Comments on: Tipping in Havana

By: Ab

Ab — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:52:26 +0000

I am somewhat conflicted with this issue. On the one hand I would like to support the Cuban economy when visiting and would also like to help out local Cubans I meet since they make so little. On the other hand I worry that with the massive growth of the tourism industry, excessive tipping by foreigners causes a large influx of wealth which is concentrated only in certain areas and in a particular job sector. The trouble with this is it may be creating a two tiered economy. Those who make a living at a tourist location by trying to get tips can conceivably make more than ten times as much as a physician can in Cuba. It makes doing menial jobs while bothering tourists for money more profitable than being a doctor, lawyer, farmer, miner, construction worker.. I honestly would rather pay 25% more for everything in Cuba at the businesses/hotels ect. than this tipping system. If anything fueling this by tipping constantly makes much more incentive for harassing tourists. This is not helpful for the Cuban economy because it may affect decisions of return travel for many and creates undesirable socioeconomic ripples in Cuban society. I still do give in to this and tip but usually not much and I tip more the less I feel pressured to do so. I know this makes me kind of a hypocrite given my feelings on the issue, but there is such pressure to conform to this convention that I feel uncomfortable not tipping at times. Also it is hard not to when you feel bad for someone you meet who does a good job and gets paid crap.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:45:38 +0000

Hi,

Do you leave a tip in CUC or CUP??

(it kind of looks bigger to leave 10 CUPs than 0.5 CUC)

By: Goer

Goer — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:00:24 +0000

Stuff,

You bigot! You like the sun but don’t understand poverty. Maybe when you’re done burning crosses on peoples front lawns you could learn to expect the poor to stop kissing your buttocks. These are decent, well educated (better than you) people that are trapped in political situation beyond their control (supported by US fear mongers). Get off your wallet.

By: Whystler

Whystler — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 23:58:36 +0000

I DO AGREE WITH TIPPING: I think the writer explained very well why tipping is important, and in fact within the culture. If you don’t want to tip, then don’t travel to Cuba.
.
For the price of your trip Cuban workers are not paid anywhere close to what you would be paid if you worked in Canada in the same service.
.
Consider that if you worked an hour in Canada, you could buy 3 BAGS of oranges. If you worked an hour in Cuba, you might be able to buy 3 oranges.
.
It *IS* our fault that many countries live at a lower standard, because we (in North America and Europe) use the majority of the worlds resources. We also never see the real cost of using electricity and gas. This real cost is downloaded to less fortunate countries. So man up and tip!

By: Stuff

Stuff — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:57:10 +0000

I don’t agree with this aritcle, I don’t care how much or little cubans make, I will not tip for crap service, if the service is decent than it’s a different story, the article sounds as if it is our fault for them not making anything or having a hard time exchanging foreign currency, don’t care, it’s their problem, I don’t owe them anything, I’ve paid for my vacation therefore I expect service in return for that payment!!
Tipping in Havana, that I would call bribery and it’s the first thing that is wrong with that culture so ….