www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Ditto Jsmythe.

Bastion,

Keep some bottled water, candy & chiclets (gum) in your room, chicas dig it.
Some of the studs bring musica & candles for the mood, it's icing on the cake.

You can have your cake & eat it too in CR. Why do we act like it's not all about the money?

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Eu gosto de brasileiras...

I have the same reaction as Jsmythe, and it also makes me wonder about the ridiculous levels of tipping practiced by many of us.

First of all, giving a propina is not the norm in Central America. Yes, I understand the need to give a small tip for extraordinary or excellent service, but many of us go wa-a-a-ay overboard.

Some guy in another thread suggested that he might tip $6.00 for a $12.00 cab ride from the airport. That's stupid, IMHO.

Another poster became infamous for stating that he frequently tipped $100.00 for a $40.00 MP session, because "it's (his) money, and (he'll) spend it the way (he) wants."

For the reasons given above, over-tipping is a terribly bad idea. Also, over-propinando gives the service worker a false sense of entitlement, leading to lower levels of service in the long run.

The following is strictly my opinion, and I hope veteran hobbyists will respond with theirs. Here's my own formula for tipping:

Bellboy. $1.00 per bag carried
Room maid: $2.00 for extra towels, $1.00/night for stays of less than five days, $5.00 minimum upon checkout.
Waiter/waitress: Round the check total to the nearest 1,000 CRC. If the restaurant check is 1,800, a 200 colones tip is more than enough. Remember that the restaurant will typically add an automatic 10% service charge to all food and beverage totals. On a 1,300 colones tab, an additional 200 colones tip is still quite sufficient, so perhaps the formula should be "to the nearest 500 colones."
Taxistas: Round to the nearest 100 colones. If the fare is 760 colones, give him 800.
Policemen: Depends on the severity of the offense, but do your tipping very discreetly.
Hairstylists/massage therapists (non-sexual): 5-10% of the fee.
Chicas: Unlike G.R. and some others here who believe that good tips ensure good service on a return trip, I believe that too large a tip simply makes one look like a sucker. If her fee is already high, say $80.00 for an hour with a bar girl, forget the tip. Give her a 500 c. coin for cab fare, if you must. MP girls are a little different case, as they don't make much from your fee to begin with. Here, I think a tip similar to what you'd give a hairstylist or manicurist (5-10% of the total fee) would be considered generous. In other words, a 2,000 tip for a 20K ZB session would be considered a good tip, without making you look like a sucker, newbie or walking ATM.

Just my cheap-ass opinion. I'm certain that others will heartily disagree.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I want to thank everyone so far for their comment, which is what I like about CRT, everyone can post their opinions and experiences and share with everyone else to improve our time in Costa Rica.

Also I have figured out how stupid I was not to use a Thesaurus with my search on gifts. (Will not happen again.)

For me a gift is small, cost a lot less then a meal and breaks the tension that can arise. A small gift more often then not is the difference between a woman showing enthusiasm or just being mechanical.

If an item is more then a pair of nice shoes then for me it is a present which is not something I would give to someone I just met or only meet every so often. From reading different posting I would have to say there are some gentlemen who like to give presents, and that is in my humble opinion is the beginning of the end of paradise.

By the way El Ciego I have seen your picture and have to say that you and I look so much alike we could be related. As for Americans being sexual cripples I tend to think of us more as not being able to shake the Boy Scout mentality and actually seduce a woman like men in the rest of the world.

These are just my humble opinions.

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Bastion

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

El Ciego,
I'll bet if I stuck a penny up your cheap ass I could pull it out and get a mile of wire! Just phucking with ya man!!!
Sparky

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Sparky
Get in line to ride the lightning!!!


Almost legally single again! Voy a Colombia otra vece!!

Hey Electro-bitch,

Well, if you need the copper wire that badly to re-wire all those yachts, don't come looking for my ass, amigo! The gauge would be too fine for anything but a 12 volt doorbell circuit. 36 ga. maybe... Dollhouse wiring?

