Travel Team Travel Guide to Tipping Internationally
Tipping rules vary by country, region, and place of business. Make sure you know your destination’s customs before any trip. Read these handy tips on tipping customs around the world!
Argentina
Restaurants: While tipping at restaurants and bars isn’t considered a necessity, tourists often tip around 10 percent.
Taxis: Tips aren’t expected, but consider rounding up to the nearest whole peso so the driver doesn’t have to sort out change. If they help you with your bags, add on a bit more as a token of appreciation.
Hospitality: Tip tour guides up to 20 percent and give bag handlers a small bill or two.
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Australia
Restaurants: Australian servers are paid decent wages and generally don’t expect tips. Recognize exceptional service by rounding up the bill. In upscale establishments only, tip 10 percent.
Taxis: While tipping isn’t expected, it’s common courtesy to round up to the nearest whole number.
Hospitality: For the most part, tips aren’t expected within this industry.
The Caribbean
Restaurants: Most places in the Caribbean islands follow the same tipping standards as the United States, so in general plan to tip 15% or more. If you’re staying in an all-inclusive resort, check to see if the service charge is included. Ask a Travel Team Agent for details.
Taxis: Plan to tip around $1- $2 for in-town fares. Tack on a bit extra for late-night or long-distance rides.
Hospitality: Most hotels include a service charge in the bill. If not, tip bag handlers ($1- $2 per bag) and housekeepers ($2 per day). Some don’t accept tipping, so use your own discretion.
China
Restaurants: China has a fairly strict no-tipping culture (though some finer establishments may include a 10-15 percent service charge), so there’s no need to tip at restaurants. If you want to offer a tip for exceptional service, do so out of sight of the server’s employer.
Taxis: Tipping isn’t expected, but it is appreciated (especially in larger cities). Because there’s no customary rate, use your own discretion when deciding how much to tip.
Hospitality: Tipping is usually not expected, although this is changing in more westernized establishments. A good bet is to tip tour guides, housekeepers, and bag handlers a few dollars per day (or bag).
Costa Rica
Restaurants: Tip will be included in the bill at most Costa Rican restaurants. If you want to recognize exceptional service, add another 10 percent on top.
Taxis: Tips aren’t required, but it’s a friendly gesture to tip a few dollars or round up the fare to the nearest whole number.
Hospitality: Tip tour guides 10-15 percent, and give a few dollars to bag handlers and housekeeping.
Czech Republic
Restaurants: While tipping wasn’t always standard in the Czech Republic, the custom has been catching on. There’s no need to tip if the bill includes a service charge (though feel free to add on another 10 percent for great service). If no service charge is included in the bill, tip 10-15 percent.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the nearest whole number.
Hospitality: Give bag handlers $1- $3 per bag, housekeepers $3- $5 per day, and concierges $20 if they go above and beyond.
Dubai
Restaurants: The government requires a 10 percent service charge on all bills at restaurants, bars, and hotels. While it’s not necessary to tip more than that, you’re free to hand over a few extra dirhams to the server.
Taxis: Cab drivers don’t expect tips, but it’s polite to round up to the nearest 5-note.
Hospitality: Because service charges are included in the bill, unless you want to recognize great service, you don’t need to leave a tip.
Egypt
Restaurants: Tip will be included in the bill at most establishments, but plan to tack on another 5-10 percent.
Taxis: Pay cab drivers 10-15 percent beyond the stated fare.
Hospitality: Give housekeepers $1-$2 per day throughout your stay, tip $1 per bag for bag handlers, and give the concierge $10-20 at the beginning of your stay to ensure great service.
France
Restaurants: French law requires that service be included in the price, but most locals round up their bills with small change (or up to 10% of the bill).
Taxis: Plan to tip cab drivers about 10 percent.
Hospitality: Give bag handlers $1- $2 per bag, housekeepers around $2- $3 per day.
