tipping in Philippines
The Country of The Philippines is made up of over 7,100 islands and can be found to the west of the Pacific Ocean, in Asia. This huge archipelago is home to some 100 million inhabitants and covers an area of around 300,000 square kilometers in total. From the heady delights of the capital, Manila, to the paradise-like beauty of the popular tourist island of Cebu, there are all manner of attractions and sights to see whilst in this awesome country. And learning about what makes for good tipping etiquette in The Philippines will most certainly come in very useful for you.
The first thing you need to know about tipping in The Philippines is that this country is not quite such a ‘tipping nation’ as other neighboring countries tend to be. However, that said, Western influence has pervaded the very infrastructure of this country by now and this means that tipping is starting to be seen as more and more expected from the tourists.
tipping etiquette for hotels in Philippines
in the Philippines Don't Tip at a Hotel
As we have already established the fact that tipping in The Philippines is a relatively new concept, this almost certainly carries over to tipping in hotels in the country. You will generally tend to find that the higher-rated hotels (4* plus) will usually expect guests to tip for bellman services, maids, bar staff etc. However, smaller and lower-rated hotels do not seem to expect a tip quite as much. That said, if a member of staff provides excellent service for you, try to go out of your way to offer them a tip – in any type of star-rated property.
tipping in spas in Philippines
At a Spa Don't Tip in The Philippines
At a Spa in The Phillippines your service provider will not be expecting a tip. However, if you feel the spa staff provided an especially good service you can tip around 10%. If you end up you are dissapointed by your spa experience, do not leave a tip.
should you tip your tour guide?
In The Phillipines Tip 10% to your tour guide
Tour guides work exceptionally hard in The Philippines and very often they are doing so for very little remuneration from their employer. Even self-employed tour guides are probably on a wage that is much lower than you can imagine. Therefore a tip of 10% is always welcome can really make a difference.
tips at restaurants in Philippines
In The Philipines Tip 10% at a resteraunt
There is a very simple rule of thumb to adhere to when it comes to tipping in restaurants in The Philippines. Check your bill at the end of the meal to ascertain whether or not the letters ‘SC’ appear. If they do, this means that a service charge has already been added to the bill and there would be no need to tip any more. However, if there is no service charge added, you might like to pass a 10% tip over to your waiting staff accordingly. Remember that some businesses can be notoriously mean to staff where tips are concerned, so always try to ensure the money goes to those who deserve it the most wherever you can.
should you tip your taxi driver?
In The Phillippines Tip 10% to your taxi driver
If your taxi driver quotes a price to you before you get into the cab and switches the meter off, chances are you are paying well above the odds and should not offer a tip. If the taxi driver leaves the meter running and you pay the resultant fare at the end of the ride feel free to tip 10% for a good service.
should you tip your hairdresser
In The Phillippines Don't Tip your hairdresser
Hairdressers in The Philippines can be a little surprised when a tip is offered. Having said this, gratuities are becoming more and more common in this industry. If you feel the hairdresser has really gone to town with your hairstyle, a tip of between 10% - 15% of the bill is strongly recommended.