Q: Now that I am 80 and a slow walker, my daughter arranged for me to have wheelchair service on my recent trip to visit her. Some rides were short and uncomplicated. Others were long and/or complex, involving clearing immigration and customs or security. I had no idea what a proper tip should be, or even if a tip was required. I need your advice for my next trip -- what are the rules?

A: If you get good service from the wheelchair attendant, I'd tip $5 and more if he or she assists with luggage, accompanies you as you go through customs, or helps you make a tight connection. If you get someone inattentive, though, or they're rough with the wheelchair, feel free to adjust this downward.

Q: If I'm traveling with my boss, and she keeps messing up the pronunciation of a basic phrase in the local language, should I correct her?

A: If she's mispronouncing it in a way that makes her look bad -- like if she's turning "pleased to meet you" into an obscene proposition, or she's about to butcher the phrase on national television -- you have to say something. Otherwise, it depends on your relationship with your boss. I think most good managers would want you to speak up, but if your boss is a diva whom no one is allowed to criticize, you might want to just let it slide. If you do address it, be nice and be casual -- e.g., "I always thought it was pronounced -- wrong way -- too, but it's actually -- right way."

Q: Some guy came up to me in JFK and said, "Hey, you look like a girl who'd have a Macbook. Can I borrow your power cord?" What on earth did he mean that I look like I'd have a MacBook? Shouldn't you bring your own electronics accessories when traveling?

A: What I suspect he meant was, "Hi. I fancy myself to be a hipster chick magnet, and you're cute. However, I have no idea how to start a conversation with a girl. All the cool people I know have Macs, so I'm going to attempt to compliment you by assuming you have one, too. And then surely you'll go out with me." But let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Ideally you should BYO cables, but it's not horribly outrageous to borrow one if you're desperate. Who hasn't forgotten something like that at some point? I just think if you're going to ask a stranger to loan you a power cord, you shouldn't make your request sound like a cheesy pickup line.

Q: How loud can you talk in a bed-and-breakfast (in your room, with the door closed, at midnight)? The guest in the room next door to my wife and me complained to the innkeeper. She said she's a light sleeper and we kept her up. We were just having a normal conversation!

A: Most B&Bs are converted houses. So sound carries in them the same way it would in your own home. If you had a guest staying with you, how loud would you talk if you knew they were sleeping in the next room? That's the volume you should shoot for in a B&B.

But by the same token, if you know you're a light sleeper, think hard before staying at a B&B. Unless you know its walls are 2 feet thick, or you have the world's best earplugs, you might be in for a bad experience.

Q: Do you have any etiquette tips for bringing a baby on a cruise? My son will be 8 months when we sail.

A: My family took a cruise when my son was 7 months old, and we had a blast. Basically, just be considerate of other passengers. If your son gets fussy during dinner, take him out of the room until he calms down. If the ship doesn't allow kids who aren't potty-trained to use the pool, don't try to sneak him in. Bring a small stroller. Cruise-ship elevators are often packed, and it'd be inconsiderate to take up half the space in one with a jogging stroller as big as a Jeep.

Avoid long group excursions -- it's not as if you can easily make your own way back to the ship if your son's having a rough day, or ask the bus driver to stop so you can change his diaper. Taking a taxi to a beach near the port, or booking your own private tour, gives you more flexibility (and we found private tours weren't all that much more expensive than the official excursions).

Q: I recently stayed at a budget hotel. It had a small gym with an elliptical machine and free weights. Yesterday when I went in to work out, the elliptical was covered with sweat. Isn't it kind of gym etiquette 101 to wipe up your sweat?

A: Absolutely. Even if it's not a swanky hotel gym with attendants handing out bottled water and towels, you have to clean up after yourself.

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