If you have ever found yourself nervously flicking through a stack of notes after a meal when on the highway, or fumbling for loose alternation in the rear of taxis in an unfamiliar city, you'll understand. Tipping is an elusive custom that seems to change its rules around the world – what's deemed an ample token of appreciation in certain countries, can offend the subtle cultural sensibilities of others.
To help steer you thru the quagmire of uncertainty and doubt that gratuities can throw up, we've come up with the best help guide to tipping around the world. Whilst it's important to acknowledge that tipping customs will always be morphing and developing – particularly intoxicated by mass tourism – this guide will shed at least some light on your travel tipping quandaries and monetary confusion, from restaurants and bars to hotels and taxis. And if after reading you are always doubtful, you shouldn't have to fret – you'll find detailed notes on the tipping conventions of the specific destination at the back of your Lonely Planet guidebook (hint, hint).
Europe
Restaurants and bars
Restaurant tipping in Europe is often misunderstood by non-European visitors, around tourists particularly applying their very own generous tipping culture where it's not necessarily appropriate. Many countries within the EU have laws that accommodate and standardise gratuity, and greater tips left after even the heartiest of meals, i.e. 15% and upwards, aren't necessary.
Generally speaking, most European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal and also the UK, will prove to add a service charge to a bill but, otherwise, leave between 5% and 10% (in local currency cash) unless the service and/or food has been poor. Certain other countries including Italy, Austria and Russia won't always add fee or expect a tip, but it's common to round up the bill, as wages in the hospitality industry are usually lower. If eating in a restaurant in Italy, you might begin to see the word 'corperto' on your bill – this really is 'cover charge', but won't necessarily go to the wait staff, and if you're keen to tip, do it with cash and give it to your server.
Renowned for being eye-wateringly expensive, you will be relieved to notice that restaurant tipping in Scandinavia and Iceland isn't expected, and it is usually covered within the overall price of the meal.
Adding tips in European bars isn't expected, but when you are feeling a bit generous (read: tipsy) after a few drinks, you can round up the bill. Tipping in London pubs (and indeed, pubs within the remaining UK) is a little a head-scratcher for tourists, however it isn't commonly done. When you are riding high in general bonhomie the traditional British pub is known for, provide to purchase the bartender a glass or two using the phrase “and one for yourself” (with or without your best attempt at a cockney “guv'nor” following it).
Hotel staff
Hotel tipping etiquette for many European countries is rather similar – observe that tipping housekeeping staff here's generally less frequent than in the united states. In the united kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and Hungary, if you feel you want to tip, giving EUR1 to EUR2 per bag to porters and around EUR2 to EUR5 to housekeeping employees are a good rule. A bit smaller amounts are needed in Balkan and Eastern European countries.
In Russia, hotel staff are utilized to larger tips – between 200 and 250 rubles for porters and 100 to 200 rubles for housekeeping staff.
In pricey Scandinavia and Iceland, hotel staff don't expect tips as service charges already are included in their wages. The same is true for Switzerland, but here handing the housekeeping staff a little amount (roughly Five to ten francs) after your stay is going to be greatly appreciated, even when unlikely.
Tour guides
Tour guides and drivers in just about all countries in Europe are tipped separately. In Central and Eastern European countries and Italy, tip both about 10 to 20% each day of the tour for the way much you enjoyed it. In many European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and also the UK, a tip close to EUR25 to EUR40 (or local currency equivalent) a day for that guide, and EUR10 to EUR15 for the driver is fair. Russian guides and drivers may expect slightly more – around 3000 rubles for guides and a pair of,000 for drivers.
Private car drivers in Turkey expects significant tips close to 200 to 300 lira each day, whilst group guides are usually tipped around 60 to 100 lira, and nearer to 450 lira for private tour guides.
In Scandinavian countries and Iceland, tips for guides and drivers are not expected, but when you feel your experience warrants it, tipping 10% to both guide and driver is a nice gesture. Alternatively, you are able to offer to buy both of them some lunch.
Taxi drivers
Taxi tipping in Europe is straightforward – pretty much across the continent drivers pricier tips, but rounding up the fare is customary, even as more and more taxis are now being fitted with card machines. The only real exceptions for this rule are France, Russia and Switzerland, whereby taxi drivers often expect a 10 to 15% tip at the end of a ride, and Scandinavia and Iceland, where tipping taxi drivers, even by rounding up the fare, isn't expected whatsoever.
The Americas
Restaurants and bars
For restaurants in the united states and Canada, service charge isn't always added in to the bill, and so tipping is pretty much a foregone conclusion – around 15 to 20% may be the norm, unless the meal was truly inedible and/or the waitstaff were obnoxious (then it's more like 5%…). In bars, tipping around $1 per drink, or 15 to 20% of the total bill is customary.
