Tipping in Maldives
Due to we are going to Maldives soon, therefore I did some research on their culture, of course including tipping etiquette to make sure that we tip accordingly during our stay.
Accoording to what I searched online, actually tipping is not a mandatory item for travellers but it still depend on traveller's decision for whether gives tips or not. However, porter or people who carry bags for me might expect about US$1 per bag.
However, for those hotels/resorts add a 10% service charge actually doesn't request tipping, it still depends on traveller's decision as some might happy with some services and some might not.
So, I think we would only decide on how to tip on the end of our vacation depend on how we recieve service from hotel. Does it sound fair?
First source: http://maldives.tourism-srilanka.com/travel-tips/tipping.html
Tipping in Maldives
Tipping in Maldives is not actually an accepted norm. Officially, it is discouraged to give tips. However, if you find the service good, you can acknowledge the person's effort by giving a small tip. It is a common practice to tip the waiters at restaurant and the room staff at the hotel. Read to know on how to give tips in Maldives…
1. It is prohibited to tip at the airport, so avoid doing it.
2. There is no need to tip the staffs of hotels and resorts, which add a service charge of 10%.
3. Tipping should not be more than 10% of the total bill at the restaurant.
4. There is no need to give tip to the prepaid taxi drivers.
5. At the hotel, a weekly amount of US$10 is more than sufficient to be paid as tip.
Second source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maldives/practical-information/money-costs
Tipping
Tipping is something of a grey area in the Maldives, where 10% service tax is added to nearly everything from minibar drinks to room prices. In many places this would mean that you don’t need to tip in addition, but it’s still the case that people serving you personally will often expect something. It’s good form to leave a tip for your room staff and in smarter resorts, your thakuru (butler). Give any tips to the staff personally, not to the hotel cashier – US dollars, euros and local currency are equally acceptable. A few dollars a day is fine for room staff, while anyone carrying your bags might expect US$1 or so per bag.
In Male’ the fancier restaurants usually add a 10% service charge, so you don’t need to tip. Tipping is not customary in local teashops. Taxi drivers are not tipped, but porters at the airport expect Rf10 or US$1.
Third source: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g293953-s606/Maldives:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory in the Maldives as 10% service charge is added to everything - but given the low salaries earned by the staff and the excellent level of service generally offered, it is a nice gesture to help the staff of resorts to earn some extra money. It is also not entirely certain that the 10% service charge is passed on to the staff.
Over the years the tipping culture has changed in the Maldives, mainly due to Europeans and visitors from other continents giving varying amounts of cash as tips. This article is designed to give an insight as to what is an acceptable level of tipping. This will obviously vary from person to person based on the term 'what is acceptable'. All quotes are in United States Dollar as this is the most widely accepted currency. It is a good idea to take small denomination notes to aid the tipping process.
The figures below are intended purely as a guide and the dynamics of the island you stay on may impact considerably on who and how much you tip: ie shared dinner tables/ more than one waiter/room boy:
Baggage / Porters - 1-5$ per bag
Room Boy - 10-20$ per week
Waiter(s) - 10-20$ per week
Bar staff - 10-20$ per week
Garden maintenance/sweeper - 1-5$ as a gesture ??
Specialist Chef - 10-20$ per week
Boat crew - 5 - $10 per trip to be shared (depending on number of crew)
Spa staff - 5 - $10 per treatment
Unseen staff tipping box - usually found in Reception or Main Restaurant - $10-20 per week (this is for all the staff you do not see). Generally staff outnumber guests by 2-1 but on some resorts by as much as 5-1 - it is the unseen staff that usually do not feature highly on tips so it is important to find a tipping box for this purpose.
If you dive, then you will probably want to include all or specific members of the team when handing out tips.
There are a variety of ways in which you can tip. Many people like to tip on a weekly basis, some everyday, while others prefer to leave it until the end of the holiday. Each has its merits and will not affect the service you receive. However, be aware that your last evening/morning may co-incide with time off for one or more of your regular staff and plan your tipping accordingly.
