He says the best technique is to take out money as if you were offering a tip but not hand it over until the employee has fulfilled his or her end of the bargain. Be specific about what you would like, such as a room with a view, but don't demand it. At hotels, Widzer prefers to tip the bellhop rather than the concierge, who is tipped more often and is less likely to reciprocate by granting you special favors. But a maid, housekeeper or parking valet may be equally worthy. After tipping the person generously when he first arrives, Widzer scales back his tips to more standard amounts during his stay.
Polished tippers are so discreet that only the recipient notices the money changing hands.
Carmer, the Las Vegas maitre d', suggests folding the bills widthwise in half and then folding them again to form a slim rectangle that fits perfectly in your palm. As you shake hands with the person you're tipping, he or she will take the bills from you. If that's not your style, just thank the person warmly as you tip them. During the holidays, you should tip people who regularly perform a service for you, such as a babysitter or doorman, says etiquette expert Stephanie Horton. For the five years she had the service, the company never raised rates for her, a gesture she attributes to tipping.