For those of you who love to travel but can’t quite figure out if tipping is customary in the city you’re visiting, you’ll definitely appreciate our quick tipping guide. With the help of my fellow Sages, here are some tipping pointers that will make your trip less stressful and confusing.
Australia:
Casual dining – Tipping is not common.
Fine dining – 10% is common.
Bars – Tipping is not common.
Austria:
Dining – It’s customary to round up your bill; excessive tips are uncommon.
England:
Casual dining – No more than a pound or two, but not required.
Fine dining – No more than 10%. However, if service was unsatisfactory, you may skip the tip.
Bars – Not expected but may leave some change (if you leave a tip, leave cash. A tip added to a CC does not end up going to the bartenders.)
Taxis – not expected but for the sake of making it easier on the driver, round up to the nearest whole pound.
Germany:
Dining – It’s customary to round up the bill; excessive tips are uncommon.
India:
Tipping may be controversial, no gratuity expected.
Ireland:
Dining – 10% is acceptable, though isn’t expected and if you don’t tip you’ll still be happily welcomed back.
Israel:
Dining – 10-15% depending on how good the service was, 12% is safe for good service (wait staff typically prefer cash over tips added to your CC bill, make sure a service fee hasn’t already been added.)
Taxis – Not expected, but if you want, you may round up to the nearest Shekel (NIS).
Tour guides –25 – 40 NIS/day for the tour guide, and half that for the drivers.
Hotel staff – 10-20 NIS for the bellboy, and 10 NIS/day for housekeeping.
Generally, there are no set rules for tipping in Israel; it is up to your discretion. If you find the service to be good, a tip will be appreciated!
Italy:
Dining & Taxis – Most Italians will not tip, or will simply leave one or two euro. Waiters and cab drivers do not rely on tips for their income.
Make sure to look at your bill before leaving a tip. Often times it will say “servizio incluso,” meaning that the service fee is included. This is different than the “coperto,” which simply means a cover charge that covers things like your table’s bread and water.
Morocco:
Dining – A small tip may be appreciated, which could just consist of some extra coins.
Netherlands & Denmark:
Dining – You may round up the bill or leave extra change if service was average, don’t tip for bad service.
Taxis – Not common to tip, if the service was great you may round up or add 1-2 euros.
Generally, if you receive good service feel free to add a few euros, it is up to your discretion.
Peru:
Airport baggage handlers – Your baggage may be involuntarily taken for you and a tip will be expected.
Casual dining – A few soles is common.
Fine dining – 10% is average if a service charge isn’t already added, but no more than 20%.
Transportation –
- If you hire a private-hire driver, a typical tip would be about $5 for good service.
- You do not tip other taxi drivers as you negotiate the rate upfront.
Hotel staff – A few soles ($1) for the cleaning staff or porter if staying at a high-end hotel or the concierge if they are particularly helpful.
Tour guide – If traveling in a tour group that is 7-14 days long, it’s customary to tip your travel manager/guide $10-20 a day.
Other –
- If you travel to Cuzco, you will most likely want to take a photo with a llama and/or women wearing traditional dress. A sole or two is expected for the photo.
Spain:
Tipping is never expected, ever. Not for cabs, bartenders, food service, hotel bell boys, etc. Never. In fact, it can be seen as rude (take it from someone that has been yelled at for tipping).
United Arab Emirates:
Dining – 10-15% if the service is good. However, if the service is bad, many will not tip. If the service is really good, some give much more (make sure a service charge has not already been added, if so, you don’t have to tip).
Generally, there is no rule as to how much to tip, but it is expected.
United States of America:
Taxis – 10% is common.
Dining – 15-20%, depending on how good the service was (wait staff receive less than minimum wage in the US, as tips are expected. However, if your experience was not favorable, your tip may be less to reflect that).
Bars – $1/drink.
Coat check – $1.
Concierge – $2-5 (depending on how much help they were).
Housekeeping – $1/day per person.
