I have a bunch of tipping questions and am hoping some of you CR regulars can help me. I need some guidelines, please!!

I read somewhere that tour guides should be tipped 10% of the cost of the tour. Would that apply to everything from white water rafting to canopy tours to tours in MA park? For example, with of us going white water rafting to the tune of $500 total, is a $50 tip realistic? What about canopy tours? When there is more than one guide, am I correct in assuming the tip amount should be split among the guides?

What about the concierge/tour arrangers in the hotels? Should they be tipped?

What about the hotel's shuttle bus driver who will pick us up at the airport?

What about tipping hotel maids? Same as U.S.?

Anyone else I'm forgetting? (I think I already have restaurant servers figured out!)

Thank you!

Jo, I can't answer all your questions, but between all the Fodorites, perhaps we can figure it out!

We usually tip a tour guide $5. Whitewater rafting, $50 is too much. I think $5 per person is plenty. My opinion. . .

We've only tipped a hotel concierge once (although several have been very gracious and helpful). That was at Playa Conchal when we received an excellent room rate, one that we considered a bargain, and we gave him $20--3 different times that we stayed there. This is not, however, a standard practice (at least I don't think it is).

Sometimes on tours there will be a driver and a guide. We usually tip the driver a couple of dollars.

You don't tip taxis, but if a shuttle bus driver handles your luggage (and I am assuming most do), that would be worth a couple of dollars.

Hotel maids--I've seen sites that recommend 50 cents per day. We usually leave a dollar--or 400 or so colones (close to a dollar)per day.

Remember, that the banks in Costa Rica won't accept torn, old, or bills with any type of marking on them. Try to take several new bills or at least screen them to select the better ones.

Hope this helps a little!

In general, here is how I tip when I travel. Although I adjust it for local customs:

Restaurants: 15 -20%, but varies by country - I understand a "service charge" is already included in C.R. Do people normally tip on top of that? If so, how much?

Hotel housekeeping: $1 per person per night, in our case that's $2 per day. Leave it on the pillow and they will know it's for them.

Tour guides: Anywhere from a couple dollars to about $10 per person in our group, depending on the length of the tour, the initial cost, and the level of service. Sometimes they pool the tips with the driver, but if not, we may through him a couple dollars too if warranted.

Baggage handlers at hotels and airport skycaps: $1 per bag

Shuttle bus drivers: About $2 -$3 if they help with luggage.

Taxis: About 15% - 20% depending on where I am and if it is customary. Shillmac, you say they don't tip taxis in C.R.? Would they get offended if we did or is it just not necessary?

Honestly, once or twice my husband tried to tip a taxi driver and the man seemed insulted! Go figure. We asked inside our hotel and were told it wasn't normal practice. I don't know why. Perhaps in setting the fares the drivers already are looking out for themselves!

At restaurants, we usually leave a little bit on top of the 10% on the ticket. Not a lot though. . .nothing like the 15-20% we leave here in the states. Usually a dollar or two.

Living here and working with many people in the service industry this is what I have experienced:
Restaurants - 10 - 15 %
Taxis - rare unless you want them to meet you later at a designated place or plan to use the same taxi throughout your stay.
Tour Guides, dive masters, instructors - $5 - $10 per person on a tour Approx. 10% for the group not an individual
Many hotels don't permit tipping concierge or tour arrangers.
I exchange torn and marked US bills at the bank weekly. It is the vendors that won't accept them if torn or marked.
Maids - $1.00 a day
This is based on great service of course. Don't tip for the sake of tipping if service is poor!

shillmac, how {or do} you tip at all-inclusive establishments where the meals are calculated into the rate - like Savegre Lodge?

Molly2, we left $50.00 at Savegre when we checked out. They have the "Tips" box at the reception where you can leave your tip which is shared by all who work there except guides. They are not included and if you want you may tip them but you don't have to. We asked one of the owners and this is what he told us.

Thanks, Pat, excellent info.! A tip box is much easier, I think, than coming up with tips for every seperate item. I think that tipping is one of the more confusing aspects of travel.

shillmac, I'm surprised that a taxi driver would be insulted by a tip. Yeah, go figure!

Okay, I have a new question! I added another post to this thread a couple of hours ago. I can see it when I click on "Post a reply," yet I don't see it when I click on the thread title. Can you guys see it? I'm not sure what's happening. Anyhow, if you guys can't see the last one, I'll say thank you again and hope this one shows up!

I was waiting for Neta's response because she had replied earlier to a tipping question. She lives in CR and she's given many many useful advice . That question was for a private guide for 5 days for 3 persons. Her suggested tip is $50 for all days for all 3. So, don't use the cost of the tour to determine the amount.

For the person who cleans your room, one pricey hotel in San Jose says $1 a day per room.

Is it my imagination, but hardly anyone gave tips to the guides and drivers, and shuttle bus drivers on the tours I took. I felt out of place.

By the way, bring lots of new $1 bills for tips. No need to exchange to colones.