How much to tip at hotels, and when: A primer for guests

From USA Today: Hotel Check-In: (note: there is a good chart at the end of this article)

A third of the country doesn't know to tip 15% to 20% at a restaurant, so it's understandable that many people are unsure what to tip in a hotel.

To try to eliminate uncertainty, USA TODAY asked etiquette and hospitality experts and hotel companies for advice on what to tip at hotels in the USA. Their responses aren't consistent in every instance, but there's a consensus for some common tipping situations:

•Valet parking staff. Don't tip a hotel staff member who opens a guest's car door at the hotel entrance or parks the car in a valet lot. The valet who retrieves the car from the parking lot should be given $2 to $5.

•Bellmen. The common tip is $1 to $2 per bag. More can be given if the bags are heavy or the bellman provides other services.

•Maids. They should receive $1 to $5 daily. "The tip should be paid daily to ensure it goes to the person that took care of your room," says etiquette expert Patricia Rossi.

•Concierges. No tip is needed for directions, restaurant recommendations or answers to simple questions. A $10 to $50 tip is recommended for a concierge who obtains hard-to-get event tickets or a table at a popular premier restaurant.
Despite such suggestions, hotel guests "should expect great service, and there is no obligation to tip," says Vivian Deuschl, a vice president for luxury hotel chain The Ritz-Carlton. More