Mo's Guide to Tipping

If my memory is correct, TIP stands for To Insure Promptness, but has evolved to a slightly different level. What to tip? It's really up to you. My thinking is that no matter how much (or little) you leave you will not spoil the market. Much has been said here about the foolishness of over tipping, but I don't see it. There are customers that leave far too much for what they receive and, conversely, there are many times when a customer is very well treated and empties the tray. Go figure? Anyway, the staff are used to both.

You won't be seen as a "Cheap Charlie" nor will you be treated any worse if you are a conservative tipper. But, for sure, the guys who leave larger tips get more attention. Here's what I think about specifics:

- Bar girls in the morning. - Entirely up to you. The conventional wisdom on the esteemed forum runs from P0 to trike fare to P1,000 - and more. You decide. If services were good reward them accordingly.

- Waitress in the bar after buying myself a drink. - Tip according to the quality of service. If she was attentive and made sure your glass was full when you needed another, brought you a companion, emptied the ashtray, etc. P20 - 30 is not unreasonable. If you had only 1 drink and decided to wander on, the loose change if fine.

- Mamasan in the bar. - Nothing. Buy her a drink if she was helpful.

- Waitress in the restaurant. - Ditto waitresses in the bar.

- Trike. - Nothing. Negotiate the fare before leaving and that's the fare. Anyway, the trike fares up here are so out of line with what they should be, there's no reason to give them more.

- Cleaning maid in the hotel. - A small gift. Perhaps an imported chocolate bar or a small bottle of perfume (you can buy copy designer purse sized spray perfume for P150 and it's pretty damn good). If not, P10 for each day's stay. Again, it depends on the service. Was the room properly made up, were there always clean towels and a new bar of soap? Did you require any additional services (like making up the room twice)?

- Doorman in the hotel. - Not much. If he flags a trike for you, carries your parcels, does the odd errand, P10 is sufficient.

- Waitress whom bring you food to your room. - P10 to P20 depending on the amount of the order.

Again, there is no hard and fast rule. Pay for services rendered.