Tipping
There is no mandatory requirement to tip anyone, but small gratuities for excellent service are very much appreciated. Therefore, there is a general acceptation for getting a tip whenever you are satisfied while having food in the restaurant, using a taxi, or having a tour with a licensed tour guide. Although it is way more polite to tip with the notes (20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000) than with the coins.
You are not expected to leave a tip when you eat street food, but anyway it is nice to do so when the food is good. A 20-50rs tip is nothing that might change your travel budget but can make a big difference for the people servicing you.
- Bellhops and train/airport porters Tip ₹10 to ₹20.
- Private drivers Tip ₹200 per day for good service.
- Restaurants and hotels Service fees are sometimes added to bills automatically; otherwise, 10% is reasonable.
- Taxis and rickshaws Not expected, but it’s good to tip drivers/riders who are honest about the fare.
- Trekking Per day: guides ₹350 to ₹500, porters ₹200 to ₹350.
- Tour guides Tipping ₹200 to ₹350 per day is fair.
Bargaining
Shopping at markets in India can be a lot of fun. The dazzling array of handicrafts and textiles is hard to resist. However, it’s important not to pay the initial asking price. It’s quite common in India to find stores with “FIXED PRICE” or “CUSTOMER IS A KING & KING NEVER BARGAINS” and similar stuff…. So, this is a trick to negotiate with such store owners.
It’s a belief of store owners in India that when the first customer is happy with the service then the day goes well.
Haggling is generally expected at markets where the price of items isn’t fixed. Although before you start bargaining, make up your mind on what you think is a fair price for the item of interest. If you don’t know the price level, have a look around and ask a few different shops about their rates on similar themes. You will quickly find out whether you can agree on a price or not. Mind out that is nasty form to go through the motions of haggling if you are not interested in making a deal at any cost. Likewise, if the seller agrees to your price, it is not cool to say you do not want the item or service.
Transportation, Handicrafts and textiles etc. are the easiest to bargain. Especially when you are trying to make a deal for a group of a few of you or buying a few items from one seller. Once a suitable price has been agreed upon, you can breathe easy. You’ll notice that after the bargaining process is over with, even the shopkeepers themselves will put on a different face, asking you where you’re from or joking with you. Remember that they are used to negotiating prices—it’s part of their job, as is making sure their customers are satisfied. You should always walk away feeling happy with your purchases and the prices you paid for them
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