I was talking about Bali to my (Balinese) wife last night. She was telling me about when she was "training" in the hotel business in Lovina; I say "training" as it is clear trainees are abused as unpaid workers (they do not get paid, just a meal a day). She was recounting how her prized two pairs of jeans were stolen off her washing line outside her dorm / room and how some girls in some hotels were raped by security staff and others; really, once you get to talk in depth with the Balinese, once they feel comfortable enough about saying such things, you realize "paradise" does not exist for many of them.

Anyway, the trainees relied totally on tips from holiday makers, and she remarked who were the most generous nationality wise. So I asked also about the least generous and then about specific nationalities, how they rated. So, here you go, who do you think are the least and most generous tippers going to Bali? It is sort of scientific in that my wife says all hotel staff in Bali discuss which nationalities tip the most on average as they try to make sure they wait on their tables first, before their colleagues get the best ones!

So, the list by nationality (in alphabetical order here) is: American (USA) / Canadian, Australian, British, Chinese (including Taiwan, etc.), Dutch, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese.

So which one do you think is the most generous?

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I can not vote as I know the answer!

After a while, I'll let you know and then ask / do a poll which are the least generous!!

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Drum roll............ and the answer is?

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Smile and the world you are travelling in will smile back at you

when you would take the bait

Now, listen, I promise I have not constructed this, OK?! The order with the most generous first is;

1) British / American / Canadian
2) German
3) Dutch
4) Japanese (some are really generous, others tight, but on average)
5) Australian / French
6) Chinese (do not tip at all normally but are at least clean and not too much trouble)
7) Indonesian (actually my wife specifies "Javanese") - do not tip at all ever, are exceptionally rude and demanding (keep shouting "bring more casava chips" which they expect to be free) and as messy as hell.

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How is it best to leave a tip for your room maid? I don't feel right handing it to them in case they are embarrassed but if you leave it in the room it might not get to the right person.

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Alison

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It's Better to Burn Out than just to Fade Away!

first, is it just her that deserves the tip, maybe the laundry girl and kitchen cleaner that take all the dirty linen and used plates, etc. from your room (if you have room service).

second, if not, you need to find out what happens to any tip you leave at reception - is it 100% given to the staff (not to western wage management and directors) and equally so between them?

I know, what a process, and I wish it wasn't necessary to make sure your tip does not get misappropriated, but it is.

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Mark,

maybe I need to cut back on the tips a bit when in Bali, need to fit in to the mould!

Cheers,

David

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Smile and the world you are travelling in will smile back at you

I really, truly did not concoct the answers! But as it happens, I do remember something a while back claiming Australians were the least generous of 1st world countries regarding charity! To be fair (sticks in throat) I seem to remember the French were the most generous (charity). So Australians are...........

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Oh well, after all everything is said, us Australians are basically only ex-pat Englishmen (& women, for the f libbers ).

By the way, my idea of a really good time in Portugal would be a glass of the best in Oporto.... of course after dinner!

Cheers,
David

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Smile and the world you are travelling in will smile back at you

(Britain and Australia)!

Actually, my brother and his family are moving to Australia soon, but I just do not understand why, they did not do anything wrong!

Actually Douro is my favorite Portuguese red wine, although most people prattle on about Alentejo as being better; I like Alentejo whites. The good thing for us being on the border with Spain is we buy from both countries, so I am as often drinking Spanish (Rioja and Cava mostly) as I am Portuguese (hic).

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!