Is It Necessary For Foreign Travelers To Do Tipping in India?

Are you ready to start your exciting journey to India? Before arriving in Incredible India, it is important to read about their culture and issues. It is no surprise the many travelers in India are not sure whether they should tip or not. In some countries, it creates confusion or to be considered as rude.

A majority of countries in Asia do not have a culture of tipping, but they are changing slowly as Western influence spreads. Tipping in India is certainly not compulsory but a nice gesture and behave can ensure that you receive better service from the same establishment in the future.

There is a lot of question coming around in your head like how is tipping done in India?  What kind of tipping is normal and expected from tourists?

We have prepared a brief guide to help you with this issue and to ensure that your trip is as enjoyable as possible. So, take a rough guide on how should you tipping in India and at which instances.

What Indians called it?

Tips in India are usually referred to as “Baksheesh” and generally it is a small coupon of appreciation that is given for good service.

• The best practice is to separate your money to put your money in an accessible pocket. So, that you can easily access it and quickly give a tip (Baksheesh) without digging around.
• Do not expose your wallet whenever you give a small tip.

General Guidelines for Tipping in India

Handing out baksheesh may be a tradition in our country, but Indians are not known to be generous with tips. When you are giving a tip in India then do it precisely and quietly.

Tipping after meals at restaurants:

In some upscale hotels and restaurants, the service member may add 10 percent service charges or gratuity in your final bill; the service staff may or may not actually receive that money.

• If you really want to ensure that the staff member receives a tip for excellent service, give them directly or leave some small changes on the table.
• A tip of 10 percent in restaurants is considered excellent and highly appreciated.
• Always leave the 5 percent from the total bill.

Tip for bags at hotels:

Anyone who carries your luggage or bag whether, you asked for assistance or not, always give a tip to him for a bag. If you do not want to pay porters at the airport or hotels, do not allow them to carry or grab your bags.

• Other staff such as the doorkeeper or the porters wants to receive a tip based on the service they provide you such as arranging dining reservations, calling a taxi, etc.
• In Some hotel such as the “Oberoi group” do not allow their employees to accept personal tips, they place a box where guests are able to provide tips if they are satisfied with the service.

Tipping to Guides:

Tipping to guides on tours in India is customary if they do a good job. An excellent tip is to be considered. If you have got good service, always offer a tip.

Tip for drivers:

You can reach your destination safely and quickly by booking a taxi or paying a driver and boatman. Traffic is terrible at many places in India. This is the custom for filling the rent for the nearest whole amount and allows a driver to keep the change while making a payment.

In salons and spa:

Always give a tip to barbers, spa staff, and anyone providing a direct, personalized service to you.

When to Leave a Tip in India

Tipping in India is an art and does not follow strict guidelines, but you can catch quickly while traveling across the country. In Some situations, you may have to give a tip in advance so that you can receive faster or better service later. But make sure that your proactive tipping is not wrong.

Never reward for rude negotiations and poor services with extra money. For obvious reasons, never give a tip to policemen or government officials.

Whatever you do, smile, but try to never make faces during interactions. One of the major guidelines about tipping in India is to do so discreetly and casually without drawing attention to your richness or kindness.