Foreign Tipping Guide by Country & Region
#1
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Foreign Tipping Guide by Country & Region
Since all the other threads are about should you or shouldn't you & usually get into a philosophical discussion, thought I'd post something I read in newspaper that was taken from Magellen's. It's a more specific guide by country.
REGIONAL TIPPING TIPS
Asia/the Pacific: Special care must be taken to ensure that your well-meaning gesture is not taken as insulting. If you are unsure, it is best not to tip. If possible, observe the locals and follow their lead.
Europe: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill. In most cases, an additional tip is unnecessary. If no service charge is added to your bill, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and $1 per bag for a hotel porter.
Middle East/Africa: While your tip will not be seen as insulting, it may be unnecessary. Once again, the best bet is to do as the locals do.
Central/South America: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill, and an additional tip is unnecessary. If not, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and the equivalent of $1 per bag for a porter.
FOREIGN TIPPING GUIDE - COUNTRY
This list is by country, and then waiter/waitress, porter, and taxi driver categories.
Argentina
W/W: 10%
P: $1
TD: Round up taxi fare or small tip
Australia
W/W: 10% in fine restaurants only
P: $2 per bag
TD: Round up
Austria
W/W: 5% plus service charge
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: Round up
Bahamas
W/W: 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10% (15% actual per local FTer
Belgium
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Brazil
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Brunei
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Canada
W/W: 15% ranges from 10%-20% per local FTers
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10%
Cayman Islands
W/W: 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Chile
W/W: 10% in addition to service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: None
China
W/W: 3% in major cities (according to local FTers; 0%)
P: $1 to $2 (according to local FTers, none)
TD: None
Colombia
W/W: 10%
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: None
Costa Rica
W/W: None
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Czech Republic
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Denmark
W/W: None
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Ecuador
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: None
Egypt
W/W: 5% to 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Estonia
W/W: 10-15% for restaurants (in pubs toss spare change into big shared bowl for waitresses)
P: ?
TD: ?
Fiji
W/W: None
P: None
TD: Round up
Finland
W/W: None
P: None
TD: If you pay by credit card - none. If you pay with cash - none if you don't want to, but rounding up is acceptable to avoid hassling with coins.
France
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Germany
W/W: 5% to 10% or round up plus euro or two per some FTers
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Greece
W/W: 5% to 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Hong Kong
W/W: 10% plus service charge if svg charge no need to add 10% per local FTer or round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Hungary
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: None
TD: Round up
India
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag (according to local FTers 50cents/bag)
TD: Round up
Indonesia
W/W: 10%
P: 50 cents
TD: Round up
Ireland
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Israel
W/W: 12% to 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 12% to 15% (according to local FTers, tips included in fares; could tip but not 12-15%)
Italy
W/W: 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Japan
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Malaysia
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Mexico
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1
TD: 50 cents
Morocco
W/W: Leave loose change
P: 50 cents per bag
TD: Round up
Netherlands
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
New Zealand
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Norway
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Oman
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Peru
W/W: Up to 10% for special service
P: 75cents per bag
TD: None
Philippines
W/W: 10%
P: 50 cents to $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Poland
W/W: 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Portugal
W/W: 10% to 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Romania
W/W: Round up bill
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Russia
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Samoa
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Saudi Arabia
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10%
Singapore
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
South Africa
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: 50 cents
TD: 10%
South Korea
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Spain
W/W: 7% to 10% plus service charges
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Sweden
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Switzerland
W/W: Round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Taiwan
W/W: 10% if no service charge (none according to local FTer)
P: $1 per bag
TD: None
Tanzania
W/W: 10%
P: None
TD: None
Thailand
W/W: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
P: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
TD: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
Turkey
W/W: Round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
United Arab Emirates
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
United Kingdom
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 15% (according to local FTers 10% or round up to nearest pound)
USA
W/W: 15% to 20%
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10% to 15%
Venezula
W/W: 10%
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: 10%
Vietnam
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
REGIONAL TIPPING TIPS
Asia/the Pacific: Special care must be taken to ensure that your well-meaning gesture is not taken as insulting. If you are unsure, it is best not to tip. If possible, observe the locals and follow their lead.
Europe: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill. In most cases, an additional tip is unnecessary. If no service charge is added to your bill, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and $1 per bag for a hotel porter.
Middle East/Africa: While your tip will not be seen as insulting, it may be unnecessary. Once again, the best bet is to do as the locals do.
Central/South America: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill, and an additional tip is unnecessary. If not, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and the equivalent of $1 per bag for a porter.
FOREIGN TIPPING GUIDE - COUNTRY
This list is by country, and then waiter/waitress, porter, and taxi driver categories.
Argentina
W/W: 10%
P: $1
TD: Round up taxi fare or small tip
Australia
W/W: 10% in fine restaurants only
P: $2 per bag
TD: Round up
Austria
W/W: 5% plus service charge
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: Round up
Bahamas
W/W: 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10% (15% actual per local FTer
Belgium
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Brazil
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Brunei
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Canada
W/W: 15% ranges from 10%-20% per local FTers
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10%
Cayman Islands
W/W: 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Chile
W/W: 10% in addition to service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: None
China
W/W: 3% in major cities (according to local FTers; 0%)
P: $1 to $2 (according to local FTers, none)
TD: None
Colombia
W/W: 10%
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: None
Costa Rica
W/W: None
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Czech Republic
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Denmark
W/W: None
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Ecuador
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: None
Egypt
W/W: 5% to 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Estonia
W/W: 10-15% for restaurants (in pubs toss spare change into big shared bowl for waitresses)
P: ?
