How To… Tip Around the World

By Nora Dunn

Whilst visiting Tokyo, you slip your taxi driver a small tip for taking you to your destination so promptly and courteously. Little did you know you just offended him beyond reproach. Or you get out of the cab in Mexico, only to find that you must have either over-tipped your driver or have entered the twilight zone because the serenade you are getting now seems a little over the top considering all you did was toss in the equivalent of an extra dollar or two. Or you walk out of a bar in Canada, wondering why the bartender ignored you for 10 minutes when you went to order your third drink – without tipping for any of them.

As with so many cultural idiosyncrasies around the world, tipping is a prevalent and ever-changing custom that differs as much with each country as the language or topography does. In North America, tipping is common, and in many cases downright expected. Servers and bartenders for example, often earn less than the minimum hourly wage, because it is expected that they will also earn tips that amount to 15%-20% of their customers’ bills. In other countries like Australia, tips are lovely but not expected; and the servers and bartenders are paid an hourly wage to reflect this.

So while abroad, who do you tip and how much? Here is a small collection of tipping practices around the world you can use as a guide.

NORTH AMERICA

Arguably, North American culture dictates more tipping than anywhere else in the world. Make sure you have some extra cash handy!

Canada

• Restaurants and Bars: 15% (Hint: If you’re at a bar, tip the bartender well on the first drink you order. You’ll get great service for the rest of the night, and if you tip really well on the first drink you aren’t necessarily expected to keep tipping on every drink thereafter. If you wait until the end of the night you may be the victim of bad service.)
• Taxi drivers: No set formula. Usually just round up the fare a few dollars.
• Spas: 10-15%
• Food delivery: $2-5, depending on the weather
• Coat Check: $1 per coat
• Hotel bellhop: $5-10
• Hotel chambermaids: $2-5/day

USA

• Restaurants: 18-20%
• Bars: 15%
• Taxi: 10-15% of fare
• Spas: 15%
• Food delivery: $2-5, depending on the weather
• Coat Check: $1 per coat
• Hotel bellhop: $5-10
• Hotel chambermaids: $2-5/day

ASIA

In many parts of Asia in general, tips are welcome but ones that are extravagant can be seen as an insult.

Singapore

• Restaurants & Bars: Generally no tips are required. Upscale dining will auto-gratuity 10%.
• Taxis: No tipping required
• Spas: $2-4 Singapore dollars (hand it directly to the staff who served you). This applies to shampoo person and manicurist, but strangely the hair stylist rarely gets tipped.
• Hotel service staff: $2S, however often you will see “no tipping required” signs so you can use your judgement depending on the quality of hotel you are staying at.

Hong Kong As above.

China Tipping policies are non-existent. Foreigners are generally charged more to begin with.

Japan Don’t.

LATIN AMERICA

Mexico Do! Tips are expected by pretty much everybody who services you in any way.

• Restaurants & Bars: 15%
• Taxis: Tipping is not necessary. Usually you have negotiated a flat fare that encompasses the tip.
• Spas: 10%

Brazil

• Restaurants & Bars: Look for the 10% service charge on the bill. If it’s not there, then tip 10%.
• Taxis: No tipping required, but it’s always nice to round up a bit if you can.
• Spa: 10%-15%
• Hotels: The service charge is usually included in the bill.
• Chambermaids: Only tip at luxury hotels: $1-$2

EUROPE

Germany

Germans are not big tippers in general, but tips are still welcome and, in some cases, expected.

Note: Look for the words “Trinkgeld Inbegriffen” on your bill… If you see them, it means that the service charge has been included already. No need to leave any extra!

• Restaurants & Bars: 10%
• Taxis: 10%
• Spas: €1-€2 will do for a hair stylist, and €1 for the shampoo technician. Tipping on other spa services depends on the cost and nature of the service; 10% is usually a safe bet.
• Hotel chambermaid: Only tip if you are happy with the service, and leave it in the room when you leave.
• Hotel bellhops: €2-€3

Switzerland Pretty much across the board, 15% tips are included in the bills. As in Germany, keep your eyes peeled for the words “Trinkgeld Inbegriffen” to make sure. If the service was outstanding and you want to tip more, then you can give up to 10% extra. Also if you plan to become a regular, this is a great idea!

France

• Restaurants & Bars: A service charge of 15% is usually included in the bill. You’ll know if the words “servis compris” appear.
• Taxis: Drivers don’t require or expect tips.
• Spas: Look for the service charge to be included in the bill. If it’s not, then 10%-15% will do, and only if you are happy with the service.

Italy

• Restaurants & Bars: Tips are not expected. There are often cover charges or bread charges, which take the place of general tipping practices. If you really wish you can leave a small amount at the table.

Again, and as with so many European destinations, a service charge may be included. “Servizio compreso” will be your hint.

United Kingdom

• Restaurants: Tipping is not necessarily expected, but is very welcome. 10%-15% will do. Unlike many other European destinations, service charges are rarely included in the bill.
• Bars: Don’t tip in cash. You can offer to buy the bartender a drink if you’re happy with the service. They’ll then add the price of half a pint on to your tab (sometimes they’ll pour the drink for themselves, but most times they’ll just keep the cash).
• Taxis: 10%

DOWN UNDER

Australia Tipping in Australia is almost non-existent. Generally speaking if you are happy with the service, nobody will say no or be offended that you want to give them money. They’re just not expecting tips – at least not from the locals!

