How Much To Tip When Traveling to These 25 Countries
You've just eaten a five-star meal in Taiwan, taken a taxi ride in Ireland or settled into your hotel in Iceland. Now what? Tipping in the U.S. is fairly straightforward, but the rules overseas get complicated and incredibly varied. If you aren't up on the customs, you're likely either throwing away money or overlooking the working people who rely on tips as part of their income.
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In order to save you a little money (and a lot of embarrassment), we've rounded up the tipping etiquette for 25 of the most popular destinations overseas, from restaurants to hotels to taxi drivers. Read on to see the etiquette for tipping around the world so you can keep your travel budget in check.
Tipping in Australia
Hotel staff: None expected
Since the country's minimum wage is significantly higher than average, hotel workers don't expect or rely on tips to supplement their income. You can give $1 to your porter, especially in a more expensive hotel.
Restaurant staff: None expected, but you can add a nominal tip
Tipping in Australia at restaurants also isn't expected. If you insist on leaving a tip, 10% is common, but more for exceptional service sometimes left.
Transportation services: Offer the change
Like all hospitality service workers, transportation service workers in Australia also earn a high minimum wage and don't expect tips in addition to what they already charge for their services. If you really want to tip your driver, you can tell them to keep the change.
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Tipping in Austria
Hotel staff: 1 euro
For a valet, one euro per bag is customary. For a housekeeper, it's one euro per day of your stay.
Restaurant staff: About 10% or round up to a convenient amount
It's customary to round up the total when paying by about 10% -- give or take a bit. If your check is 25 euros, rounding up to 28 euros is a bit more than 10% extra.
Transportation services: About 10%
A tip of 10% is the widely accepted fee in Austria if you tip your taxi driver. A tip is expected, especially in the big cities.
Tipping in Brazil
Hotel staff: Daily tip of 5 to 10 Brazilian reals for the housekeeper, 1 real per bag for the porter, 10 to 15 reals if a concierge offered exceptional service
Workers in the hospitality industry in Brazil earn wages that are on the lower side, so tips are greatly appreciated.
Restaurant staff: About 15%.
If the restaurant hasn't added in a service charge, 15% is acceptable.
Transportation services: 10% for longer trips, round up for shorter ones
Expect to tip about 10% for an extended journey or if the driver assisted with your luggage. For shorter trips, round up the Brazilian reals.
Tipping in Canada
Hotel staff: $1 to $15 Canadian
Tipping in Canada is very similar to the United States, so it's customary to tip hotel staff like bellhops, concierge and valet anywhere from $1 to $15, depending on the level of service provided.
Restaurant staff: At least 15%
Like the United States, travelers to Canada should expect to tip at least 15% in bars and restaurants.
Transportation services: Up to 10 percent
It's customary to tip taxi drivers in Canada about 10 percent for their services, a little less for shorter hauls.
Tipping in Chile
Hotel staff: 1 to 15 Chilean pesos
There is no set rule or percentage to tipping in Chile -- most service workers generally get a small tip for good service. Interesting fact: In a hotel, you can top in the currency of any nation, but don't tip in coins from any country except Chile. They can't be exchanged.
Restaurant staff: 10% to 15%
A 10 percent service charge is typically included (and should be noted) in the bill. If the service was good, it's expected that you'd pay it. But you can tip less than 10 percent if the service was poor.
Transportation services: 10% or round up
A tip of 10% is appreciated by taxi drivers in Chile, especially if you got assistance with your luggage. For a short ride, round up your fare.
Tipping in China
Hotel staff: No tip
It's not customary to tip in China, so resist the urge to slip the bellhop a little cash. In fact, The Washington Post reported, a tip could be construed as a bribe in China.
Restaurant staff: No tip
The same goes while dining out in China -- no one tips for these services.
Transportation services: No tip for taxis
It's actually illegal to tip taxi drivers in many areas of China. Just be sure to give a sincere "thank you."
Tipping in Costa Rica
Hotel staff: $1 per bag to porters, $2 per day for housekeeping
Travelers aren't required to tip hotel staff, but gratuity is appreciated -- especially if you received excellent service.
Restaurant staff: Included
A 10 percent service charge is typically added to the bill. Servers, however, always appreciate it if you leave a little extra if you feel their service was exceptional.
Transportation services: $1 to $5
You can round up your fare if your driver takes you a short distance, but be prepared to leave anywhere from the equivalent of $1 to $5 in American dollars if you take a longer ride.
Tipping in Croatia
Hotel staff: Up to 20 Croatian kunas
A tip for a porter is on the lower end of this spectrum, with the high end going to the concierge who provided exceptional service. One kuna is a very small amount in U.S. dollars.
Restaurant staff: 10% to 20%
A tip of 10% to 20% is appropriate in Croatia, but here's a tip for the tipper. You can't leave a tip on your credit card, so carry some cash in local currency with you.
Transportation services: Nothing, or round up
Driving in Croatia is considered a professional career and tipping is not expected. However, it's perfectly acceptable to round up your fare about 5% or more if your driver provides excellent service, like carrying bags or ensuring you catch a flight if you're running late.
