Tipping in India
 

We now have our hotels booked for our November trip to northern India. Any advice about tipping? How much to give drivers, porters, waiters, room attendants and others? We'll have a car and driver for portions of the trip, but will use other transport as well. I assume we'll get some rupees in the airport in Delhi when we arrive, then get cash from ATMs as the trip progresses.

Thanks!

Biggest thing about tipping in India is not to OVER tip! Don't base it on US amounts and not everyone needs to be tipped and don't let them think you are willing to pull your wallet out easily.

Hopefully someone who has recently been in India will give you some accurate guidelines for amounts.

Its also depend on the services, Normally driver , waiters , potters are not very well paid jobs so they are more depend on tips. Rest its all depend on services

In India drivers, waiters and porters in the tourist area are in well paid jobs with access to hard currency so they do very well.

As Jaya says, forget about US levels of tipping. Rounding up the bill, leaving a few small coins if the service has been satisfactory.

I have always used Company drivers who are on contract but the one thing that I do make sure of is that if I have a driver waiting for me whilst I have a meal I give hi, enough to get himself something to eat. Twenty of thirty Rp is more than enough. Also, if he drops me off at the airport around midnight, when a lot of flights leave, I always give a final 100Rp.

Hotel prices are outrageous enough without tipping over the top.

My understanding is that drivers and porters and also guides are not so well paid and that they rely on tips. Nothing wrong with being generous in instances where you received great service, especially when the driver or guide have been with you for many days.

Why is it that when people visit a poorer country that they don't feel the need to tip?

A large tip in rupees when converted into USD is a pittance...it's easy to be generous in India. Let your conscience be your guide...good service anywhere deserves a good tip...isn't that how it's supposed to be?

People working in the tourist trade depend on good tips...good service, good tip. That encourages more good people to work in the tourist trade...perhaps we will then get good trained guides in India as well.

Just a thought.

Hi magical: this is a fascinating topic. The only problem with your totally kind and understandable reaction is that, in India at least, you are far more likely to be taken as a fool than a guardian angel. I can assure you that people in the tourist trade are vastly better off than the rest. Tipping well is not going to attract a soul to the industry; they are clamouring at the gates trying to get IN!

There's an old show-biz saying 'There's a sucker born every minute'. So it is in the tourist trade in India. You must follow your conscience - so do I, but I choose to channel those rupees to someoneone who REALLY needs them.

The interesting part, for me, is to determine just who those people actually are.

Do I sound hard-hearted? Probably. India can do that to you. This whole topic is an industry over there... an industry entirely dependent on your kindness. Everything is Business - the Compassion Business.

That said, I tip. I'm not ashamed to say that self-interest comes into the transaction some of the time. If I'm staying a while I'll tip the guy who carries the bags up to my room. Ten rupees, twenty max. That send the word out that I'm not a complete arse, guaranteeing me good service from the rest of the staff. Then, when I leave, if I intend coming back, I distribute.

I know this sounds mean, but I've discovered that about ten rupees a day for the housekeepers seems to make them very happy indeed. Tangata and Jaya's tips are right on the money.

The clue is to have a LOT of ten/twenty rupee notes in a separate pocket. I always find it vulgar to unfurl a wad of cash and select the smallest bill.

I agree we all have to examine our conscience on this - but sometimes I've discovered in myself that I'm actually tipping to make ME feel good, because I'm confused or think it's expected, not because anything overly special has been provided.

Such a complicated issue. I hope nothing I say offends you.

It is a complicated issue, isn't it dogster. No offense taken.

But the main thing is that you TIP. Unlike someone who gets confused, or upset to the point that they leave without a tip.

Let's face it...we all do things for our own good. So tipping to get better service is what it's all about. And tipping makes you feel good. Obviously, more tips when the service is better. So you are right on...dogster.

"The clue is to have a LOT of ten/twenty rupee notes in a separate pocket"....I find that itself is a challenge...how do you get enough of the tens & twenties available constantly.

Yeah, they are clamoring to get into the tourist trade...but it's like that in every phase of life when the population is as large as it is in India (and poor). My feeling is that if there is good money, then it will attract better "trained" guides etc to the tourist trade. It usually works that way...most of the time.

I think we are not talking about tipping over the top. I am talking about tipping the same percentage rate as elsewhere in the world...and not short changing because poor people can do with less. I am incensed when a 15-20% tip is added to the bill in Paris BEFORE service. Or when a small curbside cafe adds 25% tip to purchase of a coke in Monaco.

I would much rather tip generously when the service is good than be told that if you are in Paris, you automatically are forced to tip. 'nough said.

"I am talking about tipping the same percentage rate as elsewhere in the world" - there is no one standard percentage. It varies from zero in Japan and China to 20% in New York. I would prefer a system where people are paid a proper wage, and no one tips, but I tip according to local custom. The OP is trying to find out what the local custom is in India.

