General Info

[QUOTE=Hioctane]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_(gratuity)

Tipping is a western custom.. Know your country.. From what I understand, tipping is not customary. Do you know why people hate Americans? They try to impose their will upon others. When you go to another country, learn the language and customs... it will be appreciated more.[/QUOTE]Latin America is not considered Western? Wow! Thanks amigo. It's amazing how many professors there are adding to the forum.

Funny, I wonder why gratuity is commonly but not always included on the bill in restaurants throughout the region so it's always a good idea to check before settling up.

Did you ever stay in a hotel and not tip a bellhop? I know how far THAT will get you.

And that myth about Americans being "hated" so much overseas is way overblown. Sure it's the mindset of many to one extent or another but my experience in Europe and LA is that Americans are welcomed more than "hated".

I wouldn't have gone back hundreds of times in my adult life if it were true.

Keep that Wiki page dogeared for us. I need the education.

Thanks,

Schwmm

[QUOTE=Hioctane]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tip_(gratuity)

Tipping is a western custom.. Know your country.. From what I understand, tipping is not customary. Do you know why people hate Americans? They try to impose their will upon others. When you go to another country, learn the language and customs... it will be appreciated more.[/QUOTE]Impossible to get through a day in Colombia without hearing the word propina or seeing a hand palm up. What you do is up to you. These guys who are bottom dwelling at the lowest end of the market ought to be prepared for any kind of cheap get-over, after all it may be another country, but they're dealing with their own kind at their level.

10% is added to almost all bar/restaurant bills for about 10 years now, so I don't tip there any more.

Other places I may or may not depending on my mood.

[QUOTE=Menteng]I live in Medellin and would like to move to the city where you live. Looks great to me when they talk behind your back for being a bigspender. Here they talk behind your back when you are a tacano.

Agree, the going rate in Medellin is 25k to 30k and they expect you provide lunch.

I think a meal or a drink with her will cost more than 10K, not to mention the small gifts. So at the end you will spend more than with a WG. Or do you also cut back on those when with your GF?

Bad luck for me for living in Medellin because here they do appreciate tipping.[/QUOTE]I don't think your average paisa leaves a tip for his or her corrientazo.

And when I go out with my GF we BOTH put money in. She would be severely insulted if I tried to pay for everything. Only interesadas and prepagos do that in the circles I move in.

Actually come to think of it, two good corrientazos with drinks included DOES come to 8-10k. In the REAL Colombia where people make and spend pesos.

Too fuckin funny, it is custom to not tip in Colombia?

No , some of the people are cheap and then it became a custom. People TIP in Colombia, at least in my business they did, at least some did.

Ok, What would the senior members of this form, who have years of experience in Colombia suggest as a correct amount for a tip, say for a half hour at 30,000. For a casa girl?

You have to take what Bango says in stride. He's an expat who lives and works in Bogota "living the dream" getting paid in colombian pesos. :)

For a tourist who's just there a week or two, you obviously want to know what the going prices are so you don't throw your money left and right. But being "tacaño" (cheapskate) can backfire on you as well. For taxi rides, I usually just round up to the next 1k or 2k at most if it was a long ride or late at night; it's usually not worth the trouble demanding back exact change. Why [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off the driver over $1.25? I guess it depends on the situation, time of day or night, and length of the ride; go with your gut feelings on this.

High end restaurants at Lleras and other upscale neighborhoods, a 10% tip is fine if the service was good (can't remember now but I think the tip is mandatory anyway in some of the higher end places). The cheaper everday joints, don't leave more than 1k cop maybe 2k if it was a big or complicated order. Even just your change with the coins can be enough in many situations. Who wants all that small change jangling in your pockets anyway? Small tips from a visiting gringo are appreciated, and you'll usually get good treatment from the same people should you visit again.

Of course, if you don't plan on any repeat visits for a certain venue, then you can easily get away with not tipping at all.

