General Information » Money » Tipping

An increasing number of hotels and restaurants automatically include a service charge of at least 5% (check the bottom of your bill!), although it is unlikely to end up with your waiter. Tipping is optional although a few hundred baisas are greatly appreciated, particularly in smaller restaurants.





Why Pay Full Price?

Bargaining is a traditional part of doing trade in Oman and it is still widely used today, especially in the souks. You can sometimes end up paying half of the original asking price. A discount of 10% is usual, even in appliance stores, but not in supermarkets or department stores. It can also be a fun way to do business; vendors will square up to ‘do battle’, courteously offering their customers some kahwa, and in return customers should bargain hard!