I got lots of stick for tipping 300 HKD for a quoted 1100 HKD service so share your views and experiences of how to use tipping effectively and which places to get extra services

tipping is very personal..
it's purely up to you.
as long as you can afford it and you think that the WG will be happy with your tip.

for me, i usually tip WGs $200, regardless she's a HG$800 WG, walk-up $400 or D1's $1500.

Fred,

When do you tip?  Ahead of time?  Because I honestly cannot imagine tipping ahead of time, and if you're already finished a tip is pointless.  I've never tipped but the only occasion where I could imagine tipping in Hong Kong/Macau would be if the lady was fantastic and I planned a return visit to her.  

I'd give you lots of sticks too for tipping a standard 300HK it makes absolutely no sense and will only lead to making girls expect tips from guys.  Which means that I am going to had over a 500 note and have to argue to get my 100 change back.  Also, the way I see it the walk up chicks set their own rates and they are their own bosses.  They understand what their worth is and try to maximize their income accordingly, thus, once again by tipping, you a pushing the assumed value of their services in higher direction, which I will end up paying for.

I think the key in this whole thing is not to think or yourself, and don't think of the girl (except in exceptional circumstances), think of your fellow forum mate and the extra cost you may cause him.  Then think of your forum mates child, who will not get milk that day because his/her daddy had to tip a whore.

By the way, i tip massage parlour girls in Thailand

My impression (from previous times this question has been asked) is most people tip in the $50 to $100 range with more for exceptional service.  More for service in high-end saunas.  

In my experience even at that level some girls are surprised and genuinely try to give change.  

Obviously, only worth tipping generously if you find a real diamond and plan on returning soon, otherwise the half-life is very short.

$300 tip is crazy. I wouldn't tip anything unless I planned to revisit and, even then, it would only be $100.

I suppose extra payment is required for special services such as anal or CIM but I don't do either of those.

In China, especially KTV, it's better to not tip

last time I tip a girl, so pay her rmb400 instead rmb300. Then this stupid girl tells all her friends, so everyone ask the same price to all my friends.
have to call the mamasan to fix the mess

Basically only for exceptional service would you tip in Asia. I remembered I was in Beijing, and I tipped the waittress only 20rmb. She was so in shock. She got me a good table every time and when she got promoted, she always got a good waiter for my table. But then again, you should just realize that 300 is a large sum of money for a lot of these chinese girls. So, in general, 100 would do in most cases if she does well. You wouldn't want to create the situation calaisien had.

great advice

thanks for the info

Well, I admit I frequently get caught with the 'ol "round it up" tip (the rate is $350 or $380 but you only have hundreds), but that's no big loss.Otherwise I only tip when the service exceeds expectations and advertisement.  So a hotel massage girl that gives me a BBBJTCIM gets a nice tip AND a pat on the fanny (which is the part they really like after all   )

in china SZ i usually tip the room massage girls and lobby massage girls about RMB 200, thats if i like their service and if i do revisit, massage is not an easy job for these girls, and they dont get much from the actual cost, if they do a good job, i do get there telephone number so i can find them again, sometime we go out for food, and the money do help out with their living expenses as living standard isn't very good in china.

If you frequent a particular KTV or sauna often, you may find it worthwhile to tip the girl after the service.  One thing I've learned is that girls talk nonstop to the other girls in the workplace, so if it becomes known you give good tips (and it doesn't have to be more than $100/200 hkd) you do tend to get better service.

I would tend to disagree that upfront tips do not work.  Usually if you make it known that you will tip more, or even give her a little extra ahead of time, you will reap the benefits when it is fresh in her memory.  Giving a hotel/sauna/freelance girl an extra 100 hkd and hoping she will give you better service in the near future is pretty dicey, these kind of girls are generally not known for great frequent punter point programs.  She will however, generally remember that you gave her 100 hkd five minutes ago and reciprocate the favor.

One thing left out here is tipping normal non-working girls. If you come into contact with any local Macanese or Mainland girls working in normal jobs that you interact with on a frequent basis, tips and other favors will be remembered forever.

I tip the concierge a few bucks everytime I ask him to do something for me, and he calls me by name no matter where in the hotel I see him.

One time one of the receptionists at the Lisboa did a big favor for me and at the end of my stay (about 2 weeks), I gave her a 1,000 HKD tip for going out of her way to help me out.  2 years later and she will greet me effusively and chat me up whenever I pass by the front desk.  I also never have to wait in line anymore regardless of how busy the front desk is during check in or check out, I always get waved over by the cashiers who help me out.  It's not just her that does it either, word gets around pretty fast.  During holidays and at the end of my stay I generally give them a box of chocolate to share.  So a single tip can have very long lasting effects.  No different than slipping the club doorman 100 usd to get you a good table.

tipping isn't part of their culture.

especially in shenzhen where i hear the girls get paid next to nothing at the spas...i'll tip a little above the recommended amount. (80-100 rmb)

Nice info guys.
When I was young(er) I never thought of giving tip as I thought I already paid them for their service.
Now I always give tip but usually to round it up, so lets say in Indonesia I gave tip 200.000 rupiah for 800.000 service, and sometimes the Wg remembers when I use her service again next time.
For non Wg, I agree, give them tip will give you advantage for longer period.
The point here, at least know I know how much should I tip the Wg in HK or CH as I dont want to ruin the price by giving too much tip.

Like a few already said, DON"T over tip. Tipping is fine but don't over do it.  It will spool the girls. They will be expecting it from the next guy.  They will start complaining that the last person ( foreigner ) from Mars Colony gave a 200 rmb when FS service was only for 200rmb.  Why are you so cheap and only giving 50 rmb. You just make it more expensive and harder for everyone else that is less fortunate. Tipping is also not normally done by the locals but there are executions like at KTV's.

For you tipping 300 for 1100, I think you over did it. If it was me, around 100, unless she did something real special like going way over the time limit. 300 would be fine for the second or third time seeing her because you are building a relationship, IMHO. It also depends on where you are too. Taxi can cost $40 to 60 rmb in large cities.


For tipping at restaurant, hotels Maids, bell boys in HK, Macau and China, it's NOT normally done by the locals. In some of the restaurants in HK, China and Macau, there is a service fee already on top of your bill. Service fee are usually at some of the better restaurants.

I usually tip about 10% to 20% and words do get spread around about a tipper.  One time, I thought I had more case in my wallet but it turns out I barely had enough to cover the session. So after getting dress, there was a awkward pause where the girl was waiting for a tip.  Unfortunately, I had only very small bills left and felt embarrassed if I gave them as the tip.  We moved to the door and again she waited for me to give her a tip but I hesitated again.  Left without giving a tip and didn't see her again.