For drinks and meals I always round the bill up so it's near the 10% mark for a tip, however if service was bad then they get zero.

At the hotel, bar staff get a tip at the beginiing of the holiday, then a big tip at the end if we feel we have been looked after, The cleaner always get £20 at the end of the holiday for job well done (In 2003 they got zero!!)

On the jeep safari I tip anything from 10TL-25TL for the family of 4 depending on how entertaining the driver was.

Dave

In March I was in an AI hotel but we tipped the barmen and waiters,also the lady who cleaned the room.I am off again tomorrow and will tip again for good service.

Hi TforceNab

I'm pretty sure tips aren't automatically added to restaurant bills and excursions - well not in Icmeler anyway.

I usually tip 10% of the bill at a restaurant, if i'm on an excursion I leave a few lira for the driver and a few lira if it's just drinks in a bar I'm paying for and I always tip the chap that's lugged my usually overweight suitcase up 10 flights of stairs to my room

Wages are pretty low for many of the waiters/resort workers so tips are gratefully received, but If I haven't had good service I don't leave a tip (well ok it might just be some small change then - but if the service is rubbish I don't got back).

I think 10% is generally the norm but it's up to you really.
You'll find that in a lot of bars and restaurants and certainly on boat excursions there will be a tip box on the bar/counter - all tips are put in the box and it's opened once a week and shared out between the staff.

Happy tipping!

Mazz

I think 10% is generally the norm but it's up to you really.
You'll find that in a lot of bars and restaurants and certainly on boat excursions there will be a tip box on the bar/counter - all tips are put in the box and it's opened once a week and shared out between the staff.

I also agree that 10% is fair. One thing to mention is that alot of the waiters, cleaners, bartenders etc rely on the extra pocket money from tips and they are upset when after giving great service getting nothing.

What Mazz wrote is correct alot of places have tip boxes and it is divided equally amoungst the staff. And yes if the service was poor don't leave a tip but inform the management.

I'm glad someone mentioned this as I was wondering about tipping in Turkey.....

The 10% 'rule' seems fair to me but what if you have nothing to base 10% on......Like the man who carries your cases to your room for you...How much would be a fair tip then ?....

BB

( 13 days and counting !!.. )

I think it would depend on which type of currancy you wish to pay a tip with. For instance 3-5 TYL turkish lira would suffice for the man who helps you with your bags. Maybe less is you prefer. The main thing is to give them a liitle something for their service. Or you can tip to everyone at the end of your stay.

Thank-you...

...it's good to know this as the last thing I want to do when I'm on holiday is 'offend' anyone...when you get good service or people are just helpful it's nice to let them know !

I assume that English Money would be just as welcome !

My biggest concern when I go away is anything to do with money..I think I've worked most things out ( this site is wonderfull for that ) and tipping was my last concern

Just need to survive the flight now..

BB

Dear bristolbird,

First off enjoy your flight. Kick back and enjoy the ride. Second have a great trip and have fun. I'm sure english money would also be fine.

Here are today's exchange rates

USD 1,3185
EUR 1,6715
GBP 2,4380

therefore 3 YTL - should be 1.5 pounds 5 YTL - 2 pounds
approx.

hi ,i,m not a fan of tip boxes.in some cases the person who provides the service gets very little.i always tip the waiter/barman direct. that way you are sure they get it and not the boss.

But the tip box is good for one reason beacuse the money is divided equally to all the staff. Did you remember about the cook, diswasher, gardener, pool cleaner, etc etc. And any boss that steals the tips from his or her staff should be shot.

It may seem a good idea to tip direct. But, unless you can get them away from where they work it is very difficult.
I have always found that the best way with someone you have got to know is to buy them a present (preferably something practical, you know they need) as even if you pay the bill, then give someone a tip direct, it will still go into the share!
What you have to remember is that in a lot of places (I can only talk about Icmeler) the waiters have set area's that they serve. So, although you may think the others give you bad service, they are giving good service to the people in thier set areas.
Hope this helps!
I cant believe one waiter who has become a very good friend has sent me a text message asking me to bring him a pair of sun glasses. I am buying mine there.

considering most barmen seem to get paid about £250 a month I tend to always tip as the hours they put in for that amount are massive!!!

Glad to see this discussion as I'm off in 13 days too and had no idea what amounts. I do prefer to do at the end of the holiday but I'm always worried that will be the night that my favourite barman/waiter will be off and get nothing.

When I tipped 'my little barman' on holiday he almost choked! Seems that at the hotel where I was they rarely get tips given direct, but he did say that they were allowed to keep tips which were given. The Aquapark Lifeguard also almost fell off his perch but he was so brilliant with my son and I every day that he deserved something major. We also put some money into the general tip boxes but wanted to ensure that those who gace excellent service got something back for it.
(We left the room maid a tip too and all sorts of bits and pieces). I just hate the actual giving tips as I never know how to physically hand it to them -at least with waiters and bar staff you can put it on their tray.

I myself always thought it fair to give a tip to staff whoever they were. When you think of the long hours they do and the fuss they make of you and your family it's only fair. One thing we did do this year was to wait for the bill and round it off to the nearest pound or lira. The pub and resturants always knew we would return and on our last day we (3 familys) gave a nice tip of £10 per couple. When we handed the £30 whip round to them, I thought they were going to faint. They deserved it bless. We didnt want to leave so were off again in 12 weeks time Better save my tip money up Happy hols. Anna xxxxxxx

Sorry forgot to mention. I won a bottle of wine on the Lazy day boat trip and seeing as i dont drink i gave it to the cleaner. Our beds were decorated every day after that She did an wonderful job. Anna xx