In Central and South American countries, including Mexico, Nicaragua, Argentina and Peru, fee is more commonly added, but if you want to tip your waitstaff personally, between 10 to 15% (in local currency or $ $ $ $) is a great amount. In other people like Brazil, Chile and Panama and nicaragua ,, restaurants will often incorporate a 10% 'sit-down' charge ('cubierto' in Chile), and therefore some advice isn't expected, but around 5% will still be appreciated if you want to give it. Tipping in bars here isn't the norm, but feel free to gather the overall bill.
If you're dining in the Caribbean (outside of an expensive resort), check the bill to see if the gratuity continues to be included already. Otherwise, tip around 15 to 20% in restaurants, or gather the balance at a bar.
Hotel staff
Leaving strategies for hotel staff in the united states and Canada, particularly housekeeping staff, is typical practice. Around $3 to $5 each day for housekeeping employees are an adequate amount, and $1 per bag for porters.
Tipping slightly less in Central and South American hotels is okay. US dollars are usually accepted (although local currency is preferred). For porters in countries including Panama and nicaragua ,, Mexico, Nicaragua, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia, go with the local currency same as $1 per bag for porters and $1 to $2 a day for housekeeping staff. Specifically in South America, rural haciendas are popular accommodations. These are usually tended with a family of staff who'll cook, clean and maintain the gardens, so leaving a pooled tip at the end of your stay of around $10 to $15 (or the local currency equivalent) per guest is appreciated.
Tour guides
When embarking upon an organised tour in the USA, Canada or Colombia, you can expect similar tipping etiquette – about $10 to $20 in local currency for a tour guide each day, and around $5 to $10 for a driver. As with Europe, both guides and drivers are tipped separately.
In most Central and South American countries, guides are tipped around $5 to $10 (or local currency equivalent) for any day's work, whilst drivers are familiar with receiving half that. Observe that slightly different rules apply for Andes Trek and Inca Trail porters – this is covered within the last section.
The exception towards the general South America tipping rule (aside from Colombia), is Brazil. Here, tourism industry professionals rely heavily on tips, and much more generous amounts are appreciated. Think around 100 to 200 reals for a tour guide each day, and slightly less for drivers. Itrrrs worth remembering that Brazilians are extremely discreet when it comes to transactions, so don't help make your generous tipping too obvious!
Caribbean bus tours really are a popular way to see various areas of whichever island you're staying on and, if you choose to hop aboard one, tipping the driver a few $ $ $ $ is customary. Web hosting tour guides, tip about $20 each day as well as for drivers around $10.
Taxi drivers
In the USA, Canada and also the Caribbean, tipping taxi drivers about 10 to 15% of the fare may be the norm, or a handful of dollar bills will suffice for brief journeys.
Taxi rides in Central and South America fall under two camps when it comes to tipping expectations. If you have pre-negotiated (or haggled) the fare prior to getting in to the taxi, don't worry about tipping unless you formed a particularly strong bond using the driver. If the fare is fixed, feel free to round up after your way.
Asia
Restaurants and bars
China, Myanmar, Singapore and Taiwan don't have a strong tipping culture, and thus leaving extra money after your food, or in a bar, is largely deemed unnecessary. However, influenced by the influx of overseas tourists into larger cities, some chic new restaurants in China are beginning to simply accept small tips when offered. Exactly the same ever-increasing amounts of tourists in a lot of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia have become increasingly more accustomed to receiving tips, but they still aren't expected and never leaving the first is fine.
In India, service staff have grown to be accustomed to tips from tourists, despite tipping not traditionally being a member of Indian culture. In more established restaurants (where service charge isn't included), leave 5 to 10% should you really enjoyed your food, and in smaller, less formal places, either leave a few coins or gather the balance. You may also tip bartenders as much as 10% if they've really make the hours serving you.
Other Asian countries, including Japan and Nepal, believe that tipping is only for exceptionally good service – being treated with hospitality and warmth is the norm and should not be 'rewarded'. In Japan, some servers might even politely refuse some advice should you leave one.
Hotel staff
China's no tipping culture prevails when it comes to hotels, but if you're living our prime life inside a particularly luxurious establishment, feel free to tip the porter around 5 yuan per bag. You may even discover that in high-end hotels, a 10% service charge is going to be put into the general bill. Japanese hotels also don't expect their staff to become tipped, particularly in a conventional ryokan (inn). If you think particularly inclined, leave around 5000 yen (for any short stay) in an envelope, but it may be politely refused should you hand it over in person.