I don't live in Colombia but from what I've read, I wouldn't pay more than 5K over the "going rate" for the housekeeping. Not because the old afro-colombian lady who's doing the work is going to get lazy, or steal your silverware, or rat on you to the bad guys, LOL, but rather you don't want to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off your petty, jealous neighbors if they find out how generous you are. ;) A nice bonus around Christmas and one other major holiday would be a smarter move and greatly appreciated by those ladies (who sometimes have to support 3 generations!).

[QUOTE=Dick Driven]Ok, What would the senior members of this form, who have years of experience in Colombia suggest as a correct amount for a tip, say for a half hour at 30, 000. For a casa girl?[/QUOTE]If a BBBJ is administered then 10K works fine. On my last trip with one girl the BBBJ was also with CIM. That brought a smile to both of us after a 20K tip.

What I also like about tipping for a BBBJ is when you take the same girl again then you do not have to say a word as the BBBJ is given with gusto. I tip to benifit me. I learned this from my father many years ago. He would over tip the same waitress in our favorite resturant and we would get great service and always a free desert. Fellows life is short, why not make people happy and at the same time feel good about yourself.

The bottom line for me is tip if you like, but if you are my Wingman and do not put in your share then hit the road Jack.

I will be relocating to Colombia from the USA very soon, and can't wait. My wife is Colombian from the cost and that's where she is intending in living and feels strongly about. I, on the other hand have something else in mind. I am planning on mongering on the side of course and dread the cost. First, Cartagena is expensive for my budget real estate, mongering wise, and the heat of course. Barranquilla is not attractive, and the heat is unbearable. As for my taste, I adore paisas and think that maybe where I will settle. However, my wife insists on living on the cost preferably Barranquilla.

I find my self to be fortunate to be able to stay in good health after some tough long years of hard work in the States, I finally called it quits and decided on living permanently in Colombia.

What you dear folks recommend to this poor fellow.

[QUOTE=Hioctane]Know your country.. From what I understand, tipping is not customary. Do you know why people hate Americans?[/QUOTE]Whatever amigo, you can't learn everything from reading a one page fact sheet and spending 3 days at the Mansion.

Enjoy Colombia and it's people, pay the going rate, treat people respectfully, tip approprietly (not rocket science) and don't be a total tacano schmuck.

It's just not that difficult.

People hating Americans?

Well, I've seen the ignorant loud-mouth types getting dirty looks from locals, but I don't appreciate that kind either.

For the most part, and I'm talking in general, throughout SA, Americans are well received and we have a far better reputation with the girls than do the typical local boys.

If you're feeling hated as an American, throw away the fact sheet (wickopedia or whatever) and re-read paragraph 2 above.

Good luck

[QUOTE=Phunluv]You have to take what Bango says in stride. He's an expat who lives and works in Bogota "living the dream" getting paid in colombian pesos. :)

!).[/QUOTE]How does 'work' equate into 'living the dream'? Having to work in Latin America (or anywhere) sounds like living the nightmare. But, if you have to be a mug, you have to be a mug somewhere. About propinas: a lot of times the reaction I get when giving a tip determines how I tip the next time. Not expecting anybody to fall over themselves, but act like the tip is your due, or show ingratitude, and another propina won't be coming your way anytime soon. Doesn't everyone tip a 40k casa girl? 5 or 10K always. Ten + especially if you know you'll want to be doing her again.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]I don't think your average paisa leaves a tip for his or her corrientazo.[/QUOTE]In places where they give you a receipt for the meal and/or drink there is a voluntary propina suggested. So if it is not common, I suppose it will not be mentioned.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]And when I go out with my GF we BOTH put money in. She would be severely insulted if I tried to pay for everything. Only interesadas and prepagos do that in the circles I move in.[/QUOTE]Maybe I'm old-fashioned (no surprise at my age) but if I invite a woman, I take the tab. Even when I invite my wife for dinner, I pay because it was my initiative. It has nothing to do with the circles one moves in. It's about courtesy.

