Tips and Gifts for Indians

Lotuse

Okay, I've read that if I have a good driver for a full day that 50 rs would be a suitable tip. Don't know if this is correct and it really doesn't matter at this point since I won't be having a driver .

However, what's a suitable tip to leave in a hotel for the maid, or if there's a bellman to help with luggage? ... not that I have much luggage!

Also, I'll be staying at one place in Mysore for 5 weeks. I figure after that amount of time, I'm going to get to know some of the staff there. So, I'd sorta like to bring a few little gifts from Canada. Any suggestions as to what might be useful? (and inexpensive, of course!)

torryquine

Hi Lotuse,

50rps is fine. We tended to give 100/day to the really good ones. Generally we'd leave about 10rps for a maid, porter or waiter, 1-2rps is expected by washroom attendants etc.

As for gifts, sweets are always acceptable in India. When we went back to the lovely Mancotta Bungalow in Dibrugarh, we took a big bag of toffees for the staff there and the smiles we got back were priceless.

TQ

__________________
http://werenotafraid.com/

Nick-H

Would that be because their teeth were stuck together?

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

torryquine

Lotuse

"slight" problem with taking sweets ... I'm going for panchakarma at an ayurvedic clinic. IF I take sweets, I'll probably eat them all before having a chance to give them away !

Candyji

Indians tend to as a rule love anything which is western. I think something useful too. Cheap T Shirts, pens, stickers for kids, postcards of different places in your home country. Something for their kids.

I don't agree with giving to every random person as it encourages begging in the worst possible way. But someone you have formed a relationship with as in the person who cleans your room etc. It's not a bad idea to give it maybe after about a week. This means you will get good service. See if the place you are staying has some kind of tipping system so you are not encouraging the staff to hang around looking for tips.

we give 30 ruppees per room per night which may become excessive over time. 10 ruppees for anyone who does anything special for you. But not what they should already have done.

50-100 ruppees per day for drivers is good.

overtipping is as bad as under tipping take into account that the average wage is approx 50 ruppees a day.

__________________

Dance to the beat of a different drum.