Complete information on how much to tip for excellent service in every country.
Many people struggle to determine an appropriate level of gratuity since it varies from country to country.
It helps to know what to expect upon arrival, whether it’s a lingering bellhop seeking a tip, a cold shoulder from a dissatisfied maitre who feels unrewarded, or an aggravated bartender.
In Japan, if you forget to take your change, the waiter may come after you to return it, but in New York, if you don’t leave at least 15%, you’ll have a hard time getting a reservation at that restaurant again.
For a quick review of international tipping, consider the following:
Argentina
It’s common practice to tip 10% at restaurants. Housekeeping and porters should be tipped 1-2 pesos each for bringing luggage to guest rooms unless the hotel has charged that fee. Additionally, if you tip the maid a few pesos every day, you will get excellent service. Taxi drivers rarely ask for tips, yet almost everyone gives them anyway.
Australia
While tipping is becoming more common, it is still not expected from customers in Australia. In most places, a 10% tip is standard. Taxi drivers are not often expected to get tips, although this practice is growing in popularity as the number of visitors to Australia rises.
Austria
Because salaries are relatively high and a service fee is often already included in the bill, tipping is less popular in Austria than in the United States or other European countries. However, while dining out, it is customary to tip the waiter anything from 5 to 10% of the bill in cash. When making a payment in Austria, instead of saying “Keep the change,” you say “Danke.” Avoiding a tip while receiving subpar service is not unprecedented.
Taxi drivers can expect a 10% tip as a rule. It’s customary to leave a tip of 1 to 2 euros per bag for the porters and the same for the housekeeping service each morning. Advice like this isn’t required but always welcome.
Belgium
In Belgium, a tip is not expected from everybody. Those in the service industry get competitive wages and rarely have to depend on tips. However, it’s not always appropriate to leave a tip. The standard restaurant tip is 10-15%, although it’s nice to leave a few dollars for exceptional service. A 15% tip is customary in places where service charges are not included.
Round up the bill rather than leaving a tip at hotels or cabs. Parking lot employees are paid 1 euro, cloakroom workers 50 cents, bathroom attendants 25 cents, and bartenders a pittance. Taxi drivers are not legally obligated to be tipped in Belgium, although tips are always appreciated.
The British Virgin Islands
At restaurants and hotels, the standard anticipated tip ranges from 15 to 22 percent. Taxis often get between 2-4 percent and 10 percent of the discretionary tip that bartenders receive.
Canada
The majority of wait staff in Canada anticipate receiving a tip in the range of 10 to 20 percent of the total bill. This range varies depending on whether the customer is in French or English Canada as well as the quality of the service received; if the service is truly subpar, leaving a few cents should be sufficient to convey your dissatisfaction.
The standard tip at restaurants is 15%. In hotels, it is customary to leave a tip of between one and three dollars each day for the porters, valets, and maids. Put the tip on the bed or the table at the side of the bed. It is customary to provide a tip of around 10 percent for the cab driver.
Chile
The standard tip is 10 percent of the total amount. No more, no less. But! If the service that you get is unsatisfactory, you are under no obligation to leave a tip. On the other hand, no one ever leaves more than 10%.
China
Tipping is not expected or required anywhere in China. The general belief is that people from other countries are filthy rich, and as a result, they should be taxed a lot more. The vast majority of hotels and restaurants run by the government do not permit the receipt of tips. At some of the most prestigious hotels, as well as by younger members of the service staff in some of the more liberal cities, it is often required. Use your judgment.
It is not required that you tip the bellhops or concierges at upscale hotels, but it is polite to do so. The suggested amount is $10 per piece of baggage. A service fee of 10–15 percent is often applied to the total amount when paying in Hong Kong. Taxi drivers in China do not anticipate receiving tips from their customers.
Cyprus
At restaurants and hotels, you can anticipate being charged between 10 and 15 percent, in addition to modest tips for porters and housekeeping. Taxi drivers are not entitled to tips, but the employees in cloakrooms and restrooms anticipate receiving one euro.
Czech Republic
The Czech people do not often leave tips. However, in modern times, it is customary for tourists from other countries to leave a tip of 10%, although this is mainly required in tourist hotspots like Prague. Tipping customs shift in restaurants in response to general economic expansion. Service in this part of the globe is somewhat different from that in many other parts of the world; rather than judging the service based on how friendly the staff is, consider its promptness, quality, and overall cost.
It is not common practice to pay tips using a credit card. Tipping is not often expected in the Czech Republic while using taxi services. In the event that you did get extraordinary service, you are more than welcome to round up the total amount due. Porters, bellboys, and maids should each get a tip of one to three euros.
Denmark
Due to the relatively high standard of living, tipping is not a common practice in Denmark. However, a 10% tip is customary and much appreciated. It is up to you to decide whether or not to leave a tip, even in the instance of extraordinary service.
Egypt
Backsheesh is the Egyptian word for a tip. All service providers should be tipped, though there is no universally agreed-upon standard. Ten percent to fifteen percent is standard in eating establishments.
France
Tipping is not expected in France since service is already included in the cost of a meal out, although the practice is widely accepted. Hotel staff such as cleaners and porters like tips of 1–2 euros. The same cannot be said about bars, so it is up to you to decide whether or not you had excellent service.
