For the past couple of years, we have arrived very early and have not had any problems with the porters as there weren't that many.
To be honest, it is the way we are treated as to whether we give £1 or not, even if we are tired. There have been times in the past when we have had about three porters grab our suitcases and each one expecting £1 for moving my case about three feet before the next one grabbed it (we didn't know it had changed hands until it happened because the porters lag behind you and then disappear in the crowd for a second or two); then they were all told to clear off.
Now, if I allow a porter to take my heavy bag and he lugs it over the car park to the waiting taxi, then I will give him £1 provided he doesn't give me a load of old rubbish about it weighing a lot and then asking for £5. One chap did that one year, and we just closed the door of the taxi and drove off.
To be honest, it is the way we are treated as to whether we give £1 or not, even if we are tired. There have been times in the past when we have had about three porters grab our suitcases and each one expecting £1 for moving my case about three feet before the next one grabbed it (we didn't know it had changed hands until it happened because the porters lag behind you and then disappear in the crowd for a second or two); then they were all told to clear off.
Now, if I allow a porter to take my heavy bag and he lugs it over the car park to the waiting taxi, then I will give him £1 provided he doesn't give me a load of old rubbish about it weighing a lot and then asking for £5. One chap did that one year, and we just closed the door of the taxi and drove off.
Not sure why anyone would want a porters assistance anyway, it's not a facility thats offered at most destinations I've visited worldwide. Years ago at Dabolim the luggage trolleys were either antiquated or non existent, now there are loads of them. If a porter tries for my bags a firm No (very firm) is enough to stop him. No matter where you go in India NO Indian no matter how rich or poor would dream of tipping more than the scale laid down which I beleive is no more than 10 rps per bag and we are always told to respect the customs of the country we visit, so I'll stick to that. Alan
On leaving Goa in March we had the experience of two porters having a heated argument about which one was going to carry out bags. We didn't particularly want either so whilst they were shouting at erch other we picked up our bags and walked off, don't think they even noticed! 
The first few times I flew to Goa was with charter flights and was always inundated with porters......... Now I fly in on a scheduled airline and there's very few to meet you 
Maybe they see the non-domestic tourist as easier to fleece 
Maybe they see the non-domestic tourist as easier to fleece
Not sure why anyone would want a porters assistance anyway
Maybe some people have a disability which means they can't lug heavy cases around and therefore need help
Good point Tony, however India & Goa seem to be a little short on disabled facilities, and I would have thought some research into this would have been advisable before visiting such a place as India which, I'm afraid, make little or no allowance for this, the point of size of tip, and the agreed Indian rate, however was the main thrust of my post Alan
I used to let the porters wheel my trolley, and there was usually a fight between them as to who was having the honour !. But two years ago as I gave my $2 tip which is generous ( I don't live in England so no £i coins ), instead of Thank You, I was asked for $5, needless to say he was sent packing with 2 , and since then it's been a firm no thank you I can manage.
I just wish we could all arrive with a supply of 10Rs notes , and then could give what we now know is the correct rate. I always make sure when exchanging money to ask for a good supply of small notes, otherwise you can be over tipping if you only have 100Rs notes
I just wish we could all arrive with a supply of 10Rs notes , and then could give what we now know is the correct rate. I always make sure when exchanging money to ask for a good supply of small notes, otherwise you can be over tipping if you only have 100Rs notes
however India & Goa seem to be a little short on disabled facilities
Agree with you but, so do many countries. Have seen many people travel to Goa in wheelchairs to enjoy themselves probably knowing what to expect
No offence taken Del949.
On the disabled point. My sister uses a stick and as soon as she arrives and when she leaves she is whizzed through security to a taxi in no time at all and that is from the bottom of the plane steps. On leaving as soon as she arrives at the airport a wheel chair arrives and she almost bypasses security her husband has a job keeping up with the porter and as he is with her they are both fast tracked and she always gives them a fiver and says it is worth every penny. I think I would pay a fiver for that service.
On the disabled point. My sister uses a stick and as soon as she arrives and when she leaves she is whizzed through security to a taxi in no time at all and that is from the bottom of the plane steps. On leaving as soon as she arrives at the airport a wheel chair arrives and she almost bypasses security her husband has a job keeping up with the porter and as he is with her they are both fast tracked and she always gives them a fiver and says it is worth every penny. I think I would pay a fiver for that service.
I think the airport tipping debate has been discussed over and over on another thread so... answers to the 1st post of this thread !!
To me it is entirely up to the individual where ever you eat or drink around the world, I have a few friends that will certainly not tip in Britain (on many occasions - me included)
So my own opinion is :
1. Restaurants - if you have been happy with the meal and service = 10% Newbies be aware that some restaurants do include a service charge that is not always clear on the bill (Delhi Darbar in Panjim for one..)
