Tipping - always my big holiday faux pas

SJB · Jun 17th, 2009, 14:37

Hi there,

My Kerala trip is all booked and everything is more or less in place. I'll be sure to post an account of it when I'm back, as I've found this site instrumental in planning and it would be nice to think I can return the favour.

One last question before I go ... I know it is discretional and entirely dependant on the situation, but I always spend the first couple of days getting tipping wrong in a foreign country as I adapt to a new currency !

Can anyone tell me in advance what sort of amount would be reasonable, for example in a restuarant, to a driver between the popular routes of Munnar / Periyar / Alleppey, or to the backwater house boat team for an overnight ?

I'm sure I'll work it out, but your advice may save me over or under paying the norm in the first couple of days !

Thanks very much

rajered · Jun 17th, 2009, 17:31

Any thing from Rs 10 to Rs 500 would do depending on the service provided.
If you want to tip a person who carries your suitcase to your Hotel room Rs 10/-
If you want to tip the waiter who served you in the restaurant Rs 20 - Rs 30
If you want to tip your driver who's with you for 3-4 days Rs 250/- with lunch at pit stops
Hope you get the idea.

federica · Jun 17th, 2009, 17:49

If you make the amount of your tip dependent on the amount you have to pay for the bill (like 10% of the bill), you can't be totally wrong.

lathish · Jun 24th, 2009, 18:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajered

Any thing from Rs 10 to Rs 500 would do depending on the service provided.
If you want to tip a person who carries your suitcase to your Hotel room Rs 10/-
If you want to tip the waiter who served you in the restaurant Rs 20 - Rs 30
If you want to tip your driver who's with you for 3-4 days Rs 250/- with lunch at pit stops
Hope you get the idea.

Thats a good figure coming from a exp traveller.I very much agree

atala · Jun 25th, 2009, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajered

Any thing from Rs 10 to Rs 500 would do depending on the service provided.

I wonder for which service you would give Rs 500 as a tip... To the pilot of your aircraft for a safe landing after turbulences?

I would not know of any other opportunities.

Your quotes are too high in general. The 10% rule may apply in Restaurants, but not for car-hires for instance. If one tip is larger than the daily wage, then something is wrong in the whole set-up. Remember that if you give way too much you spoil the situation for the next customer, and you might create even another money-hungry monster in the recipient.

The average Indian person does not give such lavish tips to a servant.

rajered · Jun 25th, 2009, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by atala

I wonder for which service you would give Rs 500 as a tip... To the pilot of your aircraft for a safe landing after turbulences?

For a driver if I hire a car for 10-12 days and I like his driving I would not mind tipping Rs 500/-

Eastern Mind · Jun 25th, 2009, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by atala

I wonder for which service you would give Rs 500 as a tip... To the pilot of your aircraft for a safe landing after turbulences?

I would not know of any other opportunities.

Your quotes are too high in general. The 10% rule may apply in Restaurants, but not for car-hires for instance. If one tip is larger than the daily wage, then something is wrong in the whole set-up. Remember that if you give way too much you spoil the situation for the next customer, and you might create even another money-hungry monster in the recipient.

The average Indian person does not give such lavish tips to a servant.

If you are a westerner, you are not 'the average Indian person'. You come with more money than some Indians earn in a year or more. If I take my family out to a decent restaurant here in Canada, and the bill is about 100 dollars, the tip is $15 by standard rate, or 600 rupees. Not that we should do the mental exchange rate thing every time, but I do believe we shouldn't be cheap either. We should be tipping more than the average. Tipping should be a joy, not a hassle. I tipped up to R200 on single meals, and it was well worth it just to see the smile break out on the waiter. Examples of more:

drivers for several days on private tours ... until my driver showed us his drunkardness, I was going to give R3000 for 17 days. I felt he earned it putting up with my constant barrage of questions, and strange requests.

Temple dakshina ... Here in Canada a typical temple charges $10 or R500 for a simple personal puja called an archana. The temple fee is that, and the custom is to tip the priest the equivalent amount. Many Indian temples charge R2 for the same ceremony. For a more complicated one, (a wedding, or some other major event) here it can be $500 fee. In India the ceremonies are better, the temples are stronger, it might be a 'once in a lifetime experience' literally ... well, the picture should be clear by now.

