Tipping norms across services posting the local guide because visitors constantly ask

The reference assembled from local knowledge tips are appreciated everywhere never aggressively expected and modest by Western standards Restaurants the service charge confusion first many mid range and tourist restaurants add a ten percent service charge to the bill check for it if it is there you are not obliged to add more rounding up or leaving small change is plenty if there is NO service charge leaving around ten percent at a proper restaurant is generous and kind at a local rice and curry kade tipping is not expected rounding up is friendly Drivers the chauffeur guide who drives you for days is the meaningful tip a daily amount say 1500 to 2500 LKR per day for a good driver guide given at the end builds genuinely on a long tour they work hard and the tip matters to them a one off transfer driver rounding up is fine Specialist guides a temple or site guide who genuinely informs you a few hundred rupees the safari jeep driver tracker who finds you the leopard 1000 to 2000 LKR shared in the jeep rewards real effort Hotel staff porter who carries bags 100 to 200 LKR housekeeping a small daily amount left at the end at a nice hotel restaurant staff per the restaurant note The do NOT tip category the spice garden tout the gem shop pusher the unsolicited helper who attaches himself these are commission hunters not service tipping them funds the hustle a polite mata epa as the language threads cover ends it The principle that travels carry small notes tip in cash directly to the person who served you not into a void scale to genuine effort and warmth not to obligation and remember the absolute amounts are small in your currency and meaningful in theirs