2. An evening drinking in the same bar = round the bill up or 10%
3. Taxis = never tip - they are charging way over the odds in the 1st place. Another tip for newbies is to carry a pocketful of small notes (10/20/50rps), it's amazing how drivers never have any change, and leave you sitting frustrated in a hot taxi, looking at you with 'puppy eyes' until you give in and let them keep the change. However, when we have used a taxi with a fixed tourist fare for a days sightseeing, we have tipped the driver for being a good guide full of information - 10/20% seems decent.
4. Hotels - case carrying = 20rps. Room boy at end of your stay 100/200rps
Also note that a lot of hotels include a service charge every time you order a drink.
Final bit of advice - take some small notes home with you 10's/20's for your next visit.
To me it is entirely up to the individual where ever you eat or drink around the world, I have a few friends that will certainly not tip in Britain (on many occasions - me included)
So my own opinion is :
1. Restaurants - if you have been happy with the meal and service = 10% Newbies be aware that some restaurants do include a service charge that is not always clear on the bill (Delhi Darbar in Panjim for one..)
2. An evening drinking in the same bar = round the bill up or 10%
3. Taxis = never tip - they are charging way over the odds in the 1st place. Another tip for newbies is to carry a pocketful of small notes (10/20/50rps), it's amazing how drivers never have any change, and leave you sitting frustrated in a hot taxi, looking at you with 'puppy eyes' until you give in and let them keep the change. However, when we have used a taxi with a fixed tourist fare for a days sightseeing, we have tipped the driver for being a good guide full of information - 10/20% seems decent.
4. Hotels - case carrying = 20rps. Room boy at end of your stay 100/200rps
Also note that a lot of hotels include a service charge every time you order a drink.
Final bit of advice - take some small notes home with you 10's/20's for your next visit.
Agree with Spike mainly but on point 4 some hotels (phoenix park definately) the room boy changes after week 1 (I am going home to my village tomorrow).
I imagine that this just a try on and the boys change rooms between themselves to try to double their earnings, so when this happens I cut the tip in half.
And I always try to bring home some small change, usually finish up with some 1or 2 rupee coins that I have picked up along the way as well as 10 and 20 notes.
Speaking of small change, first year there I changed a TC for £100 and got it all in 50rps, I could have choked a donkey with the wad that I got, now only take TC's for £50.
I imagine that this just a try on and the boys change rooms between themselves to try to double their earnings, so when this happens I cut the tip in half.
And I always try to bring home some small change, usually finish up with some 1or 2 rupee coins that I have picked up along the way as well as 10 and 20 notes.
Speaking of small change, first year there I changed a TC for £100 and got it all in 50rps, I could have choked a donkey with the wad that I got, now only take TC's for £50.
As a "newbie" to Goa, this thread makes excellent reading.
Thank you all for the information posted so far.
Thank you all for the information posted so far.
There have been times on holiday when I have had one of my migraines, and haven't been able to leave the room for 12 hours. My o.h. will stay around the hotel or pool and then come back to the room to order lunch for himself to eat on the balcony and to see if I want anything.
How much do you give the chap the who brings the lunch to the room?
Ian will give 10 rupees (each time). Would you say this is too much? In the past if we fancy a coffee sent to the room in the evening we will only give 5 rupees (each time) because there isn't that much to carry.
I agree with other comments, this tipping business can get mad.
Some of the laundry boys expect a tip. We sometimes give 2 rupees (each time), but then we don't have laundry done every day.
The minibar person expects a tip at the end of the holiday. We give him 100 rupees.
We tend to have the same cleaner for two weeks. We give him 200 rupees as he doesn't have any help.
It doesn't stop there.
If you spend time around the pool, the two pool boys expect a tip. That is a difficult one because we do not spend that much time there, however, they do remember you and will hunt you down. If we have been around the pool a lot, we give 50 rupees each (at the end).
If you stay at a resort where they have bars and restaurants, the staff in there expect a tip if you use them a lot. We only use the bar a lot (strictly for medical purposes) and leave the barman 100 rupees at the end of the holiday.
In February, on the very first morning we arrived at the hotel, we had been in the hotel about half an hour when we had a call asking if they could send someone up to our room. We were given a 'welcome back to the hotel' cake, which although very nice, was not the thing I wanted at 7 am in the morning especially as I had developed a migraine on the flight out and wanted to sleep. Well, the chap bringing the cake up wanted a tip! Ian thanked him and gave him 2 rupees.
The chap who picks us up from the airport receives 100 rupees as he is there early and has had to wait.
The luggage porters get 10 rupees.
When eating out, if the meal has been good, we leave a 10% tip.
How much do you give the chap the who brings the lunch to the room?
Ian will give 10 rupees (each time). Would you say this is too much? In the past if we fancy a coffee sent to the room in the evening we will only give 5 rupees (each time) because there isn't that much to carry.
