Foreign Tipping Guide by Country & Region
Jun 4, 2013, 7:41 am
#377
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
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What's wrong with a smile, eye contact and a genuine verbal expression of thanks? Remember most of the world has not simply replaced this with throwing money around.
Jun 4, 2013, 9:49 am
#379
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
Do please see my note at post #361 above. A significant number of us have made points that the "recommendations" here are grossly misleading and sometimes plain wrong. Repeatedly through the thread the point is made by locals to those (almost entirely from the USA) that the various tipping recommendations are inappropriate, yet it seems there is this recurring desire to ram money down the throats of the local personnel, regardless.
Jun 4, 2013, 9:51 am
#380
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Do please see my note at post #361 above. A significant number of us have made points that the "recommendations" here are grossly misleading and sometimes plain wrong. Repeatedly through the thread the point is made by locals to those (almost entirely from the USA) that the various tipping recommendations are inappropriate, yet it seems there is this recurring desire to ram money down the throats of the local personnel, regardless.
Jun 6, 2013, 5:14 am
#381
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 3
Few days back I was in Vientiane with an ex-pat guy who was throwing his weight around with the locals. Before I could stop myself I said, "By the way, how much do they tip round here?"
The porters etc. walked away holding 5000 kip each, looking totally bewildered.
The porters etc. walked away holding 5000 kip each, looking totally bewildered.
Jun 6, 2013, 10:29 am
#382
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MAN/BHX
Programs: ABBA
Posts: 6,027
Jun 14, 2013, 10:55 am
#383
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: London, England.
Programs: BA
Posts: 8,476
Lengthy article by the BBC on tipping practices in the USA
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22846846
Disappointing that they have fallen for the old stereotype that "all British are poor tippers". In my experience the majority who visit the USA are well aware of the traditions over there. It's like saying that those from the USA visiting the UK don't know that we drive on the left .......
I wonder if it's ever occurred to any of those who complain about tipping by those from overseas that we actually find US service standards nowadays distinctly lukewarm.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22846846
Disappointing that they have fallen for the old stereotype that "all British are poor tippers". In my experience the majority who visit the USA are well aware of the traditions over there. It's like saying that those from the USA visiting the UK don't know that we drive on the left .......
I wonder if it's ever occurred to any of those who complain about tipping by those from overseas that we actually find US service standards nowadays distinctly lukewarm.
Jun 14, 2013, 8:01 pm
#385
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Shanghai
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London's only so high because of the proliferation of restaurants the that have added an automatic service charge to the bill in recent years, surely. That's no way anywhere near an average for the UK as a whole.
Jun 15, 2013, 10:00 am
#386
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MAN/BHX
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Posts: 6,027
London isn't the uk obviously. It will have numbers skewed by American tourists where Inverness or Leeds wont
Jun 16, 2013, 11:46 am
#388
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I thought it was outlined in the original post, but I guess not. I always assumed W/W to be waiter/waitress, P to be porter, and TD to be taxi driver.
Jun 22, 2013, 2:35 pm
#389
Join Date: Nov 2010
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Jun 25, 2013, 11:23 pm
#390
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1
I'd say that almost anywhere in Western Europe, it is perfectly acceptable not to tip at all in bars and most restaurants, or just to round up. My wife regularly criticises me for "over-tipping", yet I rarely reach 10% unless the service is extraordinary.
So 0 to 10% would tend towards the zero end of the scale.
China? Tip if you want, but make it clear what you are doing, otherwise most Chinese will assume that you've forgotten your change and come after you to give it back. They really don't expect it, outside the tourist traps.
The only country I can ever recall being made uncomfortable for (accidentally) not tipping in a restaurant is the USA.
So 0 to 10% would tend towards the zero end of the scale.
China? Tip if you want, but make it clear what you are doing, otherwise most Chinese will assume that you've forgotten your change and come after you to give it back. They really don't expect it, outside the tourist traps.
The only country I can ever recall being made uncomfortable for (accidentally) not tipping in a restaurant is the USA.