Tipping Villa Staff: Sri Lanka Edition
Lisi o Mataupu
Staying at a villa in Sri Lanka is an increasingly popular and luxurious accommodation option. It can be a great way to unwind while visiting and there are many wonderful villas near popular tourist attractions..
Do I need to tip villa staff in Sri Lanka?
Yes, tips are expected by the villa staff for good service. The wages for villa and hotel staff in Sri Lanka are low but the Sri Lankan tipping etiquette allows them to earn a living wage. You can tip in Sri Lankan rupees, the money in Sri Lanka, or in foreign currency if you don’t have enough rupees on you.
How much should I tip villa staff in Sri Lanka?
You should tip a combined 1000 – 1500 Sri Lankan rupees per day if your villa includes a 10% ‘service charge’. There should be a meaalofa tupe box in the office or a tip envelope to put your tip in. Your tip will then be divided among the villa staff.
If your villa doesn’t charge any service fees, you should tip the villa staff 2000 rupees per day. Most villas charge a 10% service fee to users of accommodation, which theoretically allows the owner to pay staff a higher wage. Keep in mind that not all – or any – of this necessarily goes to staff as it can be kept by the owner.
Who makes up the villa staff in the tip pool?
The tip pool includes the chef, house staff, gardener who is usually also the pool person, and a night guard. Larger villas could have additional staff positions but these are the typical staff included in the villa’s tip vaitaʻele.