Scotts Guide to India: Navigation / Services

TAXIS
With all forms of transportation, say your destination slowly and make sure they understand. Walk away until you know you have a reasonable price. Show your disgust when their prices are outrageous.

When using taxis and three-wheeled auto-rickshaws, settle the price in advance. Rickshaws, both auto and bicycle are bargained for.

With taxis, do not depend upon the meter; it’s often broken or out of date. If the taxi tries to pull a fast one on you and wants more than the original quoted price, you can nod non-conclusively. When you reach your destination, remove all luggage from the taxi and then give him what was originally negotiated and walk away. Never get in an argument with the driver for they will persist until they wear you down; you will never get them to agree to your side of things.

LAUNDRY
Most guest houses will hook you up with a local laundry person who, for a low price, will take your clothes, beat them to death, and return them clean as a whistle. If you want to avoid this rough treatment, you can wash your clothes by hand at your hotel. Bring a sink stopper and some nylon string and a handful of clothespins to hang clothes. It's also helpful to bring a stain stick especially if you bring light colored clothes.

TIPPING
In tourist restaurants or hotels 10% is usually tacked on to services. In smaller places where tipping is optional, you need only round off the bill.

Hotels:
• Pay hotel hotel bellboys Rs 10 -20 depending on the quality of hotel.
• Rs 5-15 for extra services from hotel staff.

Railways and Airports:
• Porters at railway stations and airports often have fixed rates displayed but will usually press for more. Agree upon the price before you have them touch your belongings.
• Rs 10-15 for train conductors or station porters performing miracles for you

Taxi Drivers:
Generally it is not customary to tip taxi drivers but a small extra amount over the fee is appreciated. Again, be sure to negotiate the fee beforehand.

Tour Guides:
Tour guides should receive Rs 50-100 from each person per day.

Many Westerners overtip because 5 rupees (25¢) seems like such a meager tip. Over tipping is often done out of generosity and sometimes guilt, but it's important to understand and respect the price differential between our two countries. Over tipping eventually leads to inflated prices (for Indians this is a real problem) and inflated expectations of foreigners.