Seriously, I'm not that cheap. I tip. And once she gets past the tip, there's some serious 00 gauge cable to contend with.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Gentlemen............this is all relative. Each person is different, that is what makes up this crazy mixed up world. Just alone on this site we have cheap phuckers who don't ever tip to the extravagant men who overtip big time.

A tip or propina given is all up to the individual and I for one do not want people telling me what I should tip or not tip in hopes they will not look bad. If you ever worked for tips you would understand this!

I tip as I feel appropriate and as I want to, but try and overcharge me upfront, I will drop her like a bad habit leaving her head spinning. "what happened? where did he go?"

I agree to always try and negotiate to keep the prices down and in control. But sometimes you just gotta! One man's hamburger is another man's steak!

The word gets out when you are generous and this somtimes helps with the negotiation. I have had chicas follow me to other bars to try and hook up with me.

Not only am I usually generous to certain level but I am a picky bastard too.

Treat them nice, treat them with respect and service them good! This will get around on the hotline! Of course sometimes the ones you turn down will talk sh*t about you. But the ones who know you will know this is BS.

Just my 10 colones worth!

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

Hello G.G.,

Okay, I agree in principle with what you posted above. I hope I didn't make myself sound like a cheap bastard.

Don't think that you're the only one here who has worked in the service industry. I've worked for tips too, and was always happy to get the unexpected, generous tip, but I never expected to get a big tip if I knew my service wasn't well above normal.

My question to you is this: Reading my own tipping guidelines above, do you think I undertip? Keep in mind that in Costa Rica, tipping is not the norm for many service workers, except as I've noted above. I follow Ace's guidelines from this forum (which incidentally agree with tipping guidelines published in Frommers and other travel guides). Of course, travel books such as Fodor's and The Lonely Planet guide fail to discuss how much to tip prostitutes...


I know fully well that Sparky was joking with me, and I hope my reply to him was read by all as a joke in return, but now you've got me worried.


I just thought of another question: In your opinion, at what point does a generous tipper start to look like a chump who is over-compensating for some personal shortcoming by throwing out the big cash?

And do you agree that tipping without having received above-average service only makes the service provider feel somehow entitled and will lead to poorer service from that worker in the future?

You've got much more experience in C.R. than I do, and I hope you'll give me some guidelines, if you think mine are either unrealistic, unworthy or cheap.

Mucho respeto.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

No Sparky is the one that made you sound like a cheap bastard.........But I know he was only kidding.

El Ciego your tipping guideline was right on for the average propina. (with the exception of the taxis. I already know what I am giving and what it will cost. If they try to overcharge me I don't get in, if they charge the correct fare, I usually tip about a dollar and if they just push it a little they get no propina. Now these are drivers I do not know, ones that I know, do not charge me for a short trip in the gulch. I just give the a 1000 colones propina. Longer trips and longer times I make it worth their while. You want them to be dependable!

You start looking like a CHUMP when you're not getting the service you desire and still tip! I have no problem telling them if they are slacking. I usually don't tip cash to a working girl, unless it is along your guidelines. usually in the 10 percent range unless they move me! I'll usually give them something sweet or feminine if I have it handy! If I really like them and want to see them again (which isn't often) then I will treat them extra special!

Remember pay them to leave!
If giving them a small amount for a taxi gets them out quicker, so be it!

Another point, the restaurants and bars always have a built in 10% service fee in the price whether you see it or not. So as I am assessing the service I keep this in mind. I must be doing a lot more than the average because they are always happy to see GG!

It's nice going to a different country and the server or bartender greets you with your name and the beverage of your choice!

Pura Vida!

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GG
"Last time I said no......I misunderstood the question!"

El C, & GG, Now I've been out with GG and I know he's a cheap bastard Nah, just joshin he's a prince and a great wingman, chicas just flock to this dude!!! El C, we could wind some small transformers or coils with that 36 AWG wire, possibly for use in GG's pocket rocket, speaking of Biatch, email those pics from pantera rosa
Sparky

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Sparky
Get in line to ride the lightning!!!


Almost legally single again! Voy a Colombia otra vece!!

Hey GG,

I agree with you whole heartedly that everyone should do whatever suits them. All I am trying to do is define the results of that behavior. If you want to smoke cig's till you get cancer and die- puff away, just be aware of the consequences.

