I would say $5 is standard tipping for a 3 star hotel. As with all tipping, I think it's a personal choice. My parents never tipped and I never thought of tipping until I started housekeeping. Usually my form of tipping is a nice thank you note. Usually if someone goes above and beyond, I prefer kind words because I feel it's more meaningful than the cash.

I like to carry "kindness coins" with me for people I meet who go above and beyond to be kind. I've handed a dozen of them out to hotel staff to a Goodwill employee to teachers to cashiers and waitresses, all of those people who were exceptional. The responses I get are so heartwarming. It meant a lot to those people to receive it, so now that's my thing.