Tipping in foreign countries
May 19, 2015, 12:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 290
Tipping in foreign countries
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 19, 2015, 12:38 am
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Here's a long thread with the assembled wisdom of FT.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ry-region.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ry-region.html
May 19, 2015, 12:55 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 290
Why is there no information about bar tipping? That seems to be a critical missing piece IMO.
May 19, 2015, 1:00 am
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
Just go by the waiter recommendations.
May 19, 2015, 1:00 am
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Please search here first. Use google and try "site:flyertalk.com tipping bar foreign"
You will see that there are hundreds of threads. Please let's not have another one on this topic.
You will see that there are hundreds of threads. Please let's not have another one on this topic.
May 19, 2015, 1:06 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 290
There is literally nothing on bar tipping. In fact, this thread is the first result.
May 19, 2015, 2:06 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...appy-hour.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...cash-only.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...inks-only.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...4-tipping.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...australia.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...-thread-4.html
Just a selection...
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...cash-only.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...inks-only.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...4-tipping.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ocean...australia.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/dinin...-thread-4.html
Just a selection...
May 19, 2015, 4:17 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: WN A+ CP, UA 1MM/*A Gold, Mar LT Tit, IHG Plat, HH Dia
Posts: 6,284
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ry-region.html
Look back in this forum and you'll notice this thread is a sticky and is literally the first thread listed. That's an indication of how popular & useful it is.
Follow the norms for tipping a waiter or waitress. I'm not aware of any country where tipping at the bar is substantially different from tipping the waiter/waitress.
May 19, 2015, 4:22 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Sydney Australia
Programs: No programs & No Points!!!
Posts: 14,222
Bugs the crap out of me at The Star Casino when you get a drink from the bar and they give you your change on a little plate that screams "leave your change hear you cheap a**". If they put it in your hand you would just walk away. I so dislike the pressure of that in Australia where staff are paid very good wages.
May 19, 2015, 1:13 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lost
Programs: MH Gold, IHG RA, SPG Gold, QF Silver, Hertz 5 star
Posts: 258
It's simple. Never tip anywhere. No need to be worried about how much or to whom.
May 19, 2015, 2:19 pm
#11
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
There are dozens of country guides which discuss all manner of local customs and practices.
There is nothing which speaks brashness more than over-tipping where it's not done and which is cheaper and more churlish than not tipping where it's something on which the employee counts.
Doing the right thing isn't tough.
There is nothing which speaks brashness more than over-tipping where it's not done and which is cheaper and more churlish than not tipping where it's something on which the employee counts.
Doing the right thing isn't tough.
May 19, 2015, 2:25 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Oh dear, you seem to have started a new thread without searching first. You are very naughty indeed. When I am down the pub with my friends and some of them try to start a conversation on a topic we have had before I have to sometimes remind them that we have spoken about this before so would rather not have another conversation on it without them performing a mind search using whatever search method they prefer.
May 19, 2015, 9:16 pm
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
There are dozens of country guides which discuss all manner of local customs and practices.
There is nothing which speaks brashness more than over-tipping where it's not done and which is cheaper and more churlish than not tipping where it's something on which the employee counts.
Doing the right thing isn't tough.
There is nothing which speaks brashness more than over-tipping where it's not done and which is cheaper and more churlish than not tipping where it's something on which the employee counts.
Doing the right thing isn't tough.
One should never be a brash, churlish knave.
May 20, 2015, 5:07 am
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
I tip abroad as I do at home. I'm not going to overthink it or fret about whether I've offended someone by offering a gratuity.
I've probably over tipped in some places, under tipped in others and don't care.
In all that time I've only had a tip returned once and not because I tipped but because it was deemed to be too much.
I've probably over tipped in some places, under tipped in others and don't care.
In all that time I've only had a tip returned once and not because I tipped but because it was deemed to be too much.
May 20, 2015, 10:10 am
#15
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,057
I'm not aware of any country outside North America where tipping is considered obligatory.
However, I'm also unaware of any country where it isn't appreciated by staff, except maybe Japan (hearsay, not experience) . Give what you feel like, if you feel like it.
However, I'm also unaware of any country where it isn't appreciated by staff, except maybe Japan (hearsay, not experience) . Give what you feel like, if you feel like it.