Sometimes you just 'feel' like tipping. The intuitive time ... someone outdoes your expectations in service and cheer..

Nick-H · Jun 25th, 2009, 20:36

Yes, you should do what you feel like, and not accept any rule or judgement.

However, it is good if it is done in an informed way. Perhaps Eastern Mind has a good idea how much waiters, drivers, etc earn --- if a person wants to give a full month's salary a tip, they should be aware that that is what they are doing!

Many staff are not troubled by keeping the hand open until the flow of money stops, and why should they be! But the continuing open hand does not mean the tipper has been mean or unreasonable, it just means the guy is guy to take whatever they can get.

Informed tipping means there is less room for the extortionists who play on the lack of knowledge of the rupee value and the Indian economy. The open hand is one thing; the disappointed look, however much one gives, is quite another!

atala · Jun 25th, 2009, 21:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajered

For a driver if I hire a car for 10-12 days and I like his driving I would not mind tipping Rs 500/-

That is something else. But you have to indicate that in an answer. That would be equivalent to Rs 40-50 per day which does not really fit into your scheme of advice given here.

rajered · Jun 25th, 2009, 21:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by atala

That is something else. But you have to indicate that in an answer. That would be equivalent to Rs 50-60 per day which does not really fit into your scheme of advice given here.

I think I have given examples of what could be tip for different services.
Maybe I should have been more specific.

Eastern Mind · Jun 25th, 2009, 23:51

My feelings came from 2 experiences when I was 18 years old working as a bartender in a local small town watering hole. Two different experiences, but lesson learned. One fellow, the owner of the local natural gas distribution company, made a big point of saying 'This is for you" in a very condescending manner when he gave me a dime (one tenth of a dollar). The other fellow, a train engineer, quietly slipped me a $20 at Christmas time. Guess which chap got my respect?

So on my trip to India, twice I did feel like a cheap you-know-what after the fact. Once a humble man volunteered to guide me around Tiruparunkundrum temple, was extremely pleasant, and informative, not pushy at all. For 3 hours he shared his niceness, uplifting me in unseen ways. I left him with R50 and felt cheap. The other time was just a temple donation.

On the other hand, twice I withheld the tip altogether because of lies and deceit. When you sense the con is on ... well, respond accordingly.

So as Nick says, as long as its an informed choice, all is well. And I only felt ripped off once. The old fresh off the plane tired and unaware, not thinking/caring situation. For me, intuition works better than logic.

BTW, Nick, our temple festival is on. We get live nadeshwaram/thavil for 10 straight days. Wish you were here.

Nick-H · Jun 26th, 2009, 02:11

... nice

Although a variety of vocal and instrumental might go down slightly more easily?

Eastern Mind · Jun 26th, 2009, 02:43

We're fortunate to have a couple of semi-professional thevaram singers that add to the musicality. Nadeshwaram is my favorite for bringing out another consciousness flow in a beautiful way. Sorry to go off topic. We parade the murthis every night about 10 (This is Canada 54 parallel, still light out) around the temple. A lot of fun.

Nick-H · Jun 26th, 2009, 04:34

Do you do Navaratri, Mahasivaratri, etc in a big way?

Used to enjoy that in the London temples, and often take part in the music.

Eastern Mind · Jun 26th, 2009, 05:18

This is off topic now ... sorry. Yes Nick, temple does Navarathri, I don't .. long story about type of energy generated ... temple also does Skanda Shasti, Thai Pusam, Sivaratri, Tiruvembavai, Vinayaka Chaturthi .. all the Tamil festivals, my spouse sponsors pradosha puja once a month ... always somethin or other goin on over there. This is the annual festival, marks the anniversary of Mahakumbabhishekam ... 9 years now. You'll have to PM me if you want to talk more on this topic, or start a new thread..

