www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Ok, as a culture, they don't tip. However we gringos have spoiled the populace that serves gringos. I am a tipper, but I don't want to be extravagant.
Hotel maid service, (pocket coins), 500~1k colones seems to be decent based upon what I have read here.
What about bar service? Do you tip for a beer? Mixed drinks?
I hear that restaurants have the tip in the final bill. Is it gringo-normal to leave 'una pequena propina' for good service? If so, what is a nominal amount?
I know many digress from tipping at all. That's fine, please sit this thread out. I want to hear from others that do tip for other than chica services.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

All bar and restaurant bills have a 10% tip (service charge) already included by law. I always tell guys, if you get better than 10% service, sure by all means leave a tip that you think is appropriate. Most other services, a tip is not included so for things like maid service (especially if they go the extra mile to do an extra service like wash your clothes) a tip is very appropriate. I've never felt comfortable expressing an amount or a percent as that is always up to the individual.

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

When in Costa Rica, I rarely left anything over the included 10% of the bill. If it wasn't included, then I left an amount equal to 10%. I use the same basic rule of thumb here in Colombia as well.

So just ordering a beer already has a 10% up-charge on it?
I hear a lot of guys on the forum talking about the barmaids in the MPs and such. If they are funny and engaging, what is an appropriate tip to give? I am not trying to hit on any of them: they are far to wise of the game to fall for any of my lame-ass gringo lines.

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bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

According to a guy I know that lives in Costa Rica, theres only 2 kinds of people that tip in CR... Fat cats and fools. Although I must be a fool because I still leave 500 colones per day for maids, and 100 to 500 for waiters and bartenders. And god help you if you dont tip the chicas (most are happy with 5k).

Forget tipping the Del Rey chicas and crooked bartenders. I do however generously tip the cleaning staff and the waitress at the hole in the wall soda.

Devo

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

i guess i'm a fool but i have worked and continue to work with people in customer service. i see how tired they are at the end of a night of hustling food or drinks and just have never had a problem tipping 15-20% when i like the service. most typically 20.
the places i frequent, whether its in LA or CR i am greeted w a smile and typically receive quick and courteous service. especially in CR i think the average employee receives a minimal wage to serve food/bar. if i have a $50 bill and toss out another $5 it makes little difference to my pocket.
i hear from a lot of the service people in CR that a lot of guys don't tip. i think in all kinds of service it makes a difference. it that makes me a fool so be it. if you don't want to thats your business.
the 10% is automatically added to your food/bar bill and i think is 17% on your rooms. but any other service you use does not have that percentage added fwiw. imo there are some good and hard working people that will go out of their way to help you in CR. whats wrong w kicking them some pocket change to let them know you appreciate it?

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

the maids at the dunn inn do a great job .extra towels,sheets and make room before the regular comes over.so I tip 4-5bucks a day. other services like bar and restaurant staff I treat just like the states,if the service is good and friendly ill give an appropriate tip.. I figure they are not going to see the 10 percent already figured on the bill anyway.

Lets face it....

The majority of the guys who are totally against tipping are not against it because it's not customary; it's because they're cheap fuckers.

Personally, I'll tip but I don't go crazy. I'm not trying to impress anybody or win anybody over. Here's how I handle it:

