www.CostaRicaTicas.com

sometimes i forget the proper protocol for hotel tipping, particularly after i go backpacking through asia ...

1. do you tip each day? or at the end of your stay?

2. do you hand it directly to them or leave it in the room?

3. and how much you guys find yourselves tipping the maids in the SL/LA/Castillo/etc.?

thanks gentlemen!

I leave a tip for the maid everyday. I leave it on the dresser in the plate marked "tip for maid" [Hotel Castillo]. I leave $1 plus whatever small colone coins I happen to have that day.

I do not like the idea of waiting until the end. The maids would think [on a daily basis] you are a cheapskate, not leaving anything for them. Also, how could you present a tip to only the maid who happens to be cleaning your room on the last day.....when there have been other maids cleaning your room on other days?

Its up to you, I like to tip at the end of my stay but usually tell one of the maids before hand. Much like not paying chicas up front, if those girls know they have a tip to look forward to, service can be better in my experience.

Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

When I was staying in a hotel in San Jose before I moved here I use to seek out the maid and ask her which she preferred. Some of these workers come to work with just enough money to take the bus to and from work and they need the daily tips to buy food.

I never felt that I got sub par service from those that took the tip daily. In fact I think they gave better service because they knew they were going to get a generous tip rather then trying to guess what I would leave at the end of the week.

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Alex Levine

$5.oo per day seems about right.

A tip daily because you never know how many different maids cleaned the room during the stay. And who's to say that the one who cleans after you check out will not just pocket the whole tip for herself.

I leave ¢1000-2000 per day, depending on whether I got extra towels that I asked for the day before.

This is Excellent information here on hotel room tipping. I too used to tip at the end but after reading these posts I'm swtiching to daily since that makes sense.

I'm STILL confused on the restaurant tipping though. When I read the bills I notice a "servicio" charge on the bill that's around 10%. I'm assuming that IS the tip. If service is adequate I'll usually toss in an extra 5% and if very good I'll add an additional 10%. Hope I've got that right.

The "servicio" is a 10% service charge mandated by law. Ticos consider that the only tip required and will only add the few colones change they receive from paying their bill. Gringo tourists invariably over tip often leaving 15 or 20% over and above the 10% already added. If you add 5% as you say you usually do that is plenty and the waitstaff will be very satisfied. Hope this helps.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Ditto, BondTrader.....we're thinking alike on the restaurant tipping.

Great tips on tipping here. I also tip the maids daily by leaving coins in the room on a note or plate. On my last day in town I take care of the people at the front desk cos they hook me up good.

I don't like carrying around all those big ass coins, they weigh me down too much, but always carry some for quick cab fare.

BT and ID,

I always wondered about the "servcio" included in restaurant and bar bills. Did not know if it was some "tax" that the city or government collected or if was for the server. Thanks for the clarification.

For the Hotel maids, I always tip daily, $ 1,000 to $ 2,500 colones, depending on the level of the mess from the previous night's debauchery. Also, great way to get rid of those pain in the ass coins.

As you know Orange, I pretty much stay at the SL exclusively. Having said that, the girls there usually have "sections" that are theirs and so on to the mansion wing.

After my first night I usually ask them who will be cleaning my room mostly for the next 10 days or whatever. Usually its between 2 or 3 of them, then before checking out I give it to one or two trusting it would be spread out. Doing this several times and usually with the same girls, its worked so far for me.

I also have the advantage of NEVER getting an early ass flight to MIA. So checking out by noon and seeing one of them is a breeze..

There's not a right or wrong way especially when you consider I don't like leaving a daily tip in stress of forgetting. Or laziness I guess. But it inadvertently made me figure out they work all week for a good tip. And that's more then fine with me.

Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

i would leave a couple of bucks each day for whoever made up the room.

but that's me...i just want to be sure who ever made up the room, got the tip.

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thanks everybody. i think i'll be going for the daily tip in hopes of good service in return. but honestly, they've always taken care of me each visit at the castillo and i've tipped only at the end, but very generously. i'll be in amistad next, looking forward to a little change of environment but hopefully with a good crowd also.

I'm the same way Cdude, gotta give it daily to who ever cleans the room. It's not a big hassle to set aside a few bucks a day.