How Much You Should Tip Restaurant Staff, Hotel Staff, and Drivers in Every Country
To tip or not to tip — that is the question. Whether or not you hand extra cash to a bellhop or round up the restaurant bill often depends on a country’s local customs. For example, if you live in the U.S., you’ll know that tipping is always expected by certain workers in the service industry, like servers and bartenders, who often rely on tips to make up the bulk of their wages. In other countries, like Japan, staff will likely see a tip as insulting.
When traveling internationally, the fact that tipping expectations vary drastically from one country to another can make some social situations a nerve-wracking experience. Even if you’re sure a tip will be accepted, sometimes it’s unclear how much you should give. One study by Comparethemarket found that British travelers over-tip by about $89 on vacation, and nearly one in five of those surveyed found that confusion over tipping etiquette had a negative impact on their stay abroad.
So how much — if at all — should you be tipping to service industry staff in different countries? Researchers at HawaiianIslands.com have scoured the internet for advice on how much to tip restaurant staff, hotel staff, and taxi drivers in 162 countries to help relieve the stress of dining and getting abroad.
