[mikeatfhc]

1. When room service brings your meal, and the bill already has a "service fee" (typically 17%), do you add an additional tip?

Depends in service - mostly I add a little

2. How about when eating at a hotel restaurant where the bill already has a "automatic tip" included (typically 15%), do you add an additional tip?

See #1 - depends on service

3. What do you tip for getting you a cab, or retrieving your car from valet parking, or taking your luggage, or storing your luggage/coat at the coat check, or similar small tasks?

I always give them a few - probably too nice.

4. If the hotel posts a notice that the bedding will be changed only if you request it, do you?

I generally only have them change the bedding/towels and clean up the room every third night - I generally don't trash my hotel rooms anymore and perfer to limit the number of times 'other folks' are in my room in my absence.

5. Do you go out of your way to save money, if it is all being reimbursed?

Always - my clients LOVE how frugal I am with thier money. Sometimes to my detriment. I will generally treat myself the last night on an extended stay to a decent dinner. I never get a big/fancy rental car, never do first class, but will do business class depending on cost/availability, no limos, taxis only.

6. Will you change flights to avoid a center seat?

No... unless the flight is greater than 5 hours - all bets are off then.

7. How much luggage do you take for a typical biz trip of up to a week?

I check bags. One small computer bag, one checked. I HATE fighting all the other passengers trying to get overhead. For piece of mind I spend the extra half-hour at baggage claim. No little bottles in a bag hassles at the securety check point, no fighting for overhead, no carrying all that *hit around. Unless it's only for a day or overnight, then I check.

8. Do you ever add pleasure days to a biz trip, like stay over the weekend, etc?

Sometimes... not too often. I'm wierd that way - I have a great homelife and can't wait to get back to it.

Here's my question to add to the discussion... How do you folks handle rental car insurance? I have usually declined the coverage as my credit cards will cover rental car damage. I am sure I could get my clients to pay the extra charges, but sometimes they are almost as high the rental was in the first place and I so damn frugal that I think its a rip-off. I recently had to file a claim on one due to a small fender bender (Vegas no less). And it took MONTHS to get approved, and that was after a couple of tricks they tried to pull trying to delay/deny coverage. I am thinking I may not decline rental car coverage anymore. Anyone else charging their clients/company for this expense?