no tipping in Italy

What about tipping in the UAE yes or no?

And I'll admit it took me several trips down here to get used to not tipping. I still have issues with not tipping elsewhere, but in Australia I certainly do not anymore.

I've got to say that tipping is so ingrained in me also that it feels strange not to tip in countries where it's not the norm or if there's a service charge.

Countries with service charges aside, my only experience with a country with essentially no tipping is Japan. And frankly, service was overall great. Culturally, it was just such a positive experience overall.

Restaurants have a service charge included, so no.

Taxi rate cards explicitly state that drivers are not allowed to demand tips, although I do tip the taxi drivers, especially when I take an AUH-DXB trip.

My experience in South Korea was that tipping was almost an offence.

No tipping in Fiji. Service is not an issue. Just be aware that they are not in a hurry, so do not take it as slow service.

No tipping in Switzerland. You could leave small coins, but not required.

In Japan, tipping will indeed cause embarassment or even insult. Exception is when staying at a ryokan, where it is customary to tip your room attendant (who also would have served you your kaiseki meals) at the end of your stay by putting some money in an envelope. There is probably some protocol about how much and when and how to hand it to her, or where to leave it, but I don't know the details. Like many aspects and manners of life in Japan, even this act is ritualized.

In Hong Kong, even though 10% is added to restaurant bills, many people do leave a small amount (maybe another 2-5%, preferably in cash), which goes into a "kitty" to be shared by all the servers. For taxis, round up to the nearest HK dollar (not required but commonly practised). Hotel bellhops do expect a tip.

My apologies for going OT - I just realized this thread is about dining.

Wirelessly posted (beckoa\'s PWP wonderous poster: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.304 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102)

Well some parts of Alaska -(Most) have some sales tax. ANC is the big exception and is why when I travel to the lower 48 I am confused by this 'tax' thing :p

So yes tipping exists in AK ;)

Spain was a welcome break however ^

Do you get the impression that "Service Charges" are added to the bill of travelers from the US, but not others? I believe this has happened to me in a restaurant or two.....

If a hotel/restaurant has a service charge on the bill, I do not leave anything in extra.

No tipping in Australia, Singapore and Indonesia. I leave tip for exceptional service only.

+1

There is no tipping in Nepal but many of the more "touristy" or upscale places have an added service charge. I've seen locals ask for a discount and this be waived.

Tipping is not necessary in most of South Asia. Small amounts are ok.

It's nice to leave a small tip in Singapore, as I'm not sure how much of the service charge money waiters ever get to see. There's a large discussion going on whether to keep the service charge or drop it, whether service is better with it or would improve by scrapping it.

Similarly to HK, with a 10% service charge here I tend to add a tip of about 5% for good service.