Tipping rules for Russia

[sleepycat]

Just wondering what are the general rules for tipping in Russia.
For restaurants, hotels, taxis etc...

Cheers
Sleepycat

[lonedrake]

  My advice is tip like a cheap basturd. Never more than 10%......closer to 5% is better.

[Larry1]

I will summarize the debate regarding tipping when traveling to FSU.  The four principal positions are these:

1. It is not a common practice in the FSU for locals to tip, so you shouldn't either.

2. Tip 5%, maybe 10% for good service (good by FSU restaurant standards). It's more than the waiters are used to and they will give you good service when you return.

3. We tip 15-20% here, so you're a cheap b*st*rd if you don't tip 15-20% there.

4. I evidently have more money and generosity than all you other sods; I leave a 20-25% tip.

I'm pretty much in group number two: I leave 5% for service that isn't just horrible and 10% for service that is ok (by FSU standards). 

[mendeleyev]

My wife has given up on trying to stop me from tipping. I fall in line with Larry as I feel that helping the waiters see the value of good service is an encouragement to them and like Larry, I usually stay in the 5-10% range.

My wife however cringes, although not as much as in prior times. She is afraid that tipping indicates some sort of superiority complex as if we might be saying that "we're more wealthy and look down on you" although in more recent times she acknowledges that attitudes and traditions are becoming more Westernized in the FSU when it comes to travel and entertainment.

She also believes, whether warranted or not, that managers might confiscate those tips after we leave and that a tip could end up simply going to the wrong person and thereby further encouraging corruption as a part of everyday life.