www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Should you tip the girls at the massage parlors if they provide good service? If so, what is the going rate for a tip nowadays? If they ask extra for bbbj, and you think it is too high, would you still tip them? What about the protocol for tipping freelancers at SL and HDR? Do the girls expect a tip on top of the negotiated rate? If you get a girl and pay her cien because she is hot but you think cien is a bit high, would you still tip her? Do the girls expect a tip on top of the negotiated rate? In the Philippines, there is general consensus that you should tip a girl for good service after paying her barfine but the prices for all night are much lower. In the U.S., prices for ******* are much higher, in the range of $300 and tipping is not expected for the most part. Any advice would be much appreciated.

There is no "standard."

I almost always rely on well-established reputations of well-known performers. I ask around.

Once the negotiations establish the expectations, I tend to be generous with tips and gifts for performance "above and beyond" my expectations.

I always get my money's worth. I have NEVER been short-changed or disappointed.

But, like they say in Asia >>>>>>> it's up to you.

Like Rac said, there is no standard, nor even a consensus, so each person can only give you their opinion. Here's mine:




Tipping is always a controversial topic. Threads tend to get very heated because everybody thinks their method is best. But in reality, tipping is completely subjective. I know you're asking if there is a consensus. There really isn't. Do what you feel comfortable with. One thing to keep in mind, overtipping won't buy their affection or respect. In fact, it may mark you as a sucker. In the Latin culture, people who give money away for nothing are usually laughed at. That's why Ticos rarely tip.

Remember, even though it's the correct way to do it, this is only my opinion.

Gee, the world must be coming to an end!! Orange finally posted something I can agree with!! But then he ruined it with the last sentence!! "Even though it's the correct way to do it" Sorry but how is it the "correct way" when the rules of tipping world wide say you do not tip self-employed people (by law in Costa Rica all prostitutes are self-employed!!) Hmmmm, maybe that is the reason Ticos DO NOT TIP the chicas!!!!! Maybe in the USA it is the "customary" way to do it (NOT), but this is NOT the USA, and tipping is not a part of their way of life like it is in the USA!! They do not understand why you would throw your money away other than to try to impress them with your wealth compared to their "lack of" wealth!!!! And they do not appreciate you pointing out how wealthy you are compared to them!! It does not get you better service, the service has already been given.. It WILL make her more eager to see you again (you are now considered an "easy mark")! And if you tip big with the hopes of better service the next time, just how much better do you expect the service to be since supposedly you are tipping because of the "outstanding service" you just received!! Yes, because of so many Gringos over tipping for so many years here, many of the long time, older "working chicas" have come to expect it from Gringos (and they teach the younger ones to expect it) but that does not make it necessary nor correct!!!

In all but 3-4 MPs here the chicas gets 10ml for a 1 hour session with 15ml being the maximum in any MP except for the 5-6 really high end places where the chica basically sets her own price above the house charge of (usually) 18ml and she gets all of what you pay above the 18ml. To tip 5ml is to tip 33% to 50%; 10ml is a 100% tip!! Where else in the world would you tip 33 to 100%????? Why here?? Other than to be laughed at by the Ticos!!!! I actually have no real problem with guys tipping for outstanding service, but 1ml is 10% (standard tip in Costa Rica in the few places where tipping does occur) to 2ml (20%). Anything above that is gladly accepted by the chica but the only thing it gets you is laughed at when you leave!!!!

Because of my being so outspoken on this subject, I have a reputation of NEVER tipping! This is totally not true, but I NEVER tip more than 20% of what the chica actually receives. And as a suggestion, over the years I have found that though they almost always need the money, a gift (something they really need and will use, but that is much cheaper in the USA than here) instead of money is more personal (not looked at as just a tip) and almost always more appreciated. For example: All the chicas have to buy condoms which are very expensive here and most of what they can buy here are of very poor quality. Recently I have been buying condoms in bulk thru Amazon for like 15 cents each. Same condom (Crown) here would cost the chica over a dollar each) I give her 10-12 of them--costs me almost nothing but saves her having to spend $10 or more dollars!!! Oh, and I usually tell her to save them for her Gringo customers who hate the local condoms!!!!

One other thing while on the subject!! This thing of during the negotiations telling a chica you will give her extra for outstanding service makes no sense to me! If you have to BRIBE her to give you good service, it means (gee, now I am going to agree with Cujo on something!!!!!) she does not really want to be with you--time to look for another chica!!!

Once again; JUST MY HUMBLE OPINION on the subject and everyone is free to do whatever they want to do!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Tipping is not standard anywhere but the US. Everybody has their own way of doing things. For me, I like to tip for extraordinary service. If you do the same and find yourself tipping a lot, then you have very low standards because I can probably count the number times i tipped with the palm of one hand!