[QUOTE=Bango Cheito]Actually come to think of it, two good corrientazos with drinks included DOES come to 8-10k. In the REAL Colombia where people make and spend pesos.[/QUOTE]I really would like to move to where you live. In Medellin you pay about 1500 pesos for a gaseosa. Ad a hamburguesa of 4000 pesos and you will exceed the 10k pesos for the two. I mention prices in a small joint here in the neighbourhood, because in the streetstalls you will not get a hamburguesa or perro for less than 6000 pesos. Oh yes, I forgot, banana-chips cost 1000 pesos. But really, do you have your first dates in such places?

[QUOTE=Phunluv]You have to take what Bango says in stride. He's an expat who lives and works in Bogota "living the dream" getting paid in colombian pesos. :)

For a tourist who's just there a week or two, you obviously want to know what the going prices are so you don't throw your money left and right. But being "tacaño" (cheapskate) can backfire on you as well. For taxi rides, I usually just round up to the next 1k or 2k at most if it was a long ride or late at night; it's usually not worth the trouble demanding back exact change. Why [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off the driver over $1.25? I guess it depends on the situation, time of day or night, and length of the ride; go with your gut feelings on this.

High end restaurants at Lleras and other upscale neighborhoods, a 10% tip is fine if the service was good (can't remember now but I think the tip is mandatory anyway in some of the higher end places). The cheaper everday joints, don't leave more than 1k cop maybe 2k if it was a big or complicated order. Even just your change with the coins can be enough in many situations. Who wants all that small change jangling in your pockets anyway? Small tips from a visiting gringo are appreciated, and you'll usually get good treatment from the same people should you visit again.

Of course, if you don't plan on any repeat visits for a certain venue, then you can easily get away with not tipping at all.

I don't live in Colombia but from what I've read, I wouldn't pay more than 5K over the "going rate" for the housekeeping. Not because the old afro-colombian lady who's doing the work is going to get lazy, or steal your silverware, or rat on you to the bad guys, LOL, but rather you don't want to [url=http://isgprohibitedwords.info?CodeWord=CodeWord140][CodeWord140][/url] off your petty, jealous neighbors if they find out how generous you are. ;) A nice bonus around Christmas and one other major holiday would be a smarter move and greatly appreciated by those ladies (who sometimes have to support 3 generations!).[/QUOTE]Phunluv,

I think you hit it on the head. Tipping customs vary from country to country. On my first trip, I didn't know what I was doing and tipped generously so as not to get dirty looks. I didn't know I was overtipping until my local amiga told me so.

I think it would be most useful if we added a customary tipping section to the "lists" so newbies know what they are doing first time and not turn this country into another CR!

[QUOTE=Vics Picks]If a BBBJ is administered then 10K works fine. On my last trip with one girl the BBBJ was also with CIM. That brought a smile to both of us after a 20K tip.

What I also like about tipping for a BBBJ is when you take the same girl again then you do not have to say a word as the BBBJ is given with gusto. I tip to benifit me. I learned this from my father many years ago. He would over tip the same waitress in our favorite resturant and we would get great service and always a free desert. Fellows life is short, why not make people happy and at the same time feel good about yourself.

The bottom line for me is tip if you like, but if you are my Wingman and do not put in your share then hit the road Jack.[/QUOTE]It's one thing to tip for service.. It's a totally different thing to tip for the sake of tipping (even for shitty service). That is what I detest. That is what people in the States do.. tip for good or bad service.. because it's expected. I would hate for this beautiful country to follow the same example.

[QUOTE=Ricker]Whatever amigo, you can't learn everything from reading a one page fact sheet and spending 3 days at the Mansion.

Enjoy Colombia and it's people, pay the going rate, treat people respectfully, tip approprietly (not rocket science) and don't be a total tacano schmuck.

It's just not that difficult.[/QUOTE]If you've never been to Colombia, how do you know what the "going rate" is? Are you going to find it by reading a fact sheet? Is the going rate what the mansion rate is? You should go to Mayorista and pay the mansion rate? If you've never been to Colombia, what the "appropriate tip" is? Like I said, it varies from country to country and takes experience..

It would be great to keep everyone informed so people don't overtip or undertip because there is no universal standard.