Taxis-depends on the ride. If the guy has a good attitude and maybe even engages me, I like that, so I'll leave the coins. If I get an anti-gringo vibe, he gets shit.
Maids-leave 1K daily minimum; if I make any requests such as extra towels or whatever, I'll leave an extra 1K
Bar-depends completely on the attitude and efficiency of the bartender; if she doesn't greet me, smile, or act friendly, or if I have to wait at the end of bar for 5 minutes as she's talking to her over-tipping gringo, no tip. He'll subsidize me I'm sure.
Restaurants-depends on the service. We all know good service. Assuming the bill is $60, I'll leave an extra 2-3k ($4-6) on top of the 10%.
Girls-I tip ONLY for good service, not for business fuggs. If you pay $50 at an MP, she gets about $25. If you tip 5k ($10)- my usual tip, that's 40%, but I don't look at percentages. I could care less what the percentage is. I know $10 will make a difference for them in relation to their "salary". I would be too embarrassed to tip 1-2k. And I don't appreciate or give into the demanding of "tips" by chicas. Homey don't play that... NEXT! I have never been forced into a tip. Ok, maybe once, but she has my dick deep in her ass so I was powerless . And I don't tip at all for mechanical fuggs. If hey ask for a tip, I tell them why I'm not giving them one in hopes that they will see the light. Doubtful! If they don't ask, I just leave or escort them out and don't say anything; I don't need to rub it in.
Door/security/reception-unless they do something extra to help me in some way, I don't tip doormen, security, or reception people.
Street-I don't give money to beggers. I have bought food on numerous occasions, but I don't give money.
Fast food-I never have nor would I ever tip a fast food employee anywhere.
Skycap/hotel bags-I'll tip only if I requested their services. A couple of months ago, I was leaving India and I had only a carry-on. As I get out of the taxi near the burn, this skycap runs over one of those passengers luggage carts (not the big one they usually use) and grabs my bag. I said no thank you, but he starts to roll towards the entrance. Fine. When he unloaded the bad at the counter he was pretty pissed that he didn't get shit. I told him, "I didn't ask for your help". He mumbled something and left.

LAdiablo I appreciate your post and respect your opinion. I have a construction company and challenge anyone to show me someone who hustles food or drinks, that deserves a tip more than the drywallers or the roofers who work in 35 degree heat.

My niece works in a restaurant-lounge and earns as much or more than most of my trades. My experience with tipping in restaurants is that it usually has little effect on the service that you receive. Most servers automatically feel entitled to 15% no matter what service they gave you.

If you frequent a particular establishment you are more likely to get better service on the strength of being a regular rather than the big tips that you might leave.

Devo

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The most dangerous adversaries are the ones that come with a smile instead of a sword

own a construction company as well i agree about them working their asses off, in my case more like 100 degree hit in attics, garages etc. but i don't know of many restaurant workers earning what they do unless the work high end high volume places.
and i was definitely speaking of places i frequent. but i don't consider 20% high. i can use thai town as an example. PR just recently visited and i took him to one of my favorite places on hollywood blvd. it was not busy but i everyone was especially friendly and when i got the bill it wasn't reflective of what i ate. in fact sometimes they won't let me pay. thats pretty cool.
and when guys work for me doing the construction stuff i don't want to (plumbing,digging, roofing,landscape) i always make sure they get tipped as well as hydrated. when i call they come.
i know more than a few guys that just hand out cash to people. i think they are looked upon as fools by most everyone and try to tell them but if you have money to burn its hard for you to care i guess. but i get your point. if its just a place you dropped by once in your life, still whats that extra 5%?
another example is both of the spas in CR and LA. lots of people come in and will have a girl work 1-2 hours on them. physical work. and not tip at all. in the CR spa the amount of people that don't tip one dime is over 50%. go figure.

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im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

So weird - I was actually listening to a Freakonomics podcast about this very issue this morning!

http://www.freakonomics.com/2013/06/03/ ... o-podcast/

Really interesting. I'm a tipper because I spent years in the service industry. I definitely tip when I'm in CR.

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Alex
The Admin

Gringo's do, others, not so much. Ask any Tico/a who has been in any service related job for a considerable period. Hear that all the time from them.

The percentage absolutely makes a difference.. BTW, $10 for a $50 bill is 20% which is ok. Tipping 40% because it is "only" $20 is unecessary and screws it up for everyone.

I have spoken to several locals about this, and generally the main points that they mention are this:

1. the built-in service charge is split among all the service staff. it doesn't go to your server alone, but all her co-workers, cooks, and pretty much anyone else that's supporting the bar/restaurant. of course, USA and other countries have to "tip out" their barkeeps, busboys, hostesses, etc. too, depending on the establishment

2. locals generally do not tip

3. only the "sucker joints" such as most of the bars in the gulch, give you the evil eye if you don't tip


I have made a habit of of tipping up to 15% (an extra 5%) just for the hell of it, as a former bartender

I will tip up to 20% (an extra 10%) for exceptional service.