Germany
Restaurants: Germany’s tipping customs work much like France’s: Service is included in the price, but it’s customary to round up the bill to an even figure (this usually amounts to 5-10 percent of the total bill).
Taxis: Round up to the nearest Euro or tack on an extra few Euros if you’re feeling generous.
Hospitality: While tips aren’t required, it’s courteous to leave behind a few Euros for housekeepers and to pay baggage handlers around 2 Euros per item. Slip the concierge 10 or more Euros for great service.
India
Restaurants: Tip 10 percent for the waiter, even at upscale restaurants (where a 10 percent service charge is included in the bill).
Taxis: Tips aren’t expected for short trips. If you hire a driver for a long trip or multiple days, tip around 150-300 rupees per day.
Hospitality: Tip bag handlers 20 rupees per bag and offer tour guides several hundred rupees.
Italy
Restaurants: Tips aren’t expected, but round up the bill or tip 10 percent for exceptional service.
Taxis: Tips aren’t expected, but it is nice to leave a little something.
Hospitality: Tipping really isn’t expected, but who doesn’t like being appreciated for good service?
Japan
Restaurants: It’s unlikely that a server will accept your tip, so it’s probably most polite not to offer one.
Taxis: Tips are not expected. A simple “thank you” will suffice.
Hospitality: Tour guides don’t expect tips but are likely to accept them. Hotel staff may refuse a tip if offered; so if you put cash in an envelope and leave it behind for staff, that is more polite,
Mexico
Restaurants: When service is included in the bill, there’s no need to tip. Otherwise, plan to leave 10-15 percent.
Taxis: While tips aren’t expected, round up the fare.
Hospitality: Hotel staffs rely on tips as part of their take-home pay, so be generous. Bag handlers, housekeepers, the concierge, and anyone else who performs a service should also be tipped, use your discretion.
New Zealand
Restaurants: Like Australia, New Zealand does not have a tipping culture. Service and sales tax are usually included in the bill. Tip for exceptional service or when the menu states that service is not included.
Taxis: Tipping isn’t expected, but you can leave behind a few small bills to show your appreciation.
Hospitality: Ditto the above. Tips aren’t expected, but they’re a nice way to express appreciation for a job well done.
Spain
Restaurants: Locals generally leave small change or round up to the nearest euro, so go ahead and follow suit. If you receive great service or are dining at an upscale establishment, leave a 5-10 percent tip.
Taxis: Small change, rounding up to the nearest Euro, or a couple of extra Euros are all acceptable tips.
Hospitality: Pay the bag handler up to five Euros, the person who delivers room service 1-2 Euros, and housekeepers a few Euros for the stay.
South Africa
Restaurants: It’s customary to leave a 10-15 percent tip for the waiter.
Taxis: Tip cab drivers around 10 percent.
Hospitality: Bag handlers should get around $1 per bag. Tip other hotel staff at your own discretion.
Thailand
Restaurants: Expectations here vary widely: Some advice not leaving a tip, others suggest leaving 10-15 percent, and some say leaving $1 per diner. Keep it simple by sticking with 10 percent or $1 per person, whichever is more.
Taxis: Tips aren’t encouraged, but a tip of 20 or 30 Baht is courteous.
Hospitality: Tip bag handlers 20 Baht. Although there is no standard tip for housekeepers, it’s respectful to leave behind a tip.
United Kingdom
Restaurants: If a service charge isn’t included in the total bill, it’s always safe to leave a tip 10 percent (more if you feel it was great service).
Taxis: Tip 10-15 percent for black cabs and licensed minicabs. Tip extra for help with loading or unloading baggage.
Hospitality: Most hotels include a service charge, but it’s still nice to offer small tips to bag handlers and housekeepers.
Whichever beautiful destination you are, don’t forget that servers, cab drivers, and staff are working a very hard job, and often earn very little pay. Show respect by tipping in cash in local currency, respecting local customs — when in doubt, ask your Travel Team Agent for advice!
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