Tipping in France
Hotel staff: 1 to 2 euros
If you receive excellent service, then it's acceptable to tip the porter 1 to 2 euros per bag and 2 euros to housekeeping.
Restaurant staff: Included
All meal checks in cafes and restaurants include a 15% service charge -- not paid to the waiter, but to the owner of the establishment, who pays the staff. However, leaving an extra tip on top of the service charge is appreciated by French servers.
Transportation services: Round up or 5% to 10%
If you need to take a taxi in France, then a tip of as much as 10% of the far is appropriate for great service.
Tipping in Germany
Hotel staff: 1 to 10 euros
Travelers to Germany should tip 1 to 2 euros per bag, 2 to 3 euros per night for housekeeping and up to 10 euros for very helpful concierge services.
Restaurant staff: 10%
It's typical to add 10% to the total. Don't leave the money on the table, though -- ask the server to add it to your bill. If the check is 18 euros, tell your server you want to put 20 on your card. If you pay in cash, tell the server how much you want to add for a tip and how much change you expect back.
Transportation services: Round up
It's common to tip taxi drivers in Germany by simply rounding up the bill or asking them to keep the change. For a great ride, add a euro or two.
Tipping in Greece
Hotel staff: 1 euro
It's typical to tip bellhops 1 euro per bag and housekeeping 1 euro per day, at most. And you only need to tip concierge services if they provide extraordinary service.
Restaurant staff: 10%-15%
Some restaurants and bars in Greece might add a service charge to the bill. If that's the case, you don't need to tip more, but you can round up. Otherwise, leave 10% to 15% of the check total.
Transportation services: Round up
While tipping your taxi driver in Greece is not obligatory, it is typical to round up the amount of your total fare.
Tipping in Iceland
Hotel staff: No tip
Overall, there is no tipping of any sort in Iceland hotels. Icelanders are familiar with the tradition of tipping and won't turn you down if you try, but you are definitely not expected to tip for any services. A small tip would be a nice gesture for exceptional service.
Restaurant staff: Included
There is usually a service charge included in restaurant bills in Iceland. If you decide to leave an additional tip, even a small amount would be appreciated. Tips generally are not added to a credit card but instead left in small notes of local currency.
Transportation services: Not expected
Taxi drivers in Iceland don't expect a tip. In fact, some get a little embarrassed about it. So if you want to give your driver something extra, it's nice to add a comment such as, "Afternoon coffee is my treat."
Tipping in India
Hotel staff: Varies
Tipping at a hotel in India depends on the hierarchy of the staff. Bellhops and housekeeping receive the least, with the concierge receiving the most. For a hotel porter, tip 20 rupees per bag. For the housekeeping staff, up to 50 rupees per day is appropriate if you'd like to tip. The Indian form of currency, the rupee, is pennies on the U.S. dollar.
Restaurant staff: Included
Sometimes the service charge is included in your bill. It is acceptable to leave a small cash tip on top of that. If there is no service charge, an appropriate tip is anywhere between 10% and 15%, depending on the level of services received.
Transportation services: Round up
If the driver gets you safely to your destination, feel free to round up to the nearest whole amount, or tell the driver to keep the change.
Tipping in Ireland
Hotel staff: 1 to 2 euros
Compared to the United States, there is not a strong culture of tipping in Ireland, including for hotel staff. However, in the rare instance a hotel porter might bring your bags to your room, consider giving a tip of 5 euros.
Restaurant staff: Up to 15%
It is customary to leave a top of 10% to 15% -- more for exceptional service. Before paying the bill, make sure a service fee was not included.
Transportation services: Round up
A tip is not mandatory, but round up your payment to the nearest 5 or 10 euros if you've received good service from your taxi driver. For example, if the fare is 13 euros, round up to 15.
Tipping in Italy
Hotel staff: 1 to 10 euros
It's typical to give the housekeeping staff 1 euro per night, the porter 2 euros per bag and the concierge between 5 and 10 euros.
Restaurant staff: Varies
Italian restaurants will display service charges -- called "servizio incluso" -- on the menus and add the fees to the check, making a tip unnecessary. You might also see the word "coperto," which covers a separate cover charges for extras such as bread and olives. If no service charge is included on your bill, it's appropriate to pay 10% to 15%. Be prepared to pay that in cash; there's no way to add it to your card in Italy.
Transportation services: No tip
It's not necessary to tip your taxi driver in Italy, but rounding up the fare to the nearest euro is always appreciated.
Tipping in Japan
Hotel staff: No tip
Tipping in Japan is not mandatory -- and in many cases, tips might be considered offensive. A February 2022 article in The Washington Post said many Japanese consider a tip to be "intrusive and rude."
Restaurant staff: No tip
The From Japan website says a genuine "thank you" from guests is enough of a tip for restaurant staff. They do, however, appreciate visitors who buy the restaurant's official merchandise, such as T-shirt - and wear it in Japan to promote the establishment.
Transportation services: No tip
Because tipping is not part of the culture at all, the simple act of trying to tip your driver might create confusion.
