Leave a tip for room staff including the butler if there is one. Acceptable currencies for tips are US dollars, local currency and Euros. It is not usually necessary to tip bar staff or waiters as the tip is added to your bill.
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Generally speaking, if you have had a memorable ride on a small boat with a friendly crew, a modest $5-10 tip is a great compliment. Some of the transfers in the Maldives are private or chartered and the price reflects this, so tipping here is not necessary.
Bring a credit card and US dollars traveler's cheques. Most hotel and travel expenses will be billed in dollars, so there's no point in incurring extra conversion costs. Some cash in small denomination US dollars is useful for tipping and to change into rufiyaa for use in local shops.
The currency used throughout the Maldives is Maldivian rufiyaa however the Euro and the US dollar are also widely accepted. All major credit cards can be used at resorts, restaurants, and shops in Male and several other islands. Withdrawing money from ATMs is not usually possible.
In resort restaurants, tipping approximately $2 to $3 per person is acceptable. In higher-end restaurants, plan on a $5 tip at a minimum. Tip the bartender and pool staff $2 to $3 per interaction and the concierge $5 for services. Tipping shuttle drivers is also customary.
Common expectations when ordering drinks at a bar are to tip $1 per drink like beer or wine, and $2 per cocktail, which takes more work to make. For open bars, it's advised you tip at least $1 per drink.
It's not uncommon to see gratuities of between 30% and 50% from these travelers. If you leave tips like that, then you can safely consider yourself in the overtipper category. Is there such a thing as being too generous? says Samantha Lambert, the director of human resources for a media company in New York.
For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more. For houses and villas, or large suites where there are multiple rooms to clean, consider leaving anywhere from $10 to $20 per night.
Though tipping can be a complex concept depending on which state you're in, a baseline tip of 15-20% is recommended, depending on the experience you have. If you don't have a bill to calculate that with, assume about $5-10 for each task with truly extraordinary services getting $25-40.
The temperature doesn't drop very much at night so take your lightest weight clothes in natural, breathable fabrics such as silk, linen or cotton. Avoid synthetic fabrics as they are just too uncomfortable in the heat.
Remember you are eating at a restaurant or receiving room service for every meal. If you were tipping $10 -$20 per meal, it would add up quick! If you have the means and want to make the staff's day, then feel free! However most will find that $1 -$5 per meal is a good general rule (per person).
As the majority of all-inclusive resorts in this territory cater to tourists, tipping in U.S. dollars is acceptable. Tipping in coins is not advised because they can be difficult to exchange into local currency.
This equates to around $20 to $25 USD per day for all staff members who might help you throughout the day. When heading off property (outside of your all-inclusive resort), you can bring small bills along as well, preferably in local currency.