Mind Your Manners: A Traveler’s Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Know When Tipping is Expected
Tipping etiquette varies greatly around the world, so it's important for travelers to understand when tipping is expected. Knowing the tipping norms can help you avoid uncomfortable situations or even offending someone unintentionally.
In the United States, tipping is customary in many service industries including restaurants, taxis, hair salons, spas, casinos, and tour guides. Generally 15-20% is considered a standard restaurant tip, while 10-15% is common for taxis. Hair stylists and spa service providers often receive 15-20% as well. Another good rule of thumb in the US is to tip bellhops $1-2 per bag and housekeeping $2-5 per night.
In Europe, tipping customs differ. In restaurants, a service charge is often already included in the bill so you don't need to tip further unless you received exceptional service. Rounding up the bill or leaving a few extra Euros is appropriate. Tipping taxis isn't expected, but giving 10% for good service is appreciated. Spa and salon tipping isn't customary.
Throughout Asia, tipping is less common, though some locations like Singapore and Hong Kong have adopted Western tipping customs due to tourism. Japan, China, and South Korea have no tipping norms. However, high-end restaurants and hotels with Western influences may add service charges. It's wise to check your bill for additional fees.
If visiting a luxury resort or taking a high-end tour in places like Bali or Thailand, tipping is appropriate. Leave 5-10% of the bill for waiters and $1-2 per bag for porters. Tour guides appreciate $5-10 per traveler.
What else is in this post?
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Know When Tipping is Expected
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping Hotel Staff
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping at Restaurants
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping Tour Guides and Drivers
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping on Cruises
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping at Airports
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping For Food Delivery
- Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - How Much to Tip in Different Situations
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping Hotel Staff
When staying at a hotel, knowing who to tip and how much can be confusing. Unlike restaurants where tips are expected, tipping policies vary greatly between hotels. Tipping is ultimately at your discretion, but keeping local customs and service levels in mind helps ensure you tip appropriately.
In the United States, tipping housekeeping is customary. Leave $2-5 per night or 15-20% of the room rate on the final day. Tipping daily isn't necessary. Bellhops who assist with luggage receive $1-2 per bag. Tip when they deliver bags to your room, not when they unload them from your vehicle. Concierge staff who provide exceptional service warrant $5-10. Tip spa staff 15-20% of the service price.
At high-end hotels, tipping doormen $1-5 when they hail a cab or provide other services is polite. Tip valet drivers $2-5 when retrieving your car. Room service tips range 15-20% of the bill. For food and beverage, tip according to restaurant norms.
In Europe, tipping practices vary. Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy have a service charge included, so additional gratuities aren't necessary. In the UK and Ireland, tips are at your discretion. Leaving spare change or rounding up is appreciated.
In Asia, tipping varies. Japan, China, and South Korea have no customs around it. Hong Kong is an exception with tipping at Western standards. In Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore, tipping is appreciated but not required.
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping at Restaurants
Deciding how much to tip at restaurants often causes anxiety for travelers. While there are general guidelines, customs vary across the globe. Understanding local expectations helps avoid inadvertently offending your server or looking cheap.
In the United States, a 15-20% tip is standard at sit-down restaurants with table service. Quality of service determines where your tip should fall within that range. Outstanding service warrants 20-25%. For acceptable but unremarkable service, 15% is sufficient. Tip under 15% for disappointingly poor service. At buffets, cafeterias or counter service establishments where you order at a counter, tipping is more discretionary since you aren’t receiving full table service. 10% is acceptable for good service.
In Europe, most restaurants have a service charge included in the bill, alleviating the need to tip further. Rounding up the bill by a Euro or two or leaving some spare change is appreciated. Exceptional service may warrant 5-10% extra. The UK and Ireland don’t automatically include gratuities so tip 10-15% as you would in the US.
Throughout Asia, tipping isn’t expected or required. Japan, China, South Korea and Vietnam have no tipping customs. However, high-end restaurants and hotels catering to international travelers often add 10% service charges. Dishes are designed for sharing in many Asian cultures so tips are less common since service isn’t dedicated to a single patron.
India and Sri Lanka have complex tipping etiquettes entwined with social hierarchy. Locals rarely tip but tourists are expected to. Tip 10-15% at restaurants frequented by foreigners. Tips are often pooled and shared amongst all staff.
In South America, tipping customs mirror the US. Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Columbia expect 15% for standard service. In Brazil, many restaurants charge a 10% service fee but an additional 5-10% tip is welcome. Carry small bills for tipping since change can be limited.
