Tipping in foreign countries
May 22, 2015, 1:10 pm
#31
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I may, on very very rare occasions, leave a tip at the end of the evening but certainly not each and every round in any case. And most people are not expecting it anyway. At least where I drink !
May 23, 2015, 3:23 am
#32
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I think this is pretty much true. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the US is also the only country where there are "tip credits", meaning that tipped employees can be paid less than minimum wage, provided that their tips bring them up to the minimum. Most US states have this system, but I've never heard of it anywhere else.
May 23, 2015, 5:25 am
#33
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One thing I would say: people in few countries, if any, are as worked up about tipping as people in the US seem to be. People in most places adopt much more of a "take it as it comes" approach than people in the US do. I for example have tipped Singapore taxi drivers (is that not done?), and the country hasn't collapsed.
Another odd thing I have noticed about some Americans: when they ask a local person what the appropriate approach is to tipping in a particular situation, if the answer they get indicates something different from what they would do in the US, then they don't believe the answer. This obviously doesn't apply to all Americans, but I've seen on a number of occasions and it has always struck me as odd - if you're not going to believe the answer why ask the question?
Another odd thing I have noticed about some Americans: when they ask a local person what the appropriate approach is to tipping in a particular situation, if the answer they get indicates something different from what they would do in the US, then they don't believe the answer. This obviously doesn't apply to all Americans, but I've seen on a number of occasions and it has always struck me as odd - if you're not going to believe the answer why ask the question?
I hate to admit that tipping is such a critical part of our life here that everytime I am trying to come up with a number to scribble on that tip line on a receipt, I am essentially worried about tipping too little.
I also understand whatever I said may not make sense to many people but this is a cold fact.
May 23, 2015, 6:31 am
#34
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How do you figure what to tip (if at all), who to tip, and how much when traveling abroad? Is it something you actually take the time to research or just kind of figure out on the fly?
It isn't something I even think about before I go abroad, but have made a few embarrassing mistakes over the years (i.e. trying to tip a taxi driver in Singapore). Still something I am often confused about (esp. in global hotel brands abroad).
It isn't something I even think about before I go abroad, but have made a few embarrassing mistakes over the years (i.e. trying to tip a taxi driver in Singapore). Still something I am often confused about (esp. in global hotel brands abroad).
May 23, 2015, 5:55 pm
#35
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the US is also the only country where there are "tip credits", meaning that tipped employees can be paid less than minimum wage, provided that their tips bring them up to the minimum. Most US states have this system, but I've never heard of it anywhere else.
Tipping wasn't practiced in the US, historically. It began to take very limited root in the latter half of the 19th century, when the concept was copied from Europe (where it originated, most likely in England circa 16th century or so). Tipping still wasn't very popular with most people though and some states even passed laws banning tips during the early 20th century. It only really took off sometime around the 1920s or 1930s.
In any case, to the OP's main question, I've always found it easy to find information on tipping customs, or lack thereof, in any country - including for bar service. Plenty of print guidebooks and online sites have such information. I just follow whatever is the custom in the place I'm visiting, pretty simple.
May 23, 2015, 7:41 pm
#36
Join Date: Sep 2004
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I tend to tip everywhere coz it has kind of become second nature to us. When we ask someone about tipping, what we are really asking is if we need to tip more than what we are used to.
I hate to admit that tipping is such a critical part of our life here that everytime I am trying to come up with a number to scribble on that tip line on a receipt, I am essentially worried about tipping too little.
I also understand whatever I said may not make sense to many people but this is a cold fact.
I hate to admit that tipping is such a critical part of our life here that everytime I am trying to come up with a number to scribble on that tip line on a receipt, I am essentially worried about tipping too little.
I also understand whatever I said may not make sense to many people but this is a cold fact.