India's hotel staff are notoriously poorly paid, and so tipping the porter about 50 rupees per bag, and also the housekeeping staff 250 rupees each day are particularly welcome gestures.
Throughout the majority of Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia, something charge will almost always be included in your overall bill upon take a look at, and so tips aren't expected, even though it isn't uncommon to tip porters the local currency same as $1 per bag. Tipping housekeeping staff is less common but, if you feel you need to, the neighborhood currency equivalent of a few $ $ $ $ every night is fine.
Tour guides
As possible probably guess by now, tour guides and drivers in China do not expect tips. South Korean and Taiwanese tour guides do be prepared to take home a little extra on organised excursions – around 10% from the tour price is fine to split between the guide and driver. In Japan, tip guides around 2500 to 5000 yen for a full day, paid within an envelope. If you're utilizing a private driver, it's a nice gesture to provide to purchase them lunch.
A general guideline in India is to tip between 300 to 500 rupees a day for guides and 100 to 200 rupees for drivers.
In Singapore and also the Philippines, tipping tour guides and drivers a combined 10% of the overall tour cost is fair – they should split it between themselves. Other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia observe a convention of tipping around $10 to $20 (in local currency) for a tour guide per day, and half of that quantity for that driver. It's customary to give the total tipping add up to the guide, who will then siphon off some for that driver.
Taxi drivers
No tips are required by taxi drivers in China or Columbia, but rounding in the fare is standard practice in Japan. Indian taxi and rickshaw drivers are not accustomed to tips (however much they'll insist otherwise), but letting them know to keep the change is a genial gesture.
In Cambodia and Thailand, the neighborhood currency same as $1 is a great tip for taxi and tuk tuk drivers, whilst in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia, a 10% tip for fixed-fare rides is standard. In Singapore and Vietnam, simply gather the fare or offer the driver to keep the change.
The Middle East
Restaurants and bars
Within the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, servers in restaurants will expect a ten to 15% tip at the end of a meal. Even in Dubai, in which the government mandates 10% being added to bills at restaurants, hotels and bars, waitstaff will still expect some advice of up to 15%, or perhaps 20%.
Restaurants in Israel will often add a 10% service charge to bills in restaurants and bars, so always check before you start counting out your notes to avoid unnecessary double tipping.
Hotel staff
Dubai's government-mandated 10% service charge at hotels means that tipping is primarily restricted to those people who are feeling particularly flash. Within the rest of the UAE, concierges expect a tip for significant requests, like securing a table at a popular restaurant or organising a tour – between 100 and 120 dirhams should suffice. Tip porters around 7 dirhams per bag, and housekeeping staff around 10 to 11 dirhams each day.
In other popular Middle Eastern holiday destinations including Jordan and Israel, tip the local currency equivalent of $1.50 per bag for porters, exactly the same per day for housekeeping, and around $2 to the concierge for small favours should you require them.
Tour guides
In Dubai, all of those other UAE and Qatar, tipping a tour advice the local currency equivalent of around $10 to $15, along with a private driver half that quantity is a good way to go. After an excursion in other popular tourist countries in the Middle East, including Israel and Jordan, a rather larger tip which is between $25 to $35 (in local currency) for guides and $35 to $45 for driver guides is suitable.
Taxi drivers
Dubai taxi drivers pricier tips, but gather the fare if you are feeling generous. In many other Middle Eastern countries, including the remaining UAE, Israel, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, tip taxi drivers around 10 to 15% from the overall fare.
Africa
Restaurants and bars
Popular restaurants and bars in holiday hotspots like Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria will add a 10% service charge towards the bill. If there isn't one, it's common to leave some advice of around 10 to 15% should you be happy with your meal.
Throughout the remainder of Africa, typically, leaving 10 to 15% is really a normal tip for good service in restaurants, out of the box rounding up the bill in bars. Waitstaff and bar staff across a lot of Africa often earn a very basic living wage, therefore tips are a hugely welcome supplement.
Hotel staff
In certain northern African destinations like Egypt and Morocco, hotel concierges are powerful forces. Tip them generously (around the local currency same as $15 to $20) at the start of your stay to make sure good service for that duration. Housekeeping staff ought to be tipped about $3 to $5 a day in local currency, and porters $1 per bag.
Throughout Africa's popular holiday destinations, including South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania, hotels will expect small tips of $1 in local currency to the porter for every bag, and also to housekeeping staff every day. Concierges works well for pulling strings in these countries, so feel free to tip them around $3 to $5 in local currency for just about any favours they are doing for you personally. Luxury safari camps will often give a general tipping box at the front desk, and anything place into this box ought to be spread evenly one of the camp's staff. In order to tip a certain employee specifically, make sure you hand it to them in person.