Accoording to what I searched online, actually tipping is not a mandatory item for travellers but it still depend on traveller's decision for whether gives tips or not. However, porter or people who carry bags for me might expect about US$1 per bag.
However, for those hotels/resorts add a 10% service charge actually doesn't request tipping, it still depends on traveller's decision as some might happy with some services and some might not.
So, I think we would only decide on how to tip on the end of our vacation depend on how we recieve service from hotel. Does it sound fair?
First source: http://maldives.tourism-srilanka.com/travel-tips/tipping.html
Tipping in Maldives
Tipping in Maldives is not actually an accepted norm. Officially, it is discouraged to give tips. However, if you find the service good, you can acknowledge the person's effort by giving a small tip. It is a common practice to tip the waiters at restaurant and the room staff at the hotel. Read to know on how to give tips in Maldives…
1. It is prohibited to tip at the airport, so avoid doing it.
2. There is no need to tip the staffs of hotels and resorts, which add a service charge of 10%.
3. Tipping should not be more than 10% of the total bill at the restaurant.
4. There is no need to give tip to the prepaid taxi drivers.
5. At the hotel, a weekly amount of US$10 is more than sufficient to be paid as tip.
Second source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maldives/practical-information/money-costs
Tipping
Tipping is something of a grey area in the Maldives, where 10% service tax is added to nearly everything from minibar drinks to room prices. In many places this would mean that you don’t need to tip in addition, but it’s still the case that people serving you personally will often expect something. It’s good form to leave a tip for your room staff and in smarter resorts, your thakuru (butler). Give any tips to the staff personally, not to the hotel cashier – US dollars, euros and local currency are equally acceptable. A few dollars a day is fine for room staff, while anyone carrying your bags might expect US$1 or so per bag.
In Male’ the fancier restaurants usually add a 10% service charge, so you don’t need to tip. Tipping is not customary in local teashops. Taxi drivers are not tipped, but porters at the airport expect Rf10 or US$1.
Third source: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g293953-s606/Maldives:Tipping.And.Etiquette.html
Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory in the Maldives as 10% service charge is added to everything - but given the low salaries earned by the staff and the excellent level of service generally offered, it is a nice gesture to help the staff of resorts to earn some extra money. It is also not entirely certain that the 10% service charge is passed on to the staff.
Over the years the tipping culture has changed in the Maldives, mainly due to Europeans and visitors from other continents giving varying amounts of cash as tips. This article is designed to give an insight as to what is an acceptable level of tipping. This will obviously vary from person to person based on the term 'what is acceptable'. All quotes are in United States Dollar as this is the most widely accepted currency. It is a good idea to take small denomination notes to aid the tipping process.
The figures below are intended purely as a guide and the dynamics of the island you stay on may impact considerably on who and how much you tip: ie shared dinner tables/ more than one waiter/room boy:
Baggage / Porters - 1-5$ per bag
Room Boy - 10-20$ per week
Waiter(s) - 10-20$ per week
Bar staff - 10-20$ per week
Garden maintenance/sweeper - 1-5$ as a gesture ??
Specialist Chef - 10-20$ per week
Boat crew - 5 - $10 per trip to be shared (depending on number of crew)
Spa staff - 5 - $10 per treatment
Unseen staff tipping box - usually found in Reception or Main Restaurant - $10-20 per week (this is for all the staff you do not see). Generally staff outnumber guests by 2-1 but on some resorts by as much as 5-1 - it is the unseen staff that usually do not feature highly on tips so it is important to find a tipping box for this purpose.
If you dive, then you will probably want to include all or specific members of the team when handing out tips.
There are a variety of ways in which you can tip. Many people like to tip on a weekly basis, some everyday, while others prefer to leave it until the end of the holiday. Each has its merits and will not affect the service you receive. However, be aware that your last evening/morning may co-incide with time off for one or more of your regular staff and plan your tipping accordingly.
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