TD: ?
Fiji
W/W: None
P: None
TD: Round up
Finland
W/W: None
P: None
TD: If you pay by credit card - none. If you pay with cash - none if you don't want to, but rounding up is acceptable to avoid hassling with coins.
France
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Germany
W/W: 5% to 10% or round up plus euro or two per some FTers
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Greece
W/W: 5% to 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Hong Kong
W/W: 10% plus service charge if svg charge no need to add 10% per local FTer or round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Hungary
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: None
TD: Round up
India
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag (according to local FTers 50cents/bag)
TD: Round up
Indonesia
W/W: 10%
P: 50 cents
TD: Round up
Ireland
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Israel
W/W: 12% to 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 12% to 15% (according to local FTers, tips included in fares; could tip but not 12-15%)
Italy
W/W: 10% plus service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Japan
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Malaysia
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Mexico
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1
TD: 50 cents
Morocco
W/W: Leave loose change
P: 50 cents per bag
TD: Round up
Netherlands
W/W: 5% to 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
New Zealand
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Norway
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Oman
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Peru
W/W: Up to 10% for special service
P: 75cents per bag
TD: None
Philippines
W/W: 10%
P: 50 cents to $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Poland
W/W: 10%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Portugal
W/W: 10% to 15% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Romania
W/W: Round up bill
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Russia
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Samoa
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Saudi Arabia
W/W: 10% to 15%
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10%
Singapore
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
South Africa
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: 50 cents
TD: 10%
South Korea
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Spain
W/W: 7% to 10% plus service charges
P: $1 per bag
TD: 10%
Sweden
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Switzerland
W/W: Round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
Taiwan
W/W: 10% if no service charge (none according to local FTer)
P: $1 per bag
TD: None
Tanzania
W/W: 10%
P: None
TD: None
Thailand
W/W: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
P: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
TD: None see post # 32 in this thread for update by local FTer
Turkey
W/W: Round up
P: $1 per bag
TD: Round up
United Arab Emirates
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
United Kingdom
W/W: 10% if no service charge
P: $1 per bag
TD: 15% (according to local FTers 10% or round up to nearest pound)
USA
W/W: 15% to 20%
P: $1 to $2 per bag
TD: 10% to 15%
Venezula
W/W: 10%
P: 75 cents per bag
TD: 10%
Vietnam
W/W: None
P: None
TD: None
Last edited by JY1024; Dec 14, 2011 at 12:43 pm Reason: small updates
#3
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China
W/W: 3% in major cities
P: $1 to $2
TD: None
What's with this 3%? As a Chinese, I would say no tipping is required. However, if you go to high-class hotels or places that mostly cater to foreigners, 10% tips might be preferred.
W/W: 3% in major cities
P: $1 to $2
TD: None
What's with this 3%? As a Chinese, I would say no tipping is required. However, if you go to high-class hotels or places that mostly cater to foreigners, 10% tips might be preferred.
#4
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Cheers.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 104
Having tipping info all in one place is useful, but this list doesn't ring true for me. Tipping in China? If there's one place in the world where "don't tip" can be universally applied, surely it's China. Most places will refuse the tip or take it as somewhat insulting! The only tips I've ever seen in China were absolutely clueless foreigners.
#8
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And if you read the regional part at the top of the original post, it says that. "Asia/the Pacific: Special care must be taken to ensure that your well-meaning gesture is not taken as insulting. If you are unsure, it is best not to tip. If possible, observe the locals and follow their lead."
I'm assuming the 3% & the per bag is for those silly Americans who insist on tipping anyway So far the China listing is the only one that seems to be causing any controversy, so overall I think the list will be helpful for FTers & beats folk having to 'guess'. Brunei now spelled correctly.
Cheers.
I'm assuming the 3% & the per bag is for those silly Americans who insist on tipping anyway So far the China listing is the only one that seems to be causing any controversy, so overall I think the list will be helpful for FTers & beats folk having to 'guess'. Brunei now spelled correctly.
Cheers.
#10
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,659
USA Today ran an article a week ago on tipping, using the Magellan information. You can see the chart online here. Here is the link to the same info on the Magellan site.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,630
#13
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I'm a bit bemused about the differences between England, Scotland and Wales. Can't say I've ever tipped 15% to a taxi driver in the UK unless accidentally...
#14
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
Suggestion for Sharon (if it's not too much work) - how about adding notes to list you posted if locals point out inaccuracies?
For example
TD: 15%
could become
TD: 15% (10% according to local FTers)
#15
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I support this idea. E.g. 10% seems to be the standard when Magellen's have had no clue. 0 to 10% would be more accurate in many cases, but there are also examples in the other direction. E.g. I would say that in Austria W/W would be expected to be more than 5% unfortunately.