Tipping in a foreign country can be a tricky business. You’re never quite sure who is taking advantage of you and who you are really supposed to be tipping. Here are a few suggestions for how to tip while you’re in Chile.

*When you’re at a restaurant, 10% is a good tip. Many Chileans even leave less than that, but I can’t bring myself to do that to the poor waiter, no matter how bad he is. Keep in mind that the service WILL be crappy at almost any restaurant you go to. In Chile the whole concept of customer service, or the client is always right just doesn’t exist. It’s not the waiter’s fault that he sucks. Nobody has trained him to be a good server, and he’s used to people leaving 10% or less no matter how fantastic of a job he does.

*Taxi drivers don’t get tipped. They might try to tell you that you should tip them when they see you’re a foreigner but just tell them gringo isn’t synonymous with idiot and get out of the cab. Also, while we’re on the subject of taxis, make sure they always turn on the meter. If they don’t turn it on, they are planning on ripping you off big time, so insist upon your rights as a cab rider. And what I previously wrote about not paying with big bills, applies times 100 to taxi drivers. They always say they can’t break whatever bill you give them because they want to keep your change.  Don’t play their game, carry change….HA!  That rhymed, I’m awesome.

*When you’re at the grocery store, always bring a few small coins to give to the bag-boy.  100-200 pesos, or about $.20-40 cents is enough unless you just brought an overflowing cart of supermarkety goodness to the register that is so huge that the kid had to work through his lunch break just to get your bagging done.

*When you arrive at the airport there will always be those guys who seem so friendly when they offer to help you carry your luggage that many foreigners mistake their help as free.  It’s not free, they expect a tip too.  Honestly, I always carry my own bags because I’m poor so I’m not sure what to give them, but I would say 300-500 pesos, or between $.60-1 USD is enough.

*If you happen to rent a car and are planning on driving around, and therefore parking in Santiago, expect to pay.  As in any big city, parking is scarce and expensive.  And on top of what you pay just to parallel your car into the tiny space you are directed to, expect to tip the guy who is “cuidando,” or taking care of your car.  For his efforts, he deserves 200-400 pesos, or $.40-80 cents.  Be careful, if you don’t roll down your window and tip him as you’re backing out, I’ve heard horror stories of parking guys who will chase the car throwing rocks at it.  Also, the guy who is in charge of “cuidando,” your car is not always in a uniform.  There are some areas where Santiago has designated these parking guards, but in other areas it’s a free for all, and the first vagabond to reach your car has dibs.  Just because a guy looks shady doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay him.  In fact, I’d say that’s all the more reason to pay him!

*Room service for nice hotels, think the Sheraton, the Hyatt etc. should be tipped well, $2,000-3,000 pesos, or $4-6 USD.  Bag boys help with your luggage to the room as a courtesy, but they linger at the door until you tip them, so it’s not really as complimentary as you might be led to think.  You should give them at least $1,000 pesos or $2 USD.

*Girls, at a nice hair salon, even if your do is expensive, it’s not customary to leave more than $2,000-3,000 pesos or $4-6 USD.  I get my hair highlighted at a really upscale salon.  The total comes out to be about $50,000 pesos, or about $100 USD.  The first time I went I left $5,000 pesos, or about $10 USD as a tip, and the stylist gasped as I handed him the bill.  Now every time I go back he treats me like royalty because ten bucks is such an amazing tip.

I hope this tipping section was helpful.  If you’ve lived in Chile, or are Chilean and have any corrections or suggestions to add to the tipping list, leave a comment and I’ll get right on it