Likewise if you want to take our U.S. insecurity based generousity and materialistic mentality down to CR go right ahead. Just be aware that it will and in many cases has turned alot of chicas into gringas, inflated the price by 10 times in some locations and created a hard-core rather unpleasant atmosphere in some locations with a notable decline in service.

As with smoking, a certain number of non-smokers will get affected by secondary smoke. Here most of us who understand the cutlure, the business and the cost structure will wind up paying inflated prices and getting poores service. But that's the way it is. It then becomes our job to find a new place without the gringo male mentality described above and enjoy it until the over-tippers, over-payers and gift buyers get there.

As a final point and side note, giving a tip or over-paying doesn't guarantee or aid in getting better service. It just ensures that the chica will become more materialistic and will be more concerned with the money than you. You will turn yourself into a commodity and not a person. Remember in the US we tend to " love things and use people", in most latin cultures they tend to "love people and use things" By constantly using money and things to express yourself, you are turning yourself into a thing, a thing to be used. This has lowered service exponentianially. When I started to going to CR (1983) it was $20 for all night with an beautiful chica from the Key Largo. No tips, no gifts etc. They gave great, great service as a matter of pride. It was genuine and it was great.

Nothing last forever, but can't we at least slow down the decline?.

I have always tipped well but certainly nothing like the $100 for a $40 massage. I have to say that the heat that I took from this board a few years ago concerning what many perceived as my overtipping had a dramatic effect on me when visiting CR and other places. I still tip probably more than most but I don't over tip routinely and I don't over tip outrageously. As a few pointed out to me back then, I was doing so more for my benefit of feeling good and thinking that I was making the person feel good about themselves more and thinking good about me. As I look back, it was all about me and not the service or the person involved. I will always tip well but not like I used to. Thanks for Prolijo and others.

Have a Great Day,

Dave

A dollar tip for a cab where most local fares only cost a buck to begin with is a 100%! At that rate they're actually coming out way ahead of the ones that "push it a little". And the ones that you let "push it a little" are essentially getting tipped too by the amount they "push it". As for the ones you know "not charging you", you're only fooling yourself. That 1000 colone tip IS their charge and then some since it is way more than what the usual fare and tip would normally cost you.

We're always getting 100s and 500c coins as change. I usually have more than enough in my pocket to cover the cab fare. In fact cabs and buses are a good reason to snap up those 100c coins we get as change for our overpriced drinks at the BM, rather than overtip the already richly compensated waitresses that first forget your drink order and then take their sweet time bringing the change (probably on the hope that you'll forget and leave or else not care so she'd get a 900c tip on a 1100c drink).

If the cab fare is 600c, no tip. If its 525c, I still give them 600c. If its 505c, I normally give the 600c, but there has even been a time when I only pulled out 500c in loose change and the driver told me that was fine rather than wait for me to dig around for an extra coin. The point is that tips per se are not at all the norm for cabs in general. It is more of an issue of not bothering with the small change.

jsmythe23: Dude, you are so right on that I can't believe it's not me saying that under a fake name. The machismo culture that the girls grew up in does not track with the pussified culture that has been created in the United States. I would say that a small tip might be appropriate if the service was good, but other than that, forget it, especially since it is, primarily, regardless of all the GFE stuff, a professional relationship.

Tim, you break me up, Dude Here you go again diggin up an old chestnut. But you do raise a good point. It IS basically a professional transaction (albeit with very intimate aspects). Even if we apply US standards when you get down to it even in the US we don't normally tip most professionals such as doctors, lawyers, accountants (I WISH), mechanics, etc. Okay, maybe we'll tip massage therapists. However these girls fall more into the class of professionals that are already getting paid extremely well by local standards and we're paying them that much to provide us GFE quality service. If all we wanted was lackluster mechanical service, we could just stay home and get that from the gringas. I'll admit I'll tip a MP girl IF she provides above average service by CR standards, but her share of the base pay is not nearly as much as the BM girls. For the BM girls to get anything extra from me she has to be truly exceptional and at the opposite end of the price spectrum from the CIEN girls.