Camp counselors, golf caddies and 10 others to consider tipping this summer, according to etiquette pros

Americans are fed up with tipping. According to a recent Bankrate study, about 2 in 3 adults have a negative view of the practice, and 30% of them say tipping culture has gotten out of hand.

But if you’re enjoying a summer of leisure and fun in the sun, there are undoubtedly people who help make that possible for you – and good etiquette dictates that at least some of them get tipped.

Before you scroll down to see who you forgot to tip, take a breath. Etiquette pros say that tipping rules are just that: rules. No etiquette police are going to come after you if you don’t tip all the “right” people.

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In fact, tipping should feel less like an obligation and more like an expression of sincere gratitude—not something that will put a strain on your already tight budget.

“A good tip does everyone good,” Daniel Post Senning, co-author of “Emily Post’s Etiquette, The Centennial Edition,” told Make It. “A tip that exceeds your budget will never do you good.”

Here are some people who etiquette experts say deserve to be considered tippers.

People who help your children

Camp monitors: If your child attends a summer camp, you may want to give something to the counselor, especially if he or she made sure your child had a good time. But many camps prohibit counselors from taking tips, says Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and founder of the Protocol School of Texas.

“The protocol is to ask the person running the camp if the counselors can accept a tip,” she explains.

If the answer is yes, you can give them money or a gift card, she says. Otherwise, a small gift from your child would probably be appreciated.

Babysitters or au pairs: Tipping your summer babysitters beyond what you already pay them isn’t mandatory, Gottsman says. “It falls into the ‘nice but not necessary’ category.”

Still, if someone has gone above and beyond to make this summer special for your child, you might want to give a little extra. The Emily Post Institute recommends a gift from your family or a week’s pay for a full-day or live-in babysitter or au pair. For a high school student who comes every other weekend, the rule is a gift from your child, plus an evening’s pay.

Going to the beach resort? Prepare to tip

If you’re staying at a resort or hotel this summer, or any time, be prepared to tip a few key people, Gottsman advises.

Grooms: $1-2 per bag

Shuttle drivers: $1-2 per trip

Valets: $2 to $5

Hotel housekeepers: $3-5 per night

Concierge services: $5 to $20, depending on the complexity of the request

Beach attendants: If someone brings you towels or sets up an umbrella for you on the beach, “it costs about $5 per service,” Gottsman says.

Golf and tennis professionals: No need to tip after taking a lesson or two, Gottsman says. “You’ve already paid.”

But if you’ve been taking lessons all summer and have noticed a marked improvement in your game, a tip isn’t out of place. Elaine Swann, etiquette expert and founder of the Swann School of Protocol, recommends the price of a private session.

Golf Caddies: Check the policy, Gottsman advises. Some caddie tips may be included in the green fee, while others may not. Ask the club about local custom to avoid over- or under-tipping. Typically, you can expect to pay the caddie fee plus $20 or $30, she says.

How about a summer favor?

Dog walkers and pet sitters: If you have a regular, professional pet sitter or dog walker, you might consider tipping them a week’s pay as a thank you at the end of the summer, according to Emily Post.

If it’s someone who spends a lot of time at your home, there are other ways to thank them, too, Gottsman says.

For the woman who watches her pets, “I make sure to leave her favorite soda. She likes baked chicken, so I make sure there’s some in the fridge,” she says. “She doesn’t ask me, but I leave her things that I know she’ll enjoy.”

Gracious hosts: The same logic applies to anyone who is kind enough to host you in their home or give you access to their summer home. You don’t have to pay them, but it’s important to show them how much you appreciate their generosity, Gottsman says.

“Give them a welcoming gift, as a thank you,” she says. “Give them something thoughtful, something that means something to them. It’s not the amount that matters, it’s really the thought.”

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