Tipping is increasingly encouraged in Russia. 10 to 15% is the accepted rate of tipping for restaurant servers and coat check and luggage attendants. If there is no waiter in a restaurant or bar, a tip is not encouraged. Tip amounts vary as many establishments do not use credit cards, so costs are often rounded to the nearest whole number. Tips should not be too small, but they should not be too large, either. Keep in mind that the tipping rate depends not only on the quality of service, but also the tipper’s desire to impress a watchful public. Foreign tourists, particularly Americans, are perceived by some to be “rich,” and thus to have disposable income for tipping. You can tip drivers or tour guides up to $10 per day, and housekeeping staff the equivalent of $1 to $2 in Rubles, usually left in an ashtray daily.