Tour guides
When taking tours in North African countries, $20 a day (in local currency) is a good amount to tip guides and driver guides, while drivers can be tipped a little less. In Morocco particularly, tipping such as this is best done discreetly.
In other African countries where you might attempt an excursion, tipping about 10% of the total cost to guides and drivers is appreciated. On safari drives, the general idea is to tip your best guide the local currency same as $10, as well as your tracker $5 per day, but give these as cumulative tips after the safari.
Taxi drivers
Throughout most of the African continent, standard with regards to tipping taxi drivers would be to gather the ultimate fare, or tell the motive force to help keep the change. In countries more familiar with mass tourism, like Egypt and Nigeria, drivers will often expect a 10% tip at the end of an outing.
Oceania
Restaurants and bars
As staff within the hospitality industry are usually assumed to earn a decent wage in Australia and New Zealand, tipping in restaurants and bars here's unlikely, but a typical 10 to 15% is appreciated if you feel the knowledge warrants it.
On the South Pacific Islands, tipping in bars and restaurants is less of the concern, because the practice isn't area of the indigenous cultures. That said, if you visit a particularly swanky restaurant and also have your mind blown with incredible food and service, do you can add-on 10% to the overall bill, as much as it won't be expected.
Hotel staff
Australia and New Zealand's hotel staff are utilized to fairly standard tips – think around $1 (in either Australian or NZ dollars) per bag for porters and $3 to $5 each day for housekeeping staff.
The South Pacific Islands have a more hospitable stance – when you check into your hotel you're considered an honoured guest, and if you remain a second time, family. Suffice it to say, neither of these are expected to tip. Should you choose feel you want to reward particular personnel financially however, get it done face-to-face, otherwise it won't be taken. This is particularly true of housekeeping staff.
Tour guides
Tour guides and private drivers in Australia and New Zealand ought to be tipped between $20 and $50 (in local currency) each day, whilst bus tour operators could be given around a $5 to $10 tip for a day's work.
If you've been given an especially good tour guide or private driver within the South Pacific Islands, showing your appreciation with a tip is suitable, if not expected. The total amount can be you, but always tip in local currency, as US dollars are hard to trade.
Taxi drivers
Similarly, drivers in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Islands won't expect you to tip at the end of taxis ride, but rounding in the fare to the nearest $1 to $5 is common practice.
Other top troublesome tipping questions:
How much should you tip for 'free' walking tours?
A sightseeing option in many major cities worldwide, free walking tours can be found by various companies, but they are united within their 'pay what you want' approach. Often led by locals, the tours are generally a several hours long, that includes a predetermined, walking route that takes in specific city sites. Attendees will be asked after the tour to leave tips of an unspecified amount when they feel inclined. Theoretically these tours are free, in that you are not obligated to depart any money whatsoever at the conclusion. However, it is generally expected when you have stayed throughout the tour, you need to leave the guide with something. A great rule of thumb would be to tip the local currency equivalent of around $5 to $10 per person, but you're, obviously, thanks for visiting leave more.
Should you tip gondoliers in Venice?
Unlike popular opinion, tipping gondoliers in Venice isn't actually customary, but by all means leave a few euros if you are feeling flush.
How much in the event you leave when visiting a mosque or perhaps a temple?
There is not really a hard-and-fast rule here, but try leaving the local currency equivalent of $1 towards the person providing robes and scarves to women, and 50 cents to the person who minds these shoes if there is one.
How much in the event you tip for any Thai massage?
Should you grab a quick massage on the Khao San Road or similar, don't feel obliged to tip a lot more than about 30 baht. If you indulge in a far more upmarket massage, your tip should be more around the 150 to 300 baht mark. Resorts and retreats that include multiple treatments will often state the tipping policy upfront.
How much should you tip Inca Trail porters?
The wages of brawny local porters who lug your bags and camping equipment along hiking routes like the Inca Trail, are often part of a guided tour, but their truly invaluable work shouldn't go untipped – around 15-20 nuevo soles per person, each day, is a good add up to give.
When in the event you give baksheesh?
When travelling in the Middle East and South Asia, you will sometimes get asked for 'baksheesh'. The word often applies to an easy gratuity or service charge, but could refer to all kinds of financial tokens of appreciation. If a person asks you for baksheesh without providing something, this is considered begging, and thus giving money is completely at the discretion, although not usually advisable. Baksheesh can be politely asked for by anyone who has provided something, however it can be refused anytime and – like almost all tipping customs – is not mandatory, whatever you might be lead to believe.
