How much to tip?
 

When in NY and DC, how much do I need to tip service staff? Is it just the amount of the sales tax, or do I just do a flat rate of 10/15/20% exclusive of tax?

Also, who do I need to tip? Wait staff with poor service? Cab drivers? Shuttle drivers? In a hotel do I need to tip anyone other than the doorman/bellboy?

Thanks for your help.

Depending on the service you recieve, I would say around 10-15%, of the flat rate. You tip cab drivers around 10%, and I personally don't tip anyone else but the doorman and bellboy in a hotel. Shuttle drivers I don't know, I think it's your own choice, but I personally wouldn't tip a shuttle driver.

I'll give the shuttle driver $2 if (s)he helps me with my bags.

Taxi, around 15%.

I don't tend to "use" the services of the doorman, and I carry my own bags to my room, so no tipping there.

Room service in most places already includes a 15 to 18% service charge. I don't tip on top of that. Be aware that there is often a tip line on the charge slip-don't let that fool you, check to see if there was a fee already.

I do leave the maid a few dollars as well.

I always tip the shuttle driver $1 or $2, depends on how many bags I have. Wait staff with poor service will not get any tip from me, that blows away the purpose of a tip, but I will let them know about the poor service and why I won't leave any tip. Trina says she tips $15 for the taxi, I never tiped that much for a taxi, my usual taxi tip is from $2 to $5 tops. And I'll leave a couple of $ per day for housekeeping.

Sales tax is just over 8%, so doubling the tax is an easy way to approximate 15% for those who have trouble with math.

Standard for cabs is 15%, not $15.

For restaurants, 15% is really the minimum of the service was acceptable; I think 20% is moving towards becoming the norm.

Personally, I'll only tip the hotel doorman if so extra effort is required (like spending a few minutes trying to attract a cab during a rainy rush hour).

Of course, Flyertalk has 125,000 members and probably at least that many different opinions on the topic.