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping Tour Guides and Drivers
Hitting the open road with a hired tour guide or driver is one of the most freeing and memorable parts of traveling. You get to sit back, enjoy the scenery and gain insider knowledge you’d never discover solo. Showing your gratitude through tipping is tricky, however, since customs vary wildly worldwide. Knowing appropriate tipping etiquette prevents uncomfortable exchanges and ensures your guide feels appreciated.
In the US, tipping tour guides and drivers is customary. For half-day tours, tip $5-10 per traveler. Full-day tours warrant $10-20 per person. Exceptional service deserves 20%. Factor trip duration, group size, guide attentiveness and expertise into your tip.
Large bus tours with 40+ passengers often pool tips and share them among staff. Ask your guide how tips are distributed. If you experienced outstanding service from your guide or driver specifically, provide an extra “thank you” tip discreetly.
In luxury destinations like Hawaii, Alaska and Napa Valley, higher tips from $20-50 per traveler are normal. Tipping on top of all-inclusive package prices is expected. River cruises recommend $10-20 per traveler, per day. Whale watching, glacier tours, winery visits and eco adventures warrant $10-15 per person.
Throughout Europe, tipping practices aren’t as uniform as in America. Portugal, Spain, France and Italy don’t require tipping. Adding €2-5 for great service is polite. In Germany, the UK, Ireland and Switzerland, tipping 5-10% of the tour cost is welcomed. Scandinavian countries don’t expect tips unless service was extraordinary.
In Asia, Japan, China, South Korea and India have no tipping customs. Guides often consider gratuities an insult. Elsewhere in Asia like Thailand, Vietnam and Bali, discretionary $5-20 tips are welcome, especially on private tours. Choosing to tip is up to you.
South America's tipping culture mimics the US. Chile, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador customarily tip 10-15% of tour prices. In Brazil, it's common to tip tour guides $10-25 per day. Carry small bills since change is limited.
Africa, the Middle East and Russia have nuanced tipping etiquettes. Confirm expected gratuities when booking. Overall, $5-15 per day is standard. Don’t forget to tip camels in Egypt and Morocco!
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping on Cruises
Cruise ships employ small armies to cater to your every need. From servers and cabin stewards to entertainment staff and porters, tipping is how you express your gratitude for their hard work. However, cruise tipping customs are complex and vary based on cruise line, ship size and cruise duration. Arm yourself with insider knowledge to avoid missteps.
Firstly, most mainstream cruise lines charge mandatory daily gratuity fees of around $14-16 per person, per day to passenger accounts. These daily tips are shared among waiters, cabin stewards and other service staff. You aren’t obligated to pay them if the service was subpar, but opting out requires visiting the guest services desk.
Beyond the pre-paid daily tips, additional cash gratuities are expected on cruise ships. For your main waiter, tip $5-10 per person, per day. If you dine at specialty restaurants, budget another $5 per meal. Tip cabin stewards $2-5 per person, per day too. Tour guides on shore excursions warrant $5-10 per traveler. Still other staff from pool bartenders to casino dealers appreciate tips as well.
On ultra luxury lines like Crystal Cruises, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas where everything is included, no daily service charges apply. Yet tips are still customary if service meets expectations. Budget $10-20 per guest, per day to be dispersed at your discretion. River cruises are similar. Though tips may be included, supplementing with $10-20 per traveler, per day is standard protocol.
If you’ve booked a large suite, tipped staff generously or made elaborate requests, more substantial gratuities between $25-50 per guest, per day are warranted as a “thank you”. Staff work long hours servicing all guests' needs so generosity is appreciated. However, avoid tipping in cash until the final night to allow staff time to prove they deserve it through good service.
Cruise tips are trickier for children. Most mainstream lines suggest full tips for kids over 12, half tips for ages 2-12, and no tips for babies under 2. On luxury cruises, ages slightly differ but reduced gratuities still apply to young cruisers. If your children made lots of special requests or extra work for staff, tip more generously than baseline recommendations call for.
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping at Airports
Air travel entails plenty of stops where tipping is customary, but knowing appropriate gratuity amounts prevents missteps. From skycaps handling bags to shuttle drivers transporting you, tipping airport personnel smoothly facilitates your journey. Approach tipping situations confidently armed with this insider knowledge.
Curbside skycaps who check bags, print boarding passes or hail cabs expect $2-3 per bag. Rather than tipping when they take your luggage, tip when they deliver your bags plane-side upon arrival. Some airports have consolidated bag fees where you pay upfront for their services - tipping isn’t necessary then. Still, if they safely store your ski gear or delicately handle oversized items, expressing gratitude through $5 tips or more is thoughtful.
