A tip or gratuity is a small cash ‘reward’ given as a token of your appreciation for good customer service. Not all countries will expect a tip but for the most part, it is appreciated and accepted with good grace. You’ll almost certainly be remembered if you leave a generous tip.
Tipping is customary in many countries around the world, but it’s not always clear if and when it’s appropriate to leave a tip, and if so, how much you should be tipping.
To avoid embarrassment and making a social faux pas, here is a simple guide to tipping around the world.
Spain
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[/column] [column size=”2/3″]In Spain, gratuities are usually added to the bill but a tip of 5-10% on top of the bill is considered the norm. Bartenders will usually expect €0.20 a drink though this varies from bar to bar.
Taxi drivers don’t normally expect a tip though many people will leave a 5% tip which is always appreciated.
Hotels in Spain usually will expect anything from €1-5 for their services. Maids should be given €1 a day for their services and hotel porters generally expect €1 per bag.
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France
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Restaurants in France add a 15% service charge to your bill as standard. But actual tipping itself is not customary, though many people choose to give a few coins to their waiter or waitress if they are happy with the service they received. Tipping in bars is not usual.
In hotels, tipping is optional but greatly received.
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USA
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In America, if you don’t leave a tip you should expect a backlash! In the service industry, staff is dependent on their tips as they can help to make up a substantial amount of their overall wage. A tip of 15-20% is typical. Although for exceptional service some people tip as much as 25%.
Even if the service was below your expectations, tipping is still general expected, at least 10%.
In restaurants, a tip of 15% to 20% is expected.
In a bar $1 for each drink.
Taxi rides depending on how long the journey is can be anything from $1 to 25%
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Italy
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[/column][column size=”2/3″]Service charges are normally included, if not, leaving 10% will suffice. In bars, locals usually just leave a modest amount, a euro or two is acceptable.
Taxi drivers in Italy do appreciate a tip, it’s usually expected that the fare and the tip are agreed before the journey starts.
In hotels, a few euros to the hotel porter and concierge is good practice.[/column][/row]
Japan
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[/column][column size=”2/3″]Conversely, in Japan it is actually considered rude for tourists to leave a tip. The Japanese are generally known for very high-quality service and would actually find it an insult to receive a tip. It is possible that tour guides may accept a tip graciously but it is not expected and it is probably wise to avoid tipping altogether to avoid offense.[/column][/row]
Australia
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Tips are not expected or welcomed with open arms in Australia because the workers usually earn a decent wage, to begin with, so it is not customary to leave a tip here. Within the more touristy areas of Australia it may be acceptable to leave 10% for very good service in a restaurant but otherwise, it is best not to tip. [/column][/row]
The Gourmet Society team loves to travel. It’s difficult to know every country’s customs so they put together this guide to ensure you can avoid awkward situations when it comes to tipping!
These are really great tips! I have worked as a waitress and tips were a great adittion to my salary! So now I always try to leave a tip when we eat out.
I was aware of all of the United States’ customs, but I have never traveled abroad, so this is a super helpful post for when I do someday (hopefully sooner rather than later!). I probably would have been the dope to go to Australia and tip 20% everywhere had I not read this. 😉
Wow, I just figured tips were universal…..my knowledge was very limited….good to know.
Very interesting. I’ve never traveled outside of the USA but I would have just assumed that tipping was customary every where. If I ever do travel abroad, I’ll be sure to check on that country’s general tipping guidelines!
That’s a good brief overview of tipping in different countries. Didn’t know it was rude to tip in Japan.
Very helpful post! As people don’t normally practise tipping in my country, I wasn’t prepared for the backlash when I didn’t tip on my first visit to America! Now wiser, I always check out a country’s tipping guidelines before I visit!
This is most interesting. My son may need this but I doubt that I will ever travel abroad. These guidelines are awesome.
Good to know. I generally try to look this up ahead of time before I visit a country, just to make sure I don’t commit a faux pas!
In Germany, we only round up to the nearest Euro in restaurants, unless we pay for a large party or the service was exceptionally good. Similar to the habits in France.
This is a great list! We have started traveling some, and were always wondering what was “right” and hoping not to offend anyone!
I travel quite a bit and always have to check local customs for tipping. It definitely varies quite a bit per country. Thank you for putting this list together.
When I was living in Germany I noticed that they were definitely not big tippers. I wouldn’t have liked to be there a waitress 🙂 If you come to Cyprus, many people tip here well above the customary 10% that is popular in most Western countries.
wow, I never thought about this before. I should ask my husband how they did it when he went to China and Hong Kong. Thanks for sharing!
I had no idea that tipping standards varied so greatly!
Very interesting! I had no idea that the Japanese would view a tip as an insult.
very helpful. i wish more people paid attention to thing like this- ive’ seen friends leave such LOW tips for great servers and it makes me so sad
this is so very helpful! I don”t like shortchanging people and this really gives me a good idea especially if I travel.
Wow, what great information. This is something I never thought of, so thank you
Working in this industry, I can vouch for this! Tips in Canada are on par with the U.S., approximately with the “suggestion” (even printed on the bills we give to our customers) being 18%. Servers here make minimum wage, so tips are very much relied upon. We are in a very touristy area, and most, if not all restaurants have also included a policy where for parties of six or more, or for those requesting split bills, we “auto-grat” them. This means 18% gratuity is automatically added to the bill. This saves our butts in some cases with tourists who do not generally tip in their home countries.
The differences are so interesting! Thanks for sharing!
This is very interesting info on tipping around the world! If I ever get to travel, this will be great info to know!
We usually leave a 15-20% percent tip depending on service!
This is a great post. Very interesting.
Awesome post– super helpful!
Thanks for the info….tipping is such a difficult thing to get right!
I didn’t realize that about some of the other countries. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great tips on tipping. I know when I was in high school and went to England and Australia they made sure we understood what was customary in advance.
This is so interesting but really important information to know when traveling.
It’s so interesting to me how things like this differ around the world. I can definitely understand the way Japan and Australia look at tipping. Makes sense to me!
I never know the appropriate tip to give at restaurants. Thank you for the post.
Meant to leave my name, Emerald
What a great post. We recently travelled to Germany and were unsure of what the tipping pracitc eas there. We had to ask a waiter and he was embarrassed to tell us, but we wanted to do the right thing.
Wow, great information. I had no idea that in some places you should not tip! I always tip 20% no matter what.
That’s interesting that it varies so much around the world. I’m a 20% tipper so I’m sure I’d do that worldwide.
This was really good information. Often when people travel they offend those i the place they are visiting due to improper tipping. Often this tipping is due to lack of knowledge, not something else.
As a person who waitressed for 10 years, I appreciate you sharing this. 🙂
As a former waitress myself, I’m happy to post it! :)Too many times have I gone tip-less!
Great information. I didn’t know half of it!
This is interesting. I could have used this before we went to Italy this summer. I am bookmarking this page.
I would have just assumed tipping the same as I tip here. It never would have occurred to me anything different.
This is very interesting. I have waited tables in my past and all we got was tips. So it was very important to get tips to pay my bills and at times it is hard living off tips. Thanks for getting this out!!
Me too! I used to get so upset from tourists who wouldn’t leave tips.. it never crossed their mind that I depended on them instead of a salary!
Great information! Thanks!
It’s unsual tipping in Brazil, if you do so instead, people become more and more welcoming, taxi drivers will be ever grateful if you tip them 😉
Here in the Philippines, It is not really a must to leave a tip but is greatly appreciated. Nice tips!
How interesting! I enjoyed reading how other countries handle tipping.
This is such a great resource, thank you!