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For some, the practice of tipping in the U.S. has gotten out of hand. Read on for some surprising facts about how tipping is handled in other countries.
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Recently, Pew Research gathered a fascinating array of responses to questions posed about tipping in America. For one, 72% of U.S. adults say they’re expected to tip in more places today than five years ago. In other words, “tipflation” is real to them. Roughly one-third of respondents say they know how much they’re expected to tip. The rest of us are sort of muddling our way through.
As we Americans navigate the new tipping landscape, we thought it would be interesting to learn how tipping cultures around the world vary. We think you may be surprised by some of what we found, especially the subtle expectations in countries where tips are already built into the price.
Europe
Europeans find our American tipping habits a bit odd and, in many of their countries, quite unnecessary.
What’s expected
Many countries with the European Union already have laws in place to ensure employees are fairly compensated. Among the countries that typically add a service charge to the bill are France, Spain, Hungary, Sweden, and the Czech Republic. To do away with tipping, the Netherlands requires establishments to include gratuities in their prices.
Four European countries that do not have a strong tipping culture are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Portugal. Any gratuity you decide to leave is up to you. And if you’re not sure about whether it’s appropriate to tip, like bartenders or drivers, it’s a nice idea to round up the bill if service was excellent.
Tipping is not regularly practiced in Italy, Austria, or Russia. However, wages are so low in those countries that rounding up your bill is much appreciated — a tip can improve a worker’s personal finances.
Exception
If you receive exceptional service in any of these countries, a small tip of 5%-10% is considered generous and much appreciated.
What to look out for
It seems that some parts of the world have begun to catch on to the American habit of tipping. Before deciding whether you’re going to tip, check the bill, as some places include a service charge.
One final note: If you’ll be visiting a resort, these rules may not apply. Your best bet is to check sites like Tripadvisor.com to learn what previous guests have to say.
The Americas
Something Central and South America have in common with restaurants in North America is low wages. Tips represent a substantial portion of server income.
What’s expected
Due to the importance of tips on the income of servers in this region, the only reason not to tip in the Americas is if you receive exceptionally poor service.
Tipping is a relatively new concept in Mexico, but a gratuity of at least 10% has become the norm.
You’ll probably encounter a “sit-down charge” of 10% at restaurants in Costa Rica, Chile, and Brazil. No one expects a tip on top.
Exception
Depending on the restaurant, sit-down charges may not be shared with servers, so if you’d like, handing the server an extra 5%-10% in cash is a nice move.
What to look out for
If you decide to hand a tip to a server in Brazil, make it discreet, as polite business transactions are low-key.
The Middle East and portions of Africa
Though very different in many parts of their culture, the Middle East and portions of Africa share a lot of the same tipping etiquette as we have in the U.S.
What’s expected
Tip like you’re at home because tipping is both customary and expected in Africa and the Middle East. How much that tip should be varies by restaurant and the general economic condition of the country. For example:
Servers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar are accustomed to the same 15%-20% tip American servers expect. This applies even in areas that already charge a 10% service charge.In Africa, waitstaff in Morocco, Jordan, and South Africa expect a tip of at least 10%-15%. If it helps soften the blow, remember how little workers earn in these countries.
When you receive extraordinary service
How much you tip is naturally up to you, but if the service is out of this world, adding a bit more is considered thoughtful.
What to look out for
Restaurants in Israel and Egypt frequently add a service charge to the bill. Take a look at the bill before putting down any cash to prevent double-tipping.
If you’re visiting Sub-Saharan Africa, hand any tip directly to the person who provided the service. Let’s say you pull out your Visa card to pay for the meal. Any tip you leave using the card may never make its way to the server.
Travelers in the Middle East are frequently asked for “baksheesh.” In short, they’re asked for a tip or to pay a service charge (and sometimes a bribe). Whether or not you comply is up to you, and a baksheesh request can be refused.
Asia and the Pacific
In many parts of Asia and the Pacific, not only may tipping not be customary, it might be considered downright unnecessary.
What’s expected
Unless you’re in a tourist area, there’s not much of a tipping culture in East Asia or the South Pacific. In fact, if you offer a tip, it may be turned down.
For example, tipping is considered unnecessary in China, Singapore, Taiwan, and Myanmar. In Japan and Nepal, the culture teaches that providing good service is part of life and tips should only reward exceptional service. Do not be surprised if a Japanese server politely refuses a tip.
Tipping is not considered customary in India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, or parts of Turkey. Even though they are becoming more open to receiving tips, it’s not considered rude if you don’t leave one. And if you do leave a tip, it’s fine if it is modest.
Staff are paid well in Australia and New Zealand, and tips are not expected, although a small gratuity is often appreciated.
When you receive extraordinary service
In any of these countries, tipping is totally up to you. However, you’re likely to leave a server with a smile on their face for rewarding them for excellent service.
What to look out for
Do not be insulted or embarrassed if a server politely refuses a tip. If they truly seem hesitant to accept a tip, let it go.
The bottom line on tipping internationally
You’ll notice that we have touched on only a few of the 195 recognized countries in the world. One way to ensure you’re respecting local customs is to research each country you plan to visit and take note of its tipping culture.
There’s no denying that international travel takes a bite out of your bank account. Knowing what to expect in terms of tipping can help you come up with a realistic travel budget before setting off on your international adventure.
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