equipment brought up to your room. Have a question? There's no tip needed at the concierge unless you book tickets, tours or dinner reservations. Then, a $5 or greater tip is in order, especially if those tickets or reservations were hard to come by.

Tipping on the Road

If your hotel doorman hails you a cab, you might want to slip one of those conveniently stashed dollar bills to him. Your cab driver gets a bigger tip—usually 15 percent of the fare at minimum, but you can always adjust it to 10 to 18 percent based on your comfort level during the ride. If you're doing your own driving, a $3 to $5 tip for parking valet is worth the added safety of getting in and out of your car at the front door of where you’re going, and you won't have to worry about finding a spot in a crowded lot!

A Loaf of Bread, a Jug of Wine ... and a Tip

Tipping your food server or bartender should be commensurate with the amount of effort required to serve you. For example, 15 percent of your total bill—before discounts—is average for a full-service waiter, while 10 percent is adequate for buffet wait staff who only pours drinks and takes plates. If your pizza delivery guy is hoofing up to the 21st floor of your hotel and the pizzas are still hot, you might want to add in a little more than the standard 15 percent; however, tipping on take-out meals you pick up yourself is purely optional.

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