You have just polished off a plateful of the world’s most delicious steak; how do you reward the restaurant for giving your taste buds an experience of a lifetime? You tip or may be not.
Tipping is tricky, hence you need to be up to speed about the rules that are in play in some of notable countries around the world. We have collated guidelines on tipping situations in these 13 countries.
INDIA
The tipping (also known as baksheesh) exists in small, touristy places but as far as the metropolises go, it’s almost non-existent. However, there are tour guides, taxi drivers and waiters who gently remind you about the tip. At restaurants, like other countries, a 10 % service charge is added to the bill.
DUBAI
For the city of gold, you can go easy on the tipping. Even though Dubai has a government mandate that all hotel, restaurant and bar bills are to be rolled out with an additional 10 % service charge. However, parking valets and porters may expect 10 dirhams from you, if you get them to do something for you that is.
THAILAND
A good 20 to 50 Baht is considered adequate for the hotel’s bellboy. When eating at a roadside joint, remember to round up the bill and at cheaper restaurants, leave the change. At upscale eateries, a customer is expected to tip an additional 10 % on the food bill, if the service charge is not already added.
FRANCE
This has always been one of the most romantic destinations in the history of travel and why wouldn’t it be: beaches, exquisite architecture, delectable drinks and soul-filled music. And therefore, it’s wise to know how to tip the tourism industry for their services.Anywhere between 2 euros to 20 euros for the hotel staff – bell-boy and concierge. At restaurants, a 10 % charge is added to the bill. However, you can skip the tipping if you receive bad service and if the tip is not already included in the bill.
ITALY
‘Tip good service’ seems to be order of the day. There isn’t any mandate related to tipping, but it’s always welcomed and appreciated by the service industry. Usually, a porter is tipped no more than 5 euros, a housekeeper 1.50 euros a day and .50 gratuity for valet and room services.
SPAIN
If you like the food, you can round up the bill no more than 13 %. There have been reports that Americans are sort of spoiling the Spanish waiters with their extravagant tips. The best bit is, you can leave the table without tipping if you didn’t the food and no one will look at you with scorn.
SWITZERLAND
It’s so beautiful, you would want to tip the picturesque mountains here. A fair 5 – 10 % tip is good to go, but remember it’s not expected so it’s okay to skip. On checkout, your hotel bills will come with a service charge, but feel free to tip the cleaning ladies and other hotel staff who go out of the way to help you.
AUSTRALIA/ NEW ZEALAND
Tipping isn’t mandatory in both these countries. It is believed that the service industry is paid adequately and therefore there is no need to pay them more than what they already enjoy. However, if one feels the need to appreciate excellent services, he/she can go ahead and tip the hotel staff or the waiter or the tour guide. Who would mind some extra money?
MOROCCO
This country isn’t all gung-ho about tipping, but usually people leave a few dirhams in addition to the food cheque. However, in quite a few restaurants in the upscale regions of the country, services charges – 10 % – is added to the bill.
BRAZIL
The tipping culture in this country is pretty sorted. Because the Brazilians are direct about the money they want, there isn’t a confusion about when and when not to tip. A standard 10 % charge is levied on food bills and taxi and grocery stores round up the bill to the nearest real.
CANADA
Just like America, Canada strongly believes in rewarding people for exceptional services. There’s a standard 10-15% tip for hotel employees – porter, concierge, housekeeping – tour guides and taxi drivers. But, what’s strange is they tip an additional 10% to hair stylists as well.
MEXICO
Mexico shares a border and its tipping culture with USA.However, tipping a driver isn’t necessary unless of course he helps you with your luggage or is your tour guide for the day. At hotels, you are expected to tip for good service and it can be anywhere in between 10 to 150 Mexican pesos. Restaurants and bars appreciate tip in case, but some places add service charges. So, remember to check your bill.
ARGENTINA
A standard 10 % tip to the waiter, but for hotel staff the numbers change. Somewhere between 1 to 3 pesos is good enough for the doorman or the porter; again depending on the number of bags they have carried for you and the kind of favours you have asked for. For taxi drivers, it’s always “keep the change” kind of a scene and for tour guides, you apparently are expected to leave 100 pesos if it’s a full-day tour that is.
Time to loosen up the purse strings, all you globe trotters!
