I agree with Prospero, this is a good way to put it.

Stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Key Biscayne, Miami, a few years ago and it was anooying how staff ALWAYS had their hands out.

It was a beautiful property, but our entrance to the hotel REALLY set the tone of the trip. They only had valet parking, so when we drove up tipped the valet to take the car away. Someone came and unloaded the bags onto a trolley, we pretty much expected the same guy to deliver the bags to our room (which is when we tip for "bag delivery") or for the bell boys to pool their tips. BUT they obviously have a different system at the Ritz - the guy who unloads your bags from the car and onto the trolley is not the same guy who delievers your bags. So he told us as much and hung round us for the next 5 minutes trying hard (and none to subtlely) to get a tip - husband wouldn't. Husband did, generously, tip the guy who actually delievered bags to room...

It is not so much the money, but the constant "hand out" thing that is annoying. If hotels just added an extra $20 a night to the room rate (for incidental tips), it would be far better. When you stay at a 5* luxury hotel you EXPECT fantastic service, surely that great service is not a seperate "dollar bill operated machine" (i.e. you have to keep feeding dollar bills in to get the service).

In the UK I tip 10%+ at restaurants, 10% to hairdresser, 10% for spa treatments (at a spa where I am a regular or have had fantastic srevice), sometimes will say "keep the change" to bar staff, will round up or tip taxi drivers.

In the UK, the thing that is nice is that tips are not expected (well, maybe they are expected in more places in London) and are usually very well received and appreciated.

In the US, as one of the previous posters said, tipping is expected for even very bad service. That isn't on really. Fortunately I have been lucky and had consistently good service in the US...

Boo