“How much to give…?”

 

When you arrive at a hotel in the Philippines, it is highly likely that one of the hotel representatives will take your luggage to your room, and it’s also highly likely that they will expect a tip. If you’re staying at luxury or 5-star hotels, the sky’s the limit, and it’s likely that your mood will determine the tip amount, but you probably won’t want to leave more than 100 pesos. Anything slightly less than that would still be acceptable, but remember that someone before you might have given much more.

In 3-4 star hotels, you can also give around 50 pesos, depending on the level of service, smiles, friendliness, and, of course, your mood.

In budget hotels and hostels, it’s up to your discretion, but 20-40 pesos would be fine.

These are not fixed or universally agreed upon amounts but rather a guideline to consider.

For drivers in the Philippines, it’s customary to give around 100 pesos per day to a driver who accompanies you throughout the day. If you feel like it, you can also treat them to lunch, even though they usually receive it as part of their payment. If you stay with the same driver for several consecutive days, simply multiply the amount by the number of days, and if they did a great job, why not add a little extra for their good service?

Tour guides in the Philippines receive a fixed amount for guiding per day, but there are cases where the guiding fees are relatively low compared to the amount of work they put in. If the guide goes the extra mile, consider rewarding them, especially if they accompany you for multiple days.

In restaurants in the Philippines, a customary tip is 10%, like in many other places. However, in many cases in the Philippines, service charges are included in the meal prices, and some people choose not to leave an additional tip. If the service was good, why not leave a tip?

If there was no included service charge, it is recommended to leave at least 10%, as service providers are often very friendly and accommodating throughout your meal.

Airport representatives who handle your luggage often expect tips from many people, including those who may not be aware of the customary tip amounts in the Philippines. A range of 50-200 pesos for the service provider, whether they take your luggage from outside the airport to the check-in counter inside the airport or vice versa, is generally acceptable. If you want to be more generous, giving 200-300 pesos is also fine.

The average salary for a service provider ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 pesos, depending on their job and position. So, you can quickly calculate and decide how to approach the tipping amount based on their service level.

Taxi drivers, if they have been courteous and didn’t try to overcharge, cheat, or engage in any questionable practices, you can consider giving them an additional tip, especially if you had a pleasant experience during the ride and afterward. This is especially true if they helped you get to places you may not have reached on your own.

 

In summary!

Every service provider in the Philippines expects a tip. It depends on your mood, the service you received, and the place where you received the service.

 

**All the amounts and tips mentioned here are based on the author’s familiarity and may not be suitable for every traveler in the Philippines. You should “feel” the place and the service provider and decide accordingly.

 

Have a great trip and a pleasant day!

 

Tourismo Filipino – Travel in the Philippines

 

Mabuhay!!!