May 24, 2015, 4:51 am
#37
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Even in US there are people in the business who advocate the end of tips in restaurants:
(these are just a handful of the results when you search on Google)
http://ny.eater.com/2013/7/10/640638...ts-go-tip-free
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the...ing-2013-08-19
http://www.eater.com/2015/1/6/750472...s-35000-salary
http://groundswell.org/tip-free-restaurants/
http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/01/no...ittsburgh.html
http://www.caminorestaurant.com/no-tips
The reference to the tipping system as it was brought to the Americas from western Europe many hundreds of years ago, seems less valid today, IMHO. Those guys only worked with their bodies, and if transport was necessary, it was done by horse w/o carriage. Situation feels familiar?
(these are just a handful of the results when you search on Google)
http://ny.eater.com/2013/7/10/640638...ts-go-tip-free
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the...ing-2013-08-19
http://www.eater.com/2015/1/6/750472...s-35000-salary
http://groundswell.org/tip-free-restaurants/
http://smallbiztrends.com/2015/01/no...ittsburgh.html
http://www.caminorestaurant.com/no-tips
The reference to the tipping system as it was brought to the Americas from western Europe many hundreds of years ago, seems less valid today, IMHO. Those guys only worked with their bodies, and if transport was necessary, it was done by horse w/o carriage. Situation feels familiar?
May 24, 2015, 10:37 am
#38
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I'm old fashioned and actually enjoy carrying a guidebook when I travel. While on the flight over, tipping is usually one of the sections in it I look up.
May 24, 2015, 11:22 pm
#39
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Never trust someone with a vested interest on giving advice on tips.
Indeed.
At least in many SE Asian countries, it's "leave the small change."
Indeed.
At least in many SE Asian countries, it's "leave the small change."
May 25, 2015, 5:35 am
#41
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I learn about and adapt to many local customs when travelling. Gratuities to service providers however do not fall into that category.
I do work in a couple of developing countries and find the attitude of "don't spoil the locals with tips" to be far more offensive than occasionally offending someone in those few countries where tips are not a cultural norm.
To be frank I consider the obsession with tipping while travelling to be a preoccupation of cheapskates whose goal is avoid tipping under the guise of being "culturally sensitive."
I do work in a couple of developing countries and find the attitude of "don't spoil the locals with tips" to be far more offensive than occasionally offending someone in those few countries where tips are not a cultural norm.
To be frank I consider the obsession with tipping while travelling to be a preoccupation of cheapskates whose goal is avoid tipping under the guise of being "culturally sensitive."
Why call someone who may tip less than you childish names and seek to question their motives and character?
I don't know how to word this without coming across as patronizing, but isn't it important to remember, especially when traveling, that not everyone in the world thinks the same way as you?
May 25, 2015, 6:47 am
#42
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How does taking 2 minutes to Google what the local custom is (and then follow it) equate to being "an obsession"?
Why call someone who may tip less than you childish names and seek to question their motives and character?
I don't know how to word this without coming across as patronizing, but isn't it important to remember, especially when traveling, that not everyone in the world thinks the same way as you?
Why call someone who may tip less than you childish names and seek to question their motives and character?
I don't know how to word this without coming across as patronizing, but isn't it important to remember, especially when traveling, that not everyone in the world thinks the same way as you?
I'll pay attention to the cultural differences that matter. How much and when to tip the help isn't one of them.
May 25, 2015, 7:18 am
#43
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May 25, 2015, 7:41 am
#44
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Tips should be for superior service provided. The US is the only country I know where everyone thinks they provided superior service and deserve a tip.
Do you realize that tipping is a cultural difference that matters in some countries including the US? If you don't tip in the US, you often will offend the staff. On the other hand, the Japanese often see tipping as an insult. What you see as a positive thing may be seen as a negative thing in another culture, that's cultural difference.
Do you realize that tipping is a cultural difference that matters in some countries including the US? If you don't tip in the US, you often will offend the staff. On the other hand, the Japanese often see tipping as an insult. What you see as a positive thing may be seen as a negative thing in another culture, that's cultural difference.
Last edited by zerolife; May 25, 2015 at 7:52 am
May 25, 2015, 5:16 pm
#45
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It may matter to the recipient of the tip. Different countries have different ideas about which cultural differences matter and which ones don't. It may not matter to you, but as a traveler, you should consider whether it matters to the locals in the country you are visiting.