Tipping in poor countries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On my last trip it was the opposite - a local lamented that Americans and Brits tip well and now the local people are not preferred in the tourist towns (like they get snubbed at a restaurant in favor of better tippers). So Americans bringing tipping culture there just pisses off the locals that are not in hospitality.

So amazing. Virtually every response so far has been excuse mongering over being cheap. Not a single post so far in favor of being generous just for generosity’s sake. Really, really eye opening.

Actually my relatives say the same thing to me when I go back home to visit. That I am ruining things for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Mexico or Ecuador. No need to be cagey, OP.

I’m not being cagey. As I said it’s more than one country. The specific country has nothing to do with the general proposition. But sure, let’s say Mexico or Ecuador. Why not. They both work.

Ha ha, of course it’s Mexico or Ecuador. Because that’s the only two places in Latin America that clueless old ladies go. Take it from somewhere who’s been everywhere. Probably Mérida or Cuenca actually, that’s how easy it is to pinpoint.

Why is it impossible to have a conversation on DCUM without the snark? Amazing.

It’s neither Mexico nor Ecuador. Ok?

Then it must be Colombia, the flavour of the moment.

Sigh. No, it’s not Colombia either. Do you really want me to list every country in Latin America that I’ve visited? Let’s make it easy: I haven’t been to Paraguay. Does that help? And why does it matter which country it is?

Probably Peru then. There aren’t that many others that are both as poor as you describe and heavily touristed. And you should try Paraguay sometime, it’s a very interesting place that we enjoyed immensely.

[Anonymous]

You must not travel much, OP. Americans are well known to be the best tippers. The Dutch, Russians, and most Asians are the worst tippers. The Brits are grudging 10% culture.

[Anonymous]

It’s probably Costa Rica. Tons of expats. It’s not an extremely impoverished country but it would seem like it to many tourists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s probably Costa Rica. Tons of expats. It’s not an extremely impoverished country but it would seem like it to many tourists.

Right. I really don’t think OP is well traveled based on her original post and follow up.

[Anonymous]

Good old OP, classic white savior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Mexico or Ecuador. No need to be cagey, OP.

I’m not being cagey. As I said it’s more than one country. The specific country has nothing to do with the general proposition. But sure, let’s say Mexico or Ecuador. Why not. They both work.

Dear Op, You mentioned returning from visiting A country where you and a specific convo with a specific SA stranger….. so it dues seem cagey that though don’t just name the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Mexico or Ecuador. No need to be cagey, OP.

I’m not being cagey. As I said it’s more than one country. The specific country has nothing to do with the general proposition. But sure, let’s say Mexico or Ecuador. Why not. They both work.

Dear Op, You mentioned returning from visiting A country where you and a specific convo with a specific SA stranger….. so it dues seem cagey that though don’t just name the country.

+1. It would have to be somewhere douchey enough to attract old ladies like OP AND broke South African backpackers. Top contenders at the moment are Peru and Costa Rica.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Mexico or Ecuador. No need to be cagey, OP.

I’m not being cagey. As I said it’s more than one country. The specific country has nothing to do with the general proposition. But sure, let’s say Mexico or Ecuador. Why not. They both work.

Dear Op, You mentioned returning from visiting A country where you and a specific convo with a specific SA stranger….. so it dues seem cagey that though don’t just name the country.

+1. It would have to be somewhere douchey enough to attract old ladies like OP AND broke South African backpackers. Top contenders at the moment are Peru and Costa Rica.

Or Panama? Lots of expats. Easy living. Relatively safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So Mexico or Ecuador. No need to be cagey, OP.

I’m not being cagey. As I said it’s more than one country. The specific country has nothing to do with the general proposition. But sure, let’s say Mexico or Ecuador. Why not. They both work.

Dear Op, You mentioned returning from visiting A country where you and a specific convo with a specific SA stranger….. so it dues seem cagey that though don’t just name the country.

+1. It would have to be somewhere douchey enough to attract old ladies like OP AND broke South African backpackers. Top contenders at the moment are Peru and Costa Rica.

Or Panama? Lots of expats. Easy living. Relatively safe.

Fair enough. Panama has some too (along with Mexico and Ecuador, but OP already ruled those out). So where did this happen OP? Some cool cafe in Cuzco? A restaurant in La Fortuna with a window view or Arenal? Or after your birding excursion in Boquete?

[Anonymous]

OP here. You are all a bunch of truly nasty, snarky, and apparently very unhappy women.

By the way, I’m a man.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. You are all a bunch of truly nasty, snarky, and apparently very unhappy women.

By the way, I’m a man.

You sound like a bad hombre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What country? What does leaving a "good American tip" mean there? What do locals tip?

Americans are viewed as terrible tourists and usually deserserving of the title, but also often locals of poor countries view any American as being loaded and expect much more than is feasible. When my family traveled to visit family in a "poor country" we tipped generously and were often asked for more. Never a appreciative thank you for tipping them a months salary for a 5 minute ride around town, just that's it? We had people knocking on the door at all hours begging for money as well. We couldn't throw enough money around and eventually ran out money to give away. It cost us 10K to travel there, plus food, plus lodging, plus local transportation. We are comfortable in the US but don't have a great deal of disposable income and the locals absolutely viewed us like the kardashians. This trip took us a long time to save for and was a huge family expense, but they just see us as Americans who should be doing more for them.

OP here. This has never happened to me, and I’ve traveled extensively and all over the world.

Which part are you disputing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the young tourist from South Africa was white.

Yes, he was. And obviously that didn’t escape me but I didn’t comment on it to him.

What does him being white have to do with anything? Would it have been okay if he was black?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet the young tourist from South Africa was white.

Yes, he was. And obviously that didn’t escape me but I didn’t comment on it to him.

What does him being white have to do with anything? Would it have been okay if he was black?

"in countries like his there are so many desperate people that it’s impossible to help them all"

Why are there so many desperate people in his country??