<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Boo Boo Too:
However, the US seems to have gone "tipping mad" recently.
...
But I have notticed a growing trend for the other porter to get quite "aggressive" with hints that they want to be tipped (i.e. "so and so will deliver actually be delivering your bags to your room", "is there anything else that I can do for you", "I'll be going now then..." and physically hanging around you).</font>
The US has gone off the deep end with gratuities, although the current recession may take the edge off of that. We had a good discussion of this recently in, IIRC, this same forum.
The way to handle tips -- and this goes for US citizens as well as visitors -- is to provide 15% to waiters and bartenders. These two groups of workers are not paid a standard (read minimum or higher) wage. Just about every other job is paid a standard wage.
No other gratuity is "required." Gratuities are exactly what the word implies -- tips for service above and beyond the call of duty. That means, if someone is just performing their job responsibilities, tipping is not indicated.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Boo Boo Too:
One of my main tipping pet peeves (apart from people trying to aggressively procure them at every opportunity), is bathroom attendants in very descent restaurants in the US.</font>
Absolutely. A clean restaurant bathroom is expected. If the restaurant wants to hire staff on call to keep it so, that is their business. Literally -- it is their business, not yours.