Thanks for the advice. I can see that tipping is a controversial topic here and there is disagreement on the matter. For standard service, I agree that one should not give a tip. For service above and beyond the call of duty that makes one go wow, a tip is warranted. Relative to the price paid, I agree that the tip should be some reasonable percentage of the amount paid for the services, otherwise, it is bit out of control and not really a tip. 20% seems like a good guideline.

Tipping does not appear to be native to the locals. Due to the large influx of American tourists, there is probably an increased expectation of a tip but that does not necessarily mean that they would be disappointed and refuse to see you if you don't tip. I am just guessing on that one.

Tipping is definitely out of control in America, particularly the expectation of a tip for basic service such as service at the restaurant that is just ordinary. I will try my best not to be a boob when it comes to tipping in CR.

I guess you didn't get the fact that the statement in red was a joke since before I made that statement, I had just finished saying that there is no right or wrong when it comes to tipping. There was also a smiley at the end of the statement also.

Bazinga!

oh, quit the pissing contest you two ... sheesh!

I have experienced the 'tips make you a sucker' thing with an indie from SL. My first trip the sex was fantastic. My second trip, I could feel that she put me down for being an easy mark, and the service was lousy. I had a talk with her, but she went all defensive, so I shut it down.

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

Not a pissing contest. This time it's not pugilistic. It's in good fun. He admitted to agreeing with me. That's like a breakthrough or something. But then reading further, he didn't get my joke (maybe it wasn't a good joke) and thought I was serious about my opinion being the correct one.


You can't buy love sucker!

BTW- I used to try to explain things to them too but they either get totally defensive, combative, or it just goes way over their heads. It's a waste of time.

Orange, You are right in that I did not get your comment being a joke (my bad)!!

And you are right about trying to make some people understand being a waste of time. But living here and seeing what it has done to life in Costa Rica, it is a serious issue with me and I am just a stubborn old fart who will not quit trying. Over the last 18+ plus years I have watched how it (over tipping) has changed the chicas, and the Ticos in general in terms of how we (Gringos ) are perceived, and how we get treated--everyone in Costa Rica, a country where they did not even know the meaning of the word (tip) 20 years ago, now expect a tip from Gringos; and if we don't give one, and a big one, we often get mistreated and called "cheap"!! Americans have one really bad trait!! That being, they continually try to make the rest of the world do things the way we do in our own country!!!! The ones of us who see the problem with over tipping are not always cheap, we just see the problem with trying to change the rest of the world to be like the USA. The change in attitude and service, and the demand for more and more from the chicas is a major reason many guys now go elsewhere which is now hurting the chicas economically!!! JMHO!!! For you guys who do not agree, if you lived here and had for many years, you just might see the problem!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

BTW- I used to try to explain things to them too but they either get totally defensive, combative, or it just goes way over their heads. It's a waste of time.

Very, very true - kinda like some guys on CRT


Orange, You are right in that I did not get your comment being a joke (my bad)!!

It was as apparent as dog shit on a dinner plate....everyone else got it

To be serious - for just a sec - I do agree with you 100% about how we as Americans feel this overwhelming need to try to change the world to our way of thinking - perhaps we should just go with the flow and observe and respect local customs - especially when it comes to tipping.

If you don't agree.....next time you are at a MP, and she has your wingo in her mouth and chooses that time to ask for a tip, or otherwise upsell you, you will know exactly what I'm talking about

Oh, and Bashful - I think you are a really good guy, I'm glad you are posting on a regular basis, and overall I enjoy your posts..........but the board is lacking the "back and forth" mild ball busing of a few years back - I know you mean well, but we need to encourage guys to engage.

These days, "back-and-forth" mild ball busting might get you censored or banned.

That wasn't as much of a risk before as it is now.

Perhaps.........

I'm not sure if we are actually trying to change their customs. Instead, I think guys try to use our customs down there. For example, a "loser" (for lack of a better word) can drive down the street in a new Ferrari and he's no longer a loser. Money makes guys more appealing to women. Perhaps some guys are trying to use the same logic down there (i.e. buying affection..) with the working girls.

Or the above could be a load of shit and the reason is much more simple. We are a materialistic society. And we love to show off how much we have. And tipping/overtipping is a way to do that.

I can go with what you wrote.

(What I was getting at was we feel more comfortable with our culture, language, and so forth - I have no clue if others feel the same way, but we do - it does not help us in the long run - I was a strong proponent of "what other <fools> do does not effect me" but I'm not 100% sure that's true, either.