I do wonder if there is a local custom in India. Actually locals don't tip well and those who earn from tips rely on foreign tourists (Except Russinas. :D One cabbie told me he hated them because they don't tip at all). My rule which has worked well for about 5 trips there is 15-20% IN RUPEES for restaurant bills and like the others have said have alot of smaller notes for misc. tips to porters, etc. Yes, its easy to tip more if you have a stronger foreign currency but as dogster said don't be taken for a fool while you think you are acting like a benefactor. And don't be afraid to say no if the tip is protested. Once I recall going to Nirulas restaurant in Delhi in the heart of CP. Well the sx. was lousy and our waiter acted like he couldn't be bothered. Until he saw the tip. He looked at me in shock and I told him in no uncertain tone that the sx. was very poor. Lets say I had no regrets about what I said and how I said it. :S- Well we happened to go there the next day for lunch, had the same guy and this time he hustled. And got tipped very well. My best advice is to give a tip according to what you think is fair per these guidelines, then walk away.

The fact that the "locals don't tip well" is the standard in India and should not be held up against how we tip in the US.

Further, it's naive to assume giving big tips will in anyway advance that person's lot in life. Too many times that extra money never makes it home to the wife and kids or get put towards household expenses.

If you feel giving a little extra is warranted, then do so but keep it within the realm of "reasonable extra". If a tip is 50 rupees, don't go crazy and give 500 rupees because to YOU it's only like $10.

Jaya: I think you are being too sensitive. No one, esp. me made a reference to how Indians tip here. I'm the last person to be biased about them. I've been married to my Rajasthani ruby for over 30 yrs. :-)

Hi JW, I quoted you, but didn't mean it to look like I was picking on you or anything negative. I know, deep breath, calm down! :)

Thank you. Actually I was calm. Hence the :-) face. I hope you are calm too. Namaste

:D LOL - I meant for ME to take the deep breath and calm down! I think I need to go to bed early tonight as typing replies doesn't seem to be my "thing" today! Thanks for being understanding.

Actually how about some samosas and chai masala. Works for me :D Take care. Larry :-)

Ok, to get back to the original question that indianapearl asked, and to which jacketwatch seemed to imply...what is the custom for tipping in India. Because India is such a diverse country...with diverse income levels, it is difficult to say what a standard custom is. But at the places a tourist will be going to... decent tip is the norm...for good service, of course.

Here is my rule of thumb...for places outside USA including Europe and including India. (Although most places in Europe tack on a tip to the bill...so check before tipping extra)
Waiters in restaurants... 10-15%.Rarely 20%.
Room attendants...follow the guideline given by the hotel...if none, then 10%.
Drivers....for good service,10-15%. A good driver can save you time and be safe too.
Guides...based on quality of service and knowledge.
Porters....small bills (tens/twenties depending on number of bags etc).
Roadside cafes...usually a small tip....be careful when you eat at roadside cafes, if at all.

Just an observation...Americans are by far the best tippers...and generally get the best service when they travel.

Hope this answers your question, indianapearl.

hi again magical, since I know you are originally from India I tend to lean towards your observations

Aloha!

"Room attendants...follow the guideline given by the hotel...if none, then 10%." Ten percent of what? The room rate?

Rp 20 per day and they will be delighted.

"Drivers....for good service,10-15%. A good driver can save you time and be safe too" Again 10 - 15 % of what? The cab fare or the daily hire rate?

"Americans are by far the best tippers...and generally get the best service when they travel." Agree with the first statement, totally disagree with the last as they will tip if the service is good or bad so why give them special service.

Please don't import your tipping habits to the rest of the world -- much of which, although I exclude India, has minimum wage laws that the US seems to lack.

I always eat at roadside cafes, drink chai at the wallahs,eat dosa in the street & rarely get sick. I rarely tip either & get fabulous service everywhere, usually! But maybe that's because I like most Indians & treat them as my equals unless they treat me as a walking ATM.. hey dogster... you the man!

Tangata-you know you're stuff...and a pleasure to read a post from someone so well informed.

Actually you can get a cab for a daily fee and if you give that its usually fine. I give a bit more on top as a rule and its always been stress free. No hassles.

"Please don't import your tipping habits to the rest of the world" - couldn't agree more! And 15% in Europe? No.

I see that this is an excitable subject for some people.

Let me be quite clear....tipping is a personal choice...my attempt is to help indianapearl, who btw has not been heard from.

If you want to travel hassle free, tip accordingly. Agree with jacketwatch completely.

thursdaysd....I wouldn't tip 15% in Europe either. Most of the time the tip is already included in the bill. Hence no additional tip is required...zilch. Incidentally, Rick Steves has often spoken (written?) and Rick says "only confused tourists leave a tip" in Europe. So when tourists leave a tip they are OVER TIPPING.

Now, tourists don't mind leaving tips in Europe, on top of tips that are already added to the bill (most of the time this is true in Europe), but people seem to get worked up when they have to tip in India, where there is no tip added to the bill. Does anyone see the irony in this?

