Bulgaria Ski discussion board

I cannot believe that some people are soooo petty with tipping, we tip all over the world regardless of the country and we tip the amount we think they are worth, I have friends in Pamps who when asked what they would like me to bring them from the UK, say just my friendship, these are friends who are ski instructors and bar staff so earn very little and rely on their money to see the through the months when there is no tourism, these tips are not going to the wealthy people of Bulgaria just the guys who make our holidays what they are

I tip them as well, very generously in fact.
The point I am trying to make (obviously not very well) is that we should forget UK prices when we go abroad and understand the local economy, prices etc. So of course we should reward good service, but do it relatively.

If we over tip because we relate it to our own prices how does this make other Bulgarians feel when they use the same facilities.

I know quite a few Bulgarians, I have a place in Bansko, we are of course much wealthier than the average Bulgarian and I feel a bit uneasy about the wealth difference, so try not to show it e.g. if I go out for a drink with a Bulgarian I will let that person buy a drink as well. I dislike seeing people in the UK flash there wealth and I am just worried that Brits come over a little bit like this in Bulgaria.

Hope I got my point across a bit better!

BanskoBoy

one individual does not tip £50 its a group of people,
I do not believe any of the bulgarians who we tip see it as flashing our money around,they see it as a nice gesture and maybe they do get some decent tips, but the weeks they do are made up with the weeks they do not, like I said out of a group of 14 people I was the only person to tip the instructor!!!!!
most Bulgarians I know will not even let me buy them a drink, they buy them for me and when asked what they would like bringing over from the UK next time I visit they reply just your friendship, so I do not think they are getting the wrong signals about us all being very wealthy.
And now bansko boy you make me chuckle with "I tip them well, very generously in fact" - you lost me now,,,, so we should all tip very generously then? this has been a great topic it began with us not tipping massively to us tipping very generously:} lets all just carry on doing what we do - but thanks for an interesting topic

I can see the point you are trying to make bansko, but i don't agree.
More and more people are wising up to how good a holiday destination Bulgaria is, just like they did Spain all those years ago.
This is what infaltes the price, not the wealth of those who go there. Also the change to the Euro with have much more effect on price hikes than a simple tip ever could.
Your right about tipping an Austria instructor though and i agree no you most likely would'nt tip them £50, but then again an Austrian instructor is more likely to have another job once the Ski Season ends.

I agree with those who say tip what you feel is right, it may effect future prices a little, but no where near as much as other factors...it is inevitiable no matter how much you tip.

Remember, if the prices go up, the tips will go down. Tips are a gesture of recept of a good service. They are given where deserved and encourage good service. They should never be given when the service has been sub standard, and is an incentive to give the holidaymaker a fab time. Most of us are aware of the poor wages, but so is the cost of living. Just beware of bars and returants cashing in on the tourists, mexhena's in Bansko reflect the true cost of living, while the steak house of 'good repute' know how to charge! Tip where tipping is deserved!