Porters should be paid between 0.50€ and 1.00€ each bag, while housekeepers should be paid between 1.00€ and 1.50€ per day. Taxi drivers should be tipped 10% as standard practice.
Germany
In Germany, tipping is not often done. In most places, service is not included and should be tipped on top of the bill. Housekeepers and porters often get tips of €2–3. Cab drivers often get 15% tips. In Germany, cash is preferred over credit or debit cards at most establishments.
Greece
A tip of 5-10% is customary at dining establishments. The standard hotel tip is between 4 and 5 percent. Not all cab drivers would appreciate a tip. Tip the hotel porter or bellboy 1 euro (or equivalent) per bag.
Hungary
In Hungary, tipping is a popular practice. In restaurants, a standard tip ranges from 8 to 15 percent. Anyone who performs a service for you should be tipped. Taxi chauffeurs should be tipped 10%.
Ireland
In Ireland, tipping is not expected. However, if there is no service charge already included, a tip of 12–15 percent is standard in a restaurant or hotel. Taxi drivers, hotel bellhops, and housekeeping employees should expect a 10% tip for excellent service.
Italy
If you see the words “servizio incluso” or a coperto (cover charge) added to your bill in an Italian restaurant, you can rest assured that no further tip is required. Still, any more help would be much appreciated.
Malta
You should tip between 10 and 15 percent at restaurants. In hotels, cleaning should be tipped LM5, whereas porters and bartenders should get LM1. The going rate for a taxi is LM 1-2. Everyone else’s range is from 10 to 50 cents.
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, tipping is not customary. However, it is customary practice to pay the exact amount, rounded up, at restaurants. Although 10% is often added to your bill at restaurants, if service is not included, you need to add another 10%. Tip hotel staff as you see fit, although taxi drivers often demand between 5 and 10 percent. Even though it’s not expected, a tip of €1 or €2 is appreciated by taxi drivers.
New Zealand
People in New Zealand make decent salaries, so receiving a tip will be a pleasant surprise. Tipping is not expected unless the service is really noteworthy. However, tipping is becoming more common as the number of American tourists increases.
Portugal
Only in heavily touristed locations, like Lisbon and the Algarve, is tipping customary in Portugal. It’s customary to leave around a 5 percent tip at a restaurant. Standard hotel service charges range from 5% to 19%. Tipping the concierge and porters 2€ is customary in areas where service is not included. The standard tip for a taxi driver is between 5 and 10 percent.
Romania
The service fee typically ranges between 5-10% at most restaurants. You should tip between 5 and 10 percent in cases when it is not included. Typically, hotels will charge you roughly 5%, but if it is not included, you should tip your housekeeper and porter a minimum of 4-5 Lei every day.
The standard tip for taxi drivers is a few extra cents, whereas cab drivers, valet parking workers, and restroom attendants all anticipate about 2-3 Lei.
Russia
When dining out, expect to pay a service charge of 5-20%, and if the restaurant does not have a service charge, tip between 10% and 25%. Hotel rates typically range from 5-20%, however, a little tip for the porter or housekeeper is appreciated. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers. Some restaurants only take cash tips, so be prepared.
Singapore
A lack of tipping is enforced by government notices in Lion City. Many upscale hotels already add a 10% service charge to the bill, and officials advise guests not to add to this. The exception to the no-tipping rule is the hotel porter, who often receives a few bucks for carrying baggage.
Spain
Tipping is not mandatory in Spain; however, most restaurants and bars do anticipate a 5–10% tip from visitors. In most restaurants, a service charge is automatically added to the total, but it is still customary to give a modest tip for bartenders and wait staff who provide exceptional service. Room service, the hotel’s porters, and the people who clean your room all anticipate some kind of tip.
Sri Lanka
It’s customary to leave a 10% tip. While some hotels may impose this charge, those that don’t should be tipped at least 100 LKr (about $13) for the concierge, bartender, and housekeeper, and 30 LKr (about $0.6) for the porter. For a short trip, taxi drivers usually ask for 10% of the fare, which is equivalent to up to 100 LKr. Bartenders, valet workers, and those who care for parking lots and restrooms often ask for 50-100 LKr.
Thailand
Tipping is not often practiced in Thailand. In certain locations, it is the norm, while in others, it is not. You should expect to leave a tip in a Westernized country. Taxis in Bangkok now have meters, eliminating the need to negotiate fares, although it is still common practice to pay the full five baht, or around US$1.
United States
Tipping is a cultural norm in the United States, and failure to do so could easily cause offense. It’s common practice in American restaurants to leave a 15-20% tip, which helps supplement servers’ low base salaries. Everyone in the service sector relies on tips to keep working, so it’s standard practice to leave one if someone does you a favor. It’s all about the culture.
What about tipping on cruises, coaches and all-inclusive holidays?
Cruises
When on a cruise, passengers have no choice but to tip the staff. While most cruise brochures provide a suggested tip amount, this information is often inconsistent and random. On a two-week trip, plan an additional £85 per person. All bar tabs on many cruises include an additional 15 percent service fee, plus an additional 10 dollars that go into a common fund.
Coaches
Tipping the driver is not something that has a set protocol. Some suggest anything from £5 to £30, but it’s truly up to you.
All-Inclusive Holidays
Unless dining à la carte, travel agents believe that tipping is unnecessary during an all-inclusive vacation.
Note:
Don’t double-pay by writing a tip on credit card slips if your account already contains a service charge.
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