• Restaurants & Bars: If you thought the service was great, you can tip up to 10%.

New Zealand No tips are required. Service charges are almost always included in the bill.

MISCELLANEOUS

Egypt Tips in Egypt are most certainly expected, but the amount is at your discretion. When in doubt, tip like you do at home.

Russia Restaurants & Bars: 10% Taxis: 5%-10%

This is by no means a comprehensive guide to tipping around the world. Within each country practices can vary, much less within each geographical region. So how can you best be sure you are following customs and not offending anybody by being stingy, while not getting pinned as a naïve tourist by over-tipping? Ask! Most people will be quite honest with you about standard tipping practices. And if you’re embarrassed about asking your potential tippee what to do, then ask at an information desk at the airport or your hotel.

Happy tipping!

Extra Tipping Resources:

Political Calculations This site includes a chart of all the countries mentioned above and more with general guidelines for tipping and cultural practices.

International Business Etiquette Internet Sourcebook Here you will find links to sites for business etiquette tips around the world – a very useful tool, even if you aren’t travelling for business.

Best Trip Choices A great resource for trip planning, from weather to ATM locations to travel insurance and more.

10 Offbeat Australian Places

by Elisabeth Sowerbutts

There’s a whole lot more to Australia than the Sydney Opera House and Ayers Rock. In fact most of Australia’s stunning and unusual sights are completely missed by travellers who focus on the well-worn East Coast trail from Sydney to Queensland. Here’s a selection of some Australian places that you may have missed: see all these and you’ll have seen more than most of the locals!

West Macdonald Ranges and Kings Canyon, Northern Territory: Every visitor wants to see Ayers Rock, so go and see it, just make sure that you take the back road to Alice Springs via Kings Canyon and the West MacDonald Ranges. The colours and gorges of this area have inspired artists for years: visit and you’ll know why.

Litchfield National Park, Northern Territory: You may have heard of Kakadu National Park south east of Darwin, but what about nearby Litchfield National Park? Litchfield doesn’t have as many sealed roads, cappuccinos or tourists, but is that why you go to the territory’s tropical north? Instead experience remote water holes and amazing bird life.

Lawn Hill, Queensland: Most of northern Queensland is off-limits for swimming, well unless you are a crocodile that is. Lawn Hill is an oasis, a beautiful gorge of warm thermal water, bird life and safe swimming. It’s the only place you can swim outside of a swimming pool between the Gulf of Carpentaria and Mount Isa. The campground consists of secluded sites within gum trees.

Winton, Queensland: Winton, a tiny country town, is the jumping off spot to see the dinosaur stampede footprints at nearby Lark Quarry. Spend a day in Winton itself, have a drink at the art deco North Gregory Hotel and visit the tacky-sounding, but incredibly entertaining and informative, Waltzing Matilda Centre.

Bungle Bungles, Western Australia: Unknown to the outside world until about 20 years ago, this enormous of area eroded landscape looks like something from a CGI special effects department. In the north of the state the moon-like landscape is so extensive that you have to take a flight to appreciate it.

Cape le Grande National Park, Western Australia: Near to the town of Esperance, a remote port on the Southern coast, are the deserted and stunning beaches of Cape le Grande National Park. The sand is blindingly white, almost pure quartz, and it literally squeaks when you walk on it. The sea is an incredible shade of turquoise blue, and seals were the only surfers on the day we visited.

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia: Many visitors go to Bendigo or Ballarat in Victoria to see a historic mining town. Head instead to Kalgoorlie and see a real, living breathing town whose historic buildings are still in use. Visit the “superpit”, a working gold mine right in the centre of town, and check out the “skimpy” bars full of modern-day miners and half-clad waitresses. No, Kalgoorlie is not politically correct, but it’s definitely authentic.

Old Ghan Railway Track, South Australia: This remote outback road, along the historic Ghan railway line, is much less travelled than the better known Birdsville Track. You can take the luxurious modern Ghan train from Adelaide all the way to Darwin, or get your hands dirty and grab a 4WD. The 4WD track takes you along the more authentic, remote and beautiful old Ghan track that skirts Lake Eyre. Look out for genuine railway sleepers and pins, which are yours for the taking. Most of the towns along this route died when the trains stopped in the 1970s.

Coober Pedy, South Australia: Subterranean towns are rare. Even rarer are real towns where people, not just tourists, live underground to cut heating and air con bills. Churches, shops, motels and campgrounds are all available underground here. The name ‘Coober Pedy’ comes from the local Aboriginal phrase “white fella’s hole in the ground”; the town is also famous for being the opal capital of the world.

Franklin River, Tasmania: Tasmania’s remote West Coast receives a lot of rain, and the dark temperate rain forest is a world away from mainland Australia’s deserts and tropics. The remote and brooding landscape of the Franklin River is sinister and appealing at the same time. You can see why the early convicts were desperate to escape, and why so few of them managed to so.