Travel expert reveals where you shouldn’t give tips to staff when abroad
Whether at a restaurant or getting your bags taken to your hotel room, it's an unwritten rule for many that you cough up a little bit more after dealing with good customer service.
Yes, the tip. That £45 restaurant bill? Make it £50. Even if you don't necessarily agree, convention dictates it the right thing to do for many.
Different cultures carry different rules, though.
Just look at the United States for one, where some believe it is only right to tip 20% no matter what you're getting - even if that's just a takeaway coffee.
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Well, the US isn't the only place that differs to the United Kingdom, where I think it's pretty safe to say you wouldn't tip for a latte from Costa or Pret.
Knowing what the tipping etiquette is can be tricky.
With the summer months approaching and more and more people taking to Google to see what the tipping rules are across the globe, one travel expert has rounded up where it's appropriate to leave a gratuity.
And more importantly, where it is frowned upon and even considered rude.
Travel expert Justin Chapman at Go2Africa has opened up on his rules tipping, explaining tipping etiquette around the world.
Europe
"Tipping rules vary across Europe," Justin says.
"In countries like France, Italy, Spain, and Germany, your restaurant bill will often include a service charge, but leaving 10 to 15% tip can be expected if the ‘coperto' isn’t included. But in other countries, like Belgium, Finland, Denmark, and the Netherlands, tipping is less common – although rounding up bill to the nearest euro or leaving some change is a good way to show your appreciation.
"Taxis follow similar tipping rules across Europe, as do bars and coffee shops; a small tip, around €1 is expected in somewhere like France, but wouldn’t be expected in Denmark."
Africa
Justin explains: "As well as searching for things like the best safaris and the best time to go to South Africa, do some research on tipping before you travel. 10% to 15% of your restaurant bill is customary, but check the bill for a service charge that might be included already.
"When on safari, you would tip back-of-house staff, like cleaners, cooks, and guards, as well as front-of-house staff like guides, spotters or trackers, transfer drivers, and waiters or waitresses.
"Some lodges and camps will have a communal tip box, or you can leave your tip with the manager, where your tips can be evenly distributed amongst the staff, or you can give cash to individual staff members.
"Expect to tip $15 per day for general staff at the lodge or camp, $20 per day for a guide, $15 for a tracker, and around $10-20 for a guided city tour. There can be extras to remember too, depending on where you are – like tipping boat skippers in Mozambique, golf caddies in South Africa, and Maasai dancers in Tanzania and Kenya."
Central and South America
"In South America, waiters don’t rely on tips as heavily as they do in North America, but 10 to 15% is the norm in restaurants," he says.
"In countries like Brazil, Chile, and Costa Rica, look out for cover charge or ‘cubierto’ on your bill; this generally means a charge for the table, not a service charge that goes to the waiter. In Colombia, you can expect to tip tour guides $10 to $20 per day, but in most Central and South American countries, around $5 to $10 per day is acceptable.
"In Brazil, tourism professionals rely heavily on tips, and appreciate more generous amounts of around R$100 to R$200 (£15 to £30.) Taxi drivers don’t often expect a tip in Central & South America, but you can round up the fare, leaving a little more if they help with your bags."
Asia
This is where things differ big time, Justin explains.
He says: "Tipping culture varies greatly across Asia. In China, tips are seen as unnecessary and can even be seen as rude. In Japan, tipping in considered part of the service and can be considered offensive – a small gift might be better received if you really want to show appreciation. Similar to Japan, tipping is not expected in South Korea.
"However, in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam, tipping is becoming more common in tourist areas; a small tip of around 10% is a nice gesture but isn’t expected. In Indonesia, 5% to 10% is appreciated if a service charge hasn’t already been included.
"Tipping taxi drivers and in bars and coffee shops isn’t generally expected across Asia. It can be best to err on the side of caution and not tip in Asia, to avoid accidentally offending someone – but you can ask a local, or staff at your hotel for advice."
Australia and New Zealand
Tipping isn’t generally expected in Australia or New Zealand," he says.
"Some high-end restaurants in tourist areas might have tipping built into the bill as a service charge, but 5-10% or rounding up the bill to the nearest AUD can show your appreciation for exceptional service – including taxis, hotels, and bars."
USA and Canada
The tipping capital of the world, many would argue.
Justin says: "Tips make up a significant part of server income in these countries, so expect to leave 15% to 20% of the bill in restaurants.
"In bars, $1 per drink is expected, and leave your change or round up when paying for coffee. When paying for taxis, rounding up the nearest dollar or adding a small tip of 10% to 15% is customary. And don’t forget the hotel staff; bellhops usually expect $2 to $5 per bag, $2 to $5 per night for housekeeping, and $5 to $20 for the concierge, depending on the service."
Topics: Travel, Holiday, Money, Hacks, World News
Tom Earnshaw