Kathmandu guest house tipping, urgentish question. Also some tips for others

Leaving KTM tomorrow after a stay of eight days, and really liked my guesthouse (Trekkers Home for those of you looking for a really nice, cheap place to stay, the manager, Dhanna is a pleasure to deal with.) I understand that generally people tip out one tip at the end for the whole staff, into a general tip box. How much is the right amount? My bill for the eight days will be about 100 USD, I was thinking between 1000 and 1500 NPR?

A few prices I paid as guidance for others (not sure if they are the best/most representative or not, but FWIW):

Scarves: I bought a bunch of these for me and family/friends. I paid between 400 and 450 NPR for the cheap but pretty ones (pashmina and blend of some sort, probably nylon, more on how to tell later.) 1000 NPR for 4 ply (I think) real/100% cashmere, 900 NPR for the somewhat thinner patterned ones. The way to tell, from what I was told, is to carry a lighter, pull a string from the fringe and burn it. If it smells like hair, it contains a high percent of cashmere (this is assuming you can tell it from yak wool, which is pretty obvious, as yak wool is much rougher.) If the burnt bit does not crumple, it is a blend with something synthetic, nylon or the like. If it crumples to dust in your fingers it is 100%. If this is just doltish and I have been blithely making a fool of myself burning threads all over KTM, perhaps one of the long-timers could correct.

I was here several years ago and loved the funky embroidered tshirts with silly logos that I bought then for running, so bought a bunch of them on this trip for me and friends/family. 400 NPR for the regular ones (eg, Yak Yak Yak Nepal, Hard Rock Kathmandu, etc), 650 for the more elaborate ones which are usually not in stock and you have to pre-order by a day or two.

Bought several beautiful felt jackets that were unlike anything else I saw in KTM for 1800 NPR (negotiated down from 2250) at a place called Eden. This is one of those expensive stores by KTM standards, but the things were worth it, and they will negotiate, albeit reluctantly, if you buy several pieces, I bought 4.

Also bought 2 sets of three singing bowls in small (one step up from the smallest they sell), medium and larger, for 2500 NPR from an incredibly nice couple. The craftsman, Kiran Chitrakar, is from a multi-generational family of artists and is one of the most genuine people I met in KTM. He is one of the artists they call in to the palace for repair work, I figured that if he is good enough for the royal family he works for me! Also the price for each set was 2500 NPR, much cheaper than anywhere else I found for those sizes. His address is 39-Shreega Bihar, Naghal Tola, between Thamel and Darbar Square. Please check him out, he and his wife Keshari are the sweetest.

Bar: My favorite was Sams Bar, in Thamel. Great friendly local crowd at the bar. Also the bartender/owner? Verena was awesome. She made the place feel like home, in part by facilitating introductions to the crowd, as a woman traveling alone that was great. I am in another bar now, and just ran across a lovely local woman I met at Sams, will be joining her as soon as I finish with this! Also, Verena's giant great Dane pup David roams the bar at will, along with his baby mama Roxie. I miss my own monster puppies so much, it was great to have doggie cuddles. For those of you who are spay neuter worried, all of Roxie's pups are already promised to eager recipients.

Restaurant: Jatra's, across from Trekkers Home. Very good food, not so good service, unfortunately. But worth it for the food (I like my food :)

Also Bosa, in Thamal Square (a few doors down from Trekkers Home, same side of the street) for momos. Newly opend and run by the most adorable Nepali guy with a Newcastle accent in English, he studied there. I am old enough that I wanted to pick him up and put him in my pocket but you twenty somethings might be otherwise inclined :) Absolutely delicious momos, a generous meal sized portion with leftovers(at least for me, I am small) for 180 NPR.

Also, meant to add re Jatra's, it is a bit on the expensive side (but relatively cheap by Western standards) for a starter, lemonade and main I think I paid around 1350 NPR, which included an automatic 10% service and 13% VAT charge. Note that most KTM restaurants do not charge these fees, just the more expensive/more Westernized ones. So it is a bit of a double whammy.

Good thing about the "tip box" is this IS shared among staff. How much is totally up to you. 1000 NPR would seem decently generous.

HOWEVER, some (many) Kathmandu hotels are adding a "service charge", usually 10%. Have you confirmed whether or not they are doing this? In my view, tipping when a service charge is added doesn't make sense. Unfortunately, however, I have been told (by staff in hotel) that the so-called service charge goes to owner, not staff.

Thank you landfall! Dhanna told me that the cost he gave me included all taxes, service charges, etc, so I think I am good there. I am very happy to get your advice on the staff tip. I never know how much is too little or too much, and it seems so easy to err on either side.

Lemonade? ;)

Yes, actual lemonade, the yummy kind they make here with the fresh mint swirling through it! Despite my fondness for Sams, the big Tuborgs were just too big pretty quickly :)

not_ally,
I love your post! Never wanted to go there but your descriptions bring it to life.
The thing about burning a thread is bang-on. I sew and often buy fabric which does
not have the fiber source (second hand, odd lots, etc) and I learned long ago about
the fire test.
I buy dyes for batiking and other dye crafts so I trust them completely:
http://www.dharmatrading.com/home/the-fire-test.html
The items you've bought sound wonderful and the felt jackets especially.
May the items you've bought for friends/family bless them and may the people
you've bought them from be blessed as well. KTM seems like the sort of place
for this kind of thinking...

Thanks for all the great info...any more tips and costs to share?
My wife and I are heading to Nepal next month

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Should one tip in a restaurant? A posh one or mid-range?

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