When you think about etiquette, you usually think about manners at the dinner table and saying "thank you" after something is passed to you. However, one of the biggest etiquette mishaps while in America and abroad is tipping. Tipping is paying a sum of money for services rendered. It is a sign of appreciation and gratitude for someone's services to you. Tips can be given in restaurants, bars, or to concierge workers, bell caps, maids or to many other workers and places. In some locations, tipping is encouraged and expected from customers, while in others tipping is discouraged and considered insulting. Bottom line is that tipping rules vary by country, region and scenario.

In America, the norm is to tip no less than 15% on a restaurant bill. It is common courtesy to tip the waiter after a meal in the United States, as it is seen as a fundamental part of the social contract. Many restaurant workers complain that they do not receive a sufficient amount of tip after waiting on a table. In a bar, it is highly recommended to give tips to the bartender depending on the amount of drinks you ordered and type of drink. Bartenders are more likely to give better service and make better drinks if they are receiving tips in return.

In terms of foreign countries, tipping is not the norm like it is in the United States. I found this guide to global tipping from an article in the Huffington Post. It is the key to all tipping advice from restaurants to hotels to taxis for the countries of Europe, Asia, Asia and the United States.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/tipping-guide-a-travelers_n_2646654.html