I agree with other comments, this tipping business can get mad.
Some of the laundry boys expect a tip. We sometimes give 2 rupees (each time), but then we don't have laundry done every day.
The minibar person expects a tip at the end of the holiday. We give him 100 rupees.
We tend to have the same cleaner for two weeks. We give him 200 rupees as he doesn't have any help.
It doesn't stop there.
If you spend time around the pool, the two pool boys expect a tip. That is a difficult one because we do not spend that much time there, however, they do remember you and will hunt you down. If we have been around the pool a lot, we give 50 rupees each (at the end).
If you stay at a resort where they have bars and restaurants, the staff in there expect a tip if you use them a lot. We only use the bar a lot (strictly for medical purposes) and leave the barman 100 rupees at the end of the holiday.
In February, on the very first morning we arrived at the hotel, we had been in the hotel about half an hour when we had a call asking if they could send someone up to our room. We were given a 'welcome back to the hotel' cake, which although very nice, was not the thing I wanted at 7 am in the morning especially as I had developed a migraine on the flight out and wanted to sleep. Well, the chap bringing the cake up wanted a tip! Ian thanked him and gave him 2 rupees.
The chap who picks us up from the airport receives 100 rupees as he is there early and has had to wait.
The luggage porters get 10 rupees.
When eating out, if the meal has been good, we leave a 10% tip.
About right there Sydney, I usually give the room boys 50 each during the week to keep them on their toes then again before I leave along with a few tee shirts and other stuff I don`t want to carry home.
Rules with tipping are generally the same the world over, you really should only tip when you feel it is deserved, just because they expect does not mean that you have to.
Spike I agree with a lot of your advice.
We do use the same taxi driver every day and have done so each time we have been to Goa. We know that we can trust him, he looks after us very well and never asks for anything other than his fare, which is not over-inflated as far as we are concerned, as far as a domestic tourist is concerned it probably is, but we are always happy that he is fair with us, and in terms of what we would have to pay for the same service at home, is very cheap (so it is relative in terms of foreign tourist and domestic tourist). When we arrive he is guaranteed 2/3 weeks continuous work and with the amount of drivers over there that cannot be sniffed at.
In terms of tipping at the airport, yes the first timers get fleeced, it can be very daunting that first time, but having been through Dabolin a few times now you quickly learn to keep a firm grip on your suitcase and that a firm no soon works.
Anyway, can't wait to go through it all again!
Spike I agree with a lot of your advice.
We do use the same taxi driver every day and have done so each time we have been to Goa. We know that we can trust him, he looks after us very well and never asks for anything other than his fare, which is not over-inflated as far as we are concerned, as far as a domestic tourist is concerned it probably is, but we are always happy that he is fair with us, and in terms of what we would have to pay for the same service at home, is very cheap (so it is relative in terms of foreign tourist and domestic tourist). When we arrive he is guaranteed 2/3 weeks continuous work and with the amount of drivers over there that cannot be sniffed at.
In terms of tipping at the airport, yes the first timers get fleeced, it can be very daunting that first time, but having been through Dabolin a few times now you quickly learn to keep a firm grip on your suitcase and that a firm no soon works.
Anyway, can't wait to go through it all again!
It'll be my first time next March and I won't be getting "fleeced" Miccie!!!
I'll hold tight to my trolley suitcase and just resist everyone....oh how I look forward to that........NOT!!
I'll hold tight to my trolley suitcase and just resist everyone....oh how I look forward to that........NOT!!
Spinner, you will be one of the lucky ones in that you have 'inside' information from us regulars!!
Hope you have a great first visit!
Hope you have a great first visit!
PEOPLE,
I cannot believe what you are discussing in terms of tips "2" rupees tip, come on I would not insult anyone with a 4 pence tip, and before you all jump on the bandwagon, some of these people have to live on income earned throughout the first part of the season and what ever is left for the remaing six months when where not there spending, and yes there are devious people who want to take you to the cleaners but in the same breath there are also good honest 100% working Indians that don't, and OK in terms of cost of living, I still would not insult anyone with a measly "2" rupee tip. I myself go on holiday to enjoy and spend my hard earned cash and if I can make people happy when I'm spending it "well so be it"............ jxk8
I cannot believe what you are discussing in terms of tips "2" rupees tip, come on I would not insult anyone with a 4 pence tip, and before you all jump on the bandwagon, some of these people have to live on income earned throughout the first part of the season and what ever is left for the remaing six months when where not there spending, and yes there are devious people who want to take you to the cleaners but in the same breath there are also good honest 100% working Indians that don't, and OK in terms of cost of living, I still would not insult anyone with a measly "2" rupee tip. I myself go on holiday to enjoy and spend my hard earned cash and if I can make people happy when I'm spending it "well so be it"............ jxk8
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