Okay. We are staying at the Ritz in Chicago and want to tip properly. When we exit our car when we arrive, do we tip $1 a bag to the 1st person who removes them from our car? Then another $1 a bag to the person who takes them to our room? Or does that person get more since they are actually doing more? How much for the person hailing a cab for us? Room service? Taxi? What about the conceirge who gives you directions to a restaurant?
Workers who get your luggage at the end of your stay from your room? Puts it in the car? Valet driver? Am I forgetting anyone?
I need to add this all up so I know I will be prepared.
THANKS!

Taxis and restaurants get 20% tip. concierge who just give syou directions gets a "thank you". You tip only if they make reservations for you - more or less depending on how difficult the resies are to get. Valet who brings your car gets a couple of dollars. Whoever brings your bags to your room gets a couple of dollars per bag - don;t tip the guys who jst bring them in from the car. Whoever brings them from the room back to the car get s couple of $ per bag. The housekeeper gets a couple of dollars per night - more if you have any special requests - extra towels, different pillow etc.

Tipping for room service depends on how it;s handled on the menu. If there's a sizeable service charge (not the fee for room service but a separate service charge) I just give a few dollars - not the usual 20%.

http://www.tipping.org/tips/us.html

Thanks nytraveler. I know that there are tipping guides online but sometimes they do not include all the extra services you can get at the higher end hotels. I don't want to overlook anyone so that's why I posted the question. Thanks for your help!!

I was wondering about tipping myself, as we don't really tip here in Australia unless the service is excellent, or if you just leave your small change in a tin at the counter when buying takeaway.

In the US does one tip in 7-11 shops and at takeways as a matter of course? I know of course that you do in restaurants (15-20%). What about the housekeeping in a hotel - my friend and I are sharing a twin room : do we tip $1 each to housekeeping per day, or $2 each?? We want to do the right thing and not risk having our toothbrushes down the toilet rim, LOL.

There is no "matter of course" tipping at any counter service place. If there is a tip jar and you don't want your change, you can drop it in there, but it certainly isn't standard.

As for tipping housekeeping in hotels, if it's a regular room and you aren't leaving a mess, $2 per room per day is what I do and I'm pretty sure that it's always kept my toothbrushes safe.

If you stay in a hotel for several nights,it is best to leave a tip each morning as the staff changes. Also, put the tip on the bed. I have left money on the nightstand and it has been ignored. One time in San Francisco I left a generous tip as I didn't have any ones. I received a handwritten thank you note from the maid plus extra towels and chocolates! It pays to be nice.

Thanks EricH and breckgal - your responses have eased my mind. I was very worried about doing the wrong thing. Cheers.