indian tipping etiquette?

tacita

not really sure where to post this, but this seems as good a place as any...mods can relocate it if not.

when i've traveled in europe, mexico and turkey, service workers (waiters, porters, cabbiess, desk clerks, housekeeping staff) have sometimes told me they like to get tips in american dollars, rather than in local currency. i'm not sure why. as a consequence, i've often travelled with a bunch of $1 bills for that purpose. is that adviseable in india, or would it seem arrogant, ethnocentric or just impracticable for both me and the recipient? (nb: $1 US is currently about 44/45 rupees.)

on a related note, what are the general tipping guidelines for various services? several guidebooks i've looked at are not entirely consistent on the issue.

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PeakXV

It's really something you get more savvy with the longer you stay. 10 rupee notes are the best for most hotel, taxi gratuities. If you tip too little you may have your tip handed back to you with a slight disgust in their gesture. If you tip to much you may well have them shadow you for the rest of your stay/trip.

Different star hotels demand different tipping amounts - so it really depends on your accomodation & budget.

Ask the locals and/or hotel management and you will soon get the hang of it all!

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

PeakXV

You may also be one who opts to give to the many beggars that you will encounter. Paisa or ruppee coins are handy for that.

Baksheesh is yet another tier of extra "giving" that you will probably encounter. This is better known in the western world as a "finders fee" or "service charge". 50 rps - 100 rps notes are usally the norm fto handle these dues - but don't worry they will let you know what the charges are!

Merchant

No one can spend dollars in India, so there is no need to bring them. The ten rupee note is the standard tip. Add more as necessary. A 50 rupee note will make a big splash (remember it's just the equivalent of $1).

When in doubt about tipping, go ahead and tip. Indian culture doesn't get squeamish about the exchange of money. Tips are appreciated (and if you earn your money in dollars, in rupees they are little more than your pocket change).

BenV

As far as (auto)-rickshaws goes: be sure to bargain a good price in advance and if they deliver good service give something extra. We especially did this with cycle-rickshaw men. Be sure to also really thank them, most of 'm really appreciate that.

In restaurants, we ended up asking for a tip-box and giving an average of 10% (but less in expensive and more in cheap restaurants). We saw waiters sneakily pocketing the tip from the map rather than sharing it with kitchen staff a couple of times, try to avoid that!

Indianworker

Janice,

As a rule I usually give a 10% tip to waiters, hairdresser etc.

To the rickshawallahs I usually round up the bill for example a fare of say, 53rps on the meter I will give 60 or if I know the meter cost I will offer say 10rps above that i.e. if its 20rps to CP I will offer 30rps.

If I use a driver and he is good i.e. knows where he is going will often tip more than 10%. This is also applies to any service where I feel it has been good.

Basically, just go with what you feel is right i.e. good service deserves more, usual service deserves normal 10% and if not good then perhaps only small tip.

Just one thing I would like to emphasize - please remember when giving to beggars to bear in mind what the value of money is here and not convert from US$/GBP i.e. although 1 pound is not much in the UK, 80rps is a huge amount here to give to a beggar and you will be pursued relentlessly if you hand out this kind of money (I have seen foreigners give more!). 5 or 10rps, IMHO, is sufficient to give although I appreciate everyone is entitled to give what they like.

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Indianworker

sald

Most hotels nowadays have a commom tip box and you are encouraged NOT to tip individuals. You can deposit whatever you felt the service was worth in Rupees. No dollars necessary.

Rickshaw drivers do not generally expect to be tipped. But you could tip in case you hire a rickshaw / taxi for a full day to take you around a city / town. You could tip about 10% of the fare in this case.

Elsewhere, waiters, bellboys etc could be tipped Rs10 for service.

Nick-H

This part of India.... do not tip auto drivers, ever. They overcharge even the locals. Do not even round up.

If you want a driver for the day you should give Rs20 or so at meal times --- or if you stop at a restaurant just tell them you're paying for your driver too (if you are on chatty terms, just invite him to eat with you) --- or tea time.

If you want a driver for the day, or even several hours, consider taking a car: auto drivers will charge you just as much! You may as well have the comfort of the car.

In restaurants, the ordinary kind (called, confusingly, 'hotels'), tip Rs5 per person unless it was just a quick stop for tea.

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Rogue Two

You're aware that the Euro is freely convertible now? I'd be interested to know who in Europe prefers to be tipped in US$.

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tacita

this was well after introduction of the euro, in several towns on the french riviera, in and near nice, as well as in florence, rome. i was as perplexed as you are. one desk clerk at the negresco in nice said that "it's always good to have greenbacks!" my euro tips weren't rejected, no, but i noticed service personnel counting dollars and had asked about it. thereafter, if i had only euro bills too large for tips, i substituted american dollars and they were warmly received.

04274108

Best to use rupees. On more than one tipping occassion in Mumbai, locals asked for rupees rather than other currencies because the only place they could exchange them required a trip to the airport.

In a few hotels, staff would come up to us and ask to convert $, pounds or Euros into Rs.

Use rupees so good work does not become diluted with currency exchange, travel fees and a waste of several hours.

tacita

oh, yes, by all means, i will - thanks. i was divested some time ago here of any notion that i should do otherwise. in fact, i'm still confused about why anyone wanted dollars in the first place rather than their own currency, especially considering the ever-declining value of the dollar. and that was the case even when i was last in the south of france and italy, when people liked getting american money. who knows? thanks again for replying.

Nick-H

What? I just don't believe it. the place I do foreign exchange has no outward suggestion whatsoever that that is part of their business. On top of plenty the more formal ones, there will be lots of these smaller places. Everyone who has reason to come by foreign currency will know one.

I can't imagine why, but I suspect some tale being told there...

However.... the rupee is the currency, so yes, use, pay and tip in it. And even $1 US is over Rs40 --- rather a generous tip in most circumstances!

Foreign coins can't usually be exchange --- although a friendly forex guy may do it --- in fact I know they do, as I volunteered to take nearly GBP100 in coins off the hands of my local friendly guy last time I went to UK. But giving will certaionly cause soe hassle, so don't --- or be prepared to exchange them for Rs maybe!

GoanCanuck

Nick, the money changers that you are referring to are the unauthorized ones. These type of money changers do not give a good rate to anyone wanting to exchange a $1 note or a $5 note. The rate that these guys offer is related to,
1) The $ amount you want to change
2) The denomination of the currency notes

The authorized money changers have a regulated rate but they require that the person produces his passport or PAN card which is something a roomboy/waiter won't have.

Nick-H

There is no longer a black market in currency (which I understand gave better rates!) but the kind of exchange dealer I mean will give at least as good a rate as the 'authorised' sort.

That's why I go there!

But you highlight another odd thing about the 'I have to go to the airport' story... the airport exchange desk will certainly be authorised and licensed and regulated.

Don't know if Indian citizens have to produce a passport when exchanging foreign currency? currency stuff is a lot more relaxed than it used to be. And PAN cards are usually only required for big transactions.