Is it because, like Tangata says, he/she can get away with it in India because they are glad to get Rs 20/day? It's OK to rip off a poor person in a poor country because they are glad to get any tip at all. I suspect that after Tangata has thought this through, he/she will agree that this is not OK. Why not leave a decent tip, and save yourself hassles, because when you tip well, you get extra care and attention. But again, this is a very personal choice.

In some countries, tipping is not acceptable...hence you are better off not tipping because that could be construed as insulting (?).

Hey Lyndie...nice to know that you eat at roadside cafes and been safe most of the time. Are you living in India now?

Peace.

hawaiiantraveler... good to see you again. Thanks for your support.

"Now, tourists don't mind leaving tips in Europe, on top of tips that are already added to the bill " - sweeping generalization. Maybe you do, I don't, other than maybe a few small coins.

magical: "Here is my rule of thumb...for places outside USA including Europe and including India. (Although most places in Europe tack on a tip to the bill...so check before tipping extra) Waiters in restaurants... 10-15%.Rarely 20%."

magical: "I wouldn't tip 15% in Europe either."

Hi magical-no I'm not in India right now-monsoon season drives me mad! All that humidity & rain-well I'm a fair weather gal! I travel/reside in India from October to April (best season to visit)usually,I'm in HP & Karnataka or out at the Andamans then head somewhere drier or cooler or back home to Oz. I am in Penang right now. Glorious weather here!

Re the local food-my idea is if the food's freshly cooked i.e. a dosa or you can see the food being prepared & there is a queue waiting for the stuff- i.e.samosa, or idli, or channa masala or whatever then it OK by me!

You get to meet locals & learn some lingo, actually interacting with them rather than being a tourist. My loveliest memories are smiles of some of those crazy wallahs serving chai or dahi or whatever! The love it when I break out the Hindi! Namaste!

Is it because, like Tangata says, he/she can get away with it in India because they are glad to get Rs 20/day? It's OK to rip off a poor person in a poor country because they are glad to get any tip at all. I suspect that after Tangata has thought this through, he/she will agree that this is not OK.

Did I say that? It is not a question of getting away with it, it is a question of an appropriate tip, if any tip at all is required. Certainly most of my Indian friends do not appear to tip, or if they do they just leave the small change.

Without wanting to widen the debate, I wonder how you would tip in Australia or New Zealand?

Every time this subject comes up why do my fellow countrymen(women) always make us(Aussies) sound so cheap(because we are)? It can get embarrassing I tell you. lol

Indiana Pearl is back on line!

I do thank all of you for the time you spent enlightening this poor cornpone from the midwest.

After reading everyone's comments, I think we'll do what we usually do in most countries. We were in Spain for the first time 15 years ago, having a lovely lunch at an outdoor restaurant in the Plaza Major in Madrid. When my husband left a tip, the waiter began to speak loudly in Spanish, which my husband understood, basically saying "No tipping in Espana!" I appreciated his honesty. Most Spanish restaurants have already tallied in the so-called gratuity as do many restaurants in other parts of Europe. Best to read the bottom line on the menu where one exists.

Why does not tipping in OZ etc. "sound so cheap"? People leave big tips in the US because it's part of the server's wage - they are deliberately paid a good bit less than the minimum wage because customers are expected to make up the difference. In countries where servers are paid properly, why would it be "cheap" not to tip?

Well said thursdaysd! Some people get the point, some will never get it!

My waitstaff mates are generally making a bunch of money from overtipping tourists. Enough to retire and head for no.7 beach in the Andamans!!!

Makes me want to don my black apron and get back to waiting on tables!

Have fun! Eat well!

And then there are the other people who just <b>have</b> to impress <i>their</i> point upon everyone and then have the nerve to make fun of others who have another opinion other than theirs. It's like their point was the gospel or something. How rude!

I recently moved from U.S to India and have struggled with this question. IMO, this is what I would give - In hotels charging Rs. 3000/night and above, I would tip Rs. 10 a day. Lesser amounts for other places.
Like someone mentioned, I keep lots of Rs. 10 in my pocket. In restaurants where the bill per person is Rs. 100 or more, I tip about 5 to 10%. Like, if a thali (buffet in a plate) costs 200/person, I would leave Rs. 20 as tip.
I completely agree with Jaya - don't over tip and get treated like a fool/ignorant person. On a separate note, during one of my local journeys, I spoke with an auto-rickshaw driver in a friendly manner asking about his family, the weather etc. I was just trying to be like what we do in U.S. The auto charge was Rs. 100 and he asked me Rs. 20 more just for being nice to him. He must have thought he found a 'fool' he can easily get some money from. There may be people who genuinely appreciate a tip but it is difficult to identify them.

2009 !

True, but advice on tipping is always "au courant"!

I guess so sf7307 but perhaps Sreeni did not realise that he/she was answering a question from 2009. Some of the people on this thread no longer post here or have passed away already!

I've moved to Texas, but I'm not dead yet . .

Indiana, have you seen this

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/rip-dogster.cfm