Tipping in Maldives
Hotel staff: No tip required
Tipping isn't expected in Maldives, but additional tips are critical for employees who don't receive any portion of the service charges at all, which isn't uncommon. The housekeeping staff would welcome a tip equivalent to $2 in U.S. funds a day.
Restaurant staff: Included
A 10 percent service charge is added to everything in Maldives, but staff members earn very low salaries, so it's generous to tip more for good service. A tip of 5% to 10% would be appreciated.
Transportation services: No tip
Again, tipping in Maldives isn't expected, but your driver will certainly appreciate any extra money you leave.
Tipping in Mexico
Hotel staff: 10 to 100 pesos
Tipping in Mexico is similar to the United States, and 20 to 100 pesos a day for housekeeping is perfectly acceptable. One peso is worth about a nickel. The porter or bellman can receive about half that.
A note: When you tip in Mexico, do so in Mexican pesos and not American dollars wherever possible. Changing foreign currency into pesos can be difficult in the country, and coins are not exchangeable.
Restaurant staff: 10% to 15%
In Mexico, some restaurants might include the tip in the bill, which means it's not necessary to tip on top of that. If it's not included, it's standard to tip 10% to 15%.
Transportation services: Round up
While tipping the taxi driver isn't mandatory, drivers would appreciate it if you added a tip by rounding up to what would be equivalent to the next $5 or $10 in U.S. money.
Tipping in the Netherlands
Hotel staff: Included
Many hotel services have fixed costs, which includes any tips to the staff. If you'd like to tip for exceptional service, payment of a few euros is fine.
Restaurant staff: Included, or 5 to 10 percent
Service charges are either included in your restaurant bill or you can add 5 to 10 percent. If your service wasn't the best, anything from no tip to leaving change to a small round up is OK.
Transportation services: Round up, or 1 to 2 euros
Many taxi drivers don't expect an additional tip -- it's typically baked into the price of their services. But you can choose to round up or add a euro or two.
Tipping in the Philippines
Hotel staff: Optional
Tipping in the Philippines isn't required but it often is done, especially in tourist areas. If you're staying at a lower-tier hotel, a tip isn't expected. At better hotels, a top of 50 to 100 pesos would suffice for any hotel staff member who has provided good service.
Restaurant staff: Included or up to 10%
In the Philippines, the service charge is already included (you might see "SC" on your bill) or travelers can tip independently, usually 10%. The tips should be in cash, as they aren't processed on credit cards.
Transportation services: About 50 pesos
Taxi and tricycle drivers often are tipped by rounding up the fare, but they'd appreciate higher tips, too. About 50 pesos, or a bit more, is common.
Tipping in Spain
Hotel staff: Up to 10 euros a day
While Spain isn't known to have a much of a tipping culture, it is customary in hotels. Housekeeping staff expects between 2 and 5 euros a day, and concierges who provide special services typically receive up to 10 euros. For porters, 1 euro per bag is fine.
Restaurant staff: Included, or 10%
The restaurant where you dine might assess a service charge. If that's the case, no tip is necessary. Otherwise, a tip of 10% is acceptable, and cash is always preferred.
Transportation services: Optional
Tipping the taxi driver in Spain is rare. Tipping a driver who provided exceptional service would be welcome.
Tipping in Sweden
Hotel staff: Not expected
Gratuities, in general, aren't expected by hotel staff in Sweden. If someone has gone out of the way to provide exceptional service, then a small tip would be appropriate.
Restaurant staff: Included, or round up the bill
The meal check in Swedish restaurants will include a service charge that covers tips. But if you'd like to give your server a bit extra, no one will mind if you leave a few kronor by rounding up.
Transportation services: Not expected
Again, a few kronor would be a nice treat for your driver, although it isn't require.
Tipping in Switzerland
Hotel staff: Small tip
For tipping in Switzerland, service workers are paid decent salaries, thus a small tip of one or two Swiss francs is acceptable for the porter or housekeeping staff.
Restaurant staff: Included, plus a bit extra
Swiss federal law requires all service charges to be included in advertised prices. Still, many visitors add about 10% to the bill.
Transportation services: Round up
You can round up the taxi fare by a few francs or tell the driver to keep the change.
Tipping in Taiwan
Hotel staff: Bellhops only
The only service providers who expect tips in Taiwan hotels are bellhops. Plan on tipping the equivalent of an American dollar or two per bag.
Restaurant staff: Included or 10%
Restaurants typically add 10% to the check to cover gratuity. But if not, feel free to add 10 percent.
Transportation services: Round up
A taxi driver will not expect a tip. Round up by telling the driver to keep the change.
Tipping in the United Kingdom
Hotel staff: 2 British pounds
Travelers should offer a porter 2 pounds for helping with a bag or hailing a taxi. Housekeeping staff typically do not get a tip.
Restaurant staff: Included, or 10% to 15%
Your restaurant might include a service charge on the bill. If it doesn't, a tip of 10% to 15% is appropriate.
Transportation services: Up to 10%
Rounding up to the nearest British pound is common, but for exceptional service or help with bags, leave up to 10%.
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Morgan Quinn contributed to the reporting for this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Much To Tip When Traveling to These 25 Countries
