Most veteran travelers are well aware of whether a tip (and how much) is due to any given party. After that, it is simply a matter of how much they tip or whether they even want to. Some people think tipping is ridiculous (even for service employees) and others think tipping brings better service and are generous with their amounts.
There are always cases however that don't fir the norm and people (especially those who travel infrequently) are not sure when or if a tip is 'owed' and/or how much it should be. For them, I pass along this article from USA Today titled " How Much to Tip at Hotels and When: A Primer for Guests".
I even mention for front desk employees at hotels tipping in my book because there is apparently very little understanding of what a tip (even $1) can do for you when staying for several days. I was somewhat surprised in the article that the so-called hotel experts didn't seem to grasp the basics either, so while I suggest you read the article, I will add my 2 cents worth as well.
Here's the scenario. Hotel desk clerks do not expect tips, nor do any solicit them as far as I have ever seen. They are more than happy (as a rule) to provide good service in hopes you will return in the future. But I myself am often mystified at how far some guests will go in expecting service that ranges FAR beyond normal. For instance, to bring extra towels or a wine opener or a toothbrush to your room is NOT an expected action from a sole desk clerk. Their job is to check in guests and answer phones - not run all over the hotel delivering toothpaste because you forgot it. It should be enough that the hotel (like ours) provides these things without charge but it is expected that the guest come down to the desk to get them.
And think about bags left in storage. If you have 3 bags and would normally tip a shuttle driver $2-$3 to load them on a shuttle, is it beyond reason that a clerk who has to retrieve them from a back storage area and bring them out to the lobby deserves a $1, if not more? Yet rarely does anyone give our staff a tip but a cab driver unloading bags gets $5 usually. Makes no sense. And as always, you can 'requests' rooms with a view when in Las Vegas or near the ocean but isn't it worth $5-$10 as a preemptive tip to guarantee you see the lights of the Strip instead of the darkness of the desert for the next 3-4 nights?
If you read the above article, I suggest you read some of the comments. This article generated a ton of them and some are downright humorous. And when talking about tipping, it is always good to laugh because no one wants to see an unhappy tipper.
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