Jun 17th, 2009, 14:37	#1
SJB Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: UAE Posts: 5	Tipping - always my big holiday faux pas Hi there, My Kerala trip is all booked and everything is more or less in place. I'll be sure to post an account of it when I'm back, as I've found this site instrumental in planning and it would be nice to think I can return the favour. One last question before I go ... I know it is discretional and entirely dependant on the situation, but I always spend the first couple of days getting tipping wrong in a foreign country as I adapt to a new currency ! Can anyone tell me in advance what sort of amount would be reasonable, for example in a restuarant, to a driver between the popular routes of Munnar / Periyar / Alleppey, or to the backwater house boat team for an overnight ? I'm sure I'll work it out, but your advice may save me over or under paying the norm in the first couple of days ! Thanks very much

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Jun 17th, 2009, 17:31	#2
rajered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,184	Any thing from Rs 10 to Rs 500 would do depending on the service provided. If you want to tip a person who carries your suitcase to your Hotel room Rs 10/- If you want to tip the waiter who served you in the restaurant Rs 20 - Rs 30 If you want to tip your driver who's with you for 3-4 days Rs 250/- with lunch at pit stops Hope you get the idea.

Jun 17th, 2009, 17:49	#3
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 1,774	If you make the amount of your tip dependent on the amount you have to pay for the bill (like 10% of the bill), you can't be totally wrong.

Jun 25th, 2009, 20:36	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	Yes, you should do what you feel like, and not accept any rule or judgement. However, it is good if it is done in an informed way. Perhaps Eastern Mind has a good idea how much waiters, drivers, etc earn --- if a person wants to give a full month's salary a tip, they should be aware that that is what they are doing! Many staff are not troubled by keeping the hand open until the flow of money stops, and why should they be! But the continuing open hand does not mean the tipper has been mean or unreasonable, it just means the guy is guy to take whatever they can get. Informed tipping means there is less room for the extortionists who play on the lack of knowledge of the rupee value and the Indian economy. The open hand is one thing; the disappointed look, however much one gives, is quite another!

Jun 25th, 2009, 23:51	#11
Eastern Mind Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 431	My feelings came from 2 experiences when I was 18 years old working as a bartender in a local small town watering hole. Two different experiences, but lesson learned. One fellow, the owner of the local natural gas distribution company, made a big point of saying 'This is for you" in a very condescending manner when he gave me a dime (one tenth of a dollar). The other fellow, a train engineer, quietly slipped me a $20 at Christmas time. Guess which chap got my respect? So on my trip to India, twice I did feel like a cheap you-know-what after the fact. Once a humble man volunteered to guide me around Tiruparunkundrum temple, was extremely pleasant, and informative, not pushy at all. For 3 hours he shared his niceness, uplifting me in unseen ways. I left him with R50 and felt cheap. The other time was just a temple donation. On the other hand, twice I withheld the tip altogether because of lies and deceit. When you sense the con is on ... well, respond accordingly. So as Nick says, as long as its an informed choice, all is well. And I only felt ripped off once. The old fresh off the plane tired and unaware, not thinking/caring situation. For me, intuition works better than logic. BTW, Nick, our temple festival is on. We get live nadeshwaram/thavil for 10 straight days. Wish you were here.

Jun 26th, 2009, 02:11	#12
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	... nice Although a variety of vocal and instrumental might go down slightly more easily?

Jun 26th, 2009, 02:43	#13
Eastern Mind Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 431	We're fortunate to have a couple of semi-professional thevaram singers that add to the musicality. Nadeshwaram is my favorite for bringing out another consciousness flow in a beautiful way. Sorry to go off topic. We parade the murthis every night about 10 (This is Canada 54 parallel, still light out) around the temple. A lot of fun.

Jun 26th, 2009, 04:34	#14
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,234	Do you do Navaratri, Mahasivaratri, etc in a big way? Used to enjoy that in the London temples, and often take part in the music.

Jun 26th, 2009, 05:18	#15
Eastern Mind Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 431	This is off topic now ... sorry. Yes Nick, temple does Navarathri, I don't .. long story about type of energy generated ... temple also does Skanda Shasti, Thai Pusam, Sivaratri, Tiruvembavai, Vinayaka Chaturthi .. all the Tamil festivals, my spouse sponsors pradosha puja once a month ... always somethin or other goin on over there. This is the annual festival, marks the anniversary of Mahakumbabhishekam ... 9 years now. You'll have to PM me if you want to talk more on this topic, or start a new thread..