Travel Essentials: Tipping

Overview

Tipping in the Philippines is not expected. However, it is becoming an increasingly common practice in urban areas, places catering to tourists, and higher-end establishments. Some restaurants and hotels will include a service charge of 10 to 15 percent. However, there is no guarantee that the server will be given any portion of this charge. If you feel you have received exceptional service, rounding up is appropriate. Gratuities will always be appreciated, and never perceived as an insult.

The currency in the Philippines is the Philippine peso (₱), which is divided into 100 centavos. Tips can be given in pesos or US dollars— any other currency may be difficult for service people to exchange.

Tipping Guide

Setting	Gratuities
Transportation	Taxi drivers may round up the fare to the nearest multiple of five. If they do not, a 10 percent tip is standard.
Hotels	Porters should be tipped ₱20 to ₱40 per bag. Housekeeping staff members should be tipped ₱100 per day. Be sure to leave a clearly marked envelope, as housekeepers will not automatically assume money left on counters was intended for them. Concierges should be tipped ₱200 if they have assisted with organizing any special plans.
Restaurants, Bars, Cafés	A 10–15 percent tip is standard at establishments that do not include a service charge. If a service charge is included, leaving a few more pesos will be appreciated, but is optional and not expected.
Guides	Private guides are tipped ₱800 to ₱2,000 per day, depending on the group size and the length of the tour.

Terms for Payment and Tipping

There are two official languages in the Philippines: Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English. There are 172 different native languages and dialects spoken in the Philippines. Terms you might encounter and find useful for point-of-payment situations are provided below.

English	Filipino	Phonetic Pronunciation
The bill, please.	Ang bill, pakiusap.	Ahng beel, pah-kyoo-sahp.
How much is this?	Magkano ito?	Mahg-kah-noh ee-toh?
Is service included?	Kasama na ba ang serbisyo?	Kah-sah-mah nah bah ahng sehr-bees-yoh?
Money	Pera	Peh-rah
Yes	Oo	oh-o
No	Hindi	hin-dee
Please	Pakiusap	pa-ki-u-sap
Thank you	Salamat	sa-la-mat