Wheelchair assistants who push disabled travelers through airports merit $2-5 per service. Tip when they pick you up, not when they drop you off. Recent policy changes prohibit tip solicitation so wait for them to extend tip jars or tactfully offer.
Airport shuttle drivers who transport you to and from hotels, parking lots and rental car facilities warrant $2-5 per traveler. Tip more for exceptional service like help lifting heavy bags or recommendations for local attractions. For taxis and rideshares, tip according to regular habits.
Tipping in airport lounges, common in the U.S., is appreciated but not obligatory. If servers in lounges proactively addressed your needs with food, drinks or gate information, consider leaving $2-5 at your table when departing. Staff tidying tables also welcome tips.
Overseas, tipping customs vary. Europe generally expects tips less with gratuity often included in bills. Leaving spare change or rounding up is sufficient. In Asia, tipping isn’t required beyond high-end hospitality outlets. Use your best judgement based on service. Airport porters still appreciate $1-2 in Japan and South Korea.
When tipping foreign airport personnel unfamiliar with American gratuity norms, observe service first. Discreetly offer tips only after staff provide assistance. Avoid waving money or offending anyone unaccustomed to tips for simply doing their job. Carry small bills.
Food, retail and duty-free airport outlets resemble any restaurant or store. Tip according to norms for servers, baristas and cashiers - usually 15-20% in the U.S. and less globally.
Lastly, the debate over pre-tipping airline staff and pilots remains controversial. Some say tips ensure exemplary service, others call them unnecessary or even insulting to well-compensated professionals. Follow your personal beliefs but avoid overt displays that flaunt wealth or demean staff.
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - Tipping For Food Delivery
Let's be honest, after a long day there's nothing better than kicking back and having a hot, delicious meal show up right at your door. But that convenience comes with an ethical quandary - how much should you tip the person who schlepped your pad thai or cheesesteak across town? Food delivery tipping etiquette often perplexes hungry patrons.
Unlike restaurants where 15-20% gratuity is standard protocol, tipping delivery drivers lacks clearly defined norms. Compensation for their services comes from multiple sources - their employer, delivery fees, service charges and your discretionary tip. Navigating what's appropriate can feel like solving a complex math equation.
According to seasoned delivery drivers, tips most often range from $3-8 depending on order size and distance traveled. Extreme weather conditions warrant an additional tip bump too. $5-10 serves as a reasonable baseline for typical orders from establishments within a several mile radius of your location.
For larger catering orders, big sandwich platters or family-style meals feeding groups of 5 or more, increase tips to 15-20% of the total bill. The order size required more time and effort to safely transport. Beverage orders also deserve slightly higher gratuity since drinks tend to spill, especially during bumpy drives. And don't forget additional tips around the holidays or busy times when drivers handle higher volumes under more stressful conditions.
Geographically, customs vary slightly. Urban areas where restaurants are condensed and drivers can complete multiple orders per hour expect lower tips compared to sprawling suburbs where drivers traverse greater distances between stops. Economically disadvantaged regions tip less on average as well.
Ultimately, food delivery tipping etiquette comes down to following the golden rule - tip others what you would consider fair compensation for the same services. Empathize with the effort it takes to fetch your food, drive miles through traffic and bad weather, navigate apartment complexes and hotel lobbies, climb stairs when elevators are out of order and follow specific delivery instructions.
Mind Your Manners: A Traveler's Guide to Proper Tipping Etiquette - How Much to Tip in Different Situations
Deciding how much to tip can be challenging, especially when traveling internationally or experiencing unfamiliar services. What's considered a good tip in one country may be insulting in another. Tipping customs evolve over time as well. Knowing how much to tip in different situations takes some of the stress out of travel and leaves service providers feeling appreciated.
In American restaurants, 15-20% of the total bill serves as the baseline for acceptable tipping. Outstanding service deserves 20-25% while 15% suffices for mediocre experiences. At coffee shops and cafes, tips are often placed in jars rather than added to credit card payments. $1 per drink or 10-15% of the total works for counter service settings.
With taxi and rideshare services, tips range from 15-20% of the metered fare. An easy method is tipping $2 on top of the first $10 then 10% of the amount after $10. Congested routes warrant higher tips since time is money for drivers. For food and grocery deliveries, $5 is customary but inclement weather or large orders deserve more - 15-20% of the total.
Housekeepers and hotel valets appreciate $2-5 per service whereas doormen, airport porters and parking attendants expect $1-2 per bag or vehicle retrieved. Cruise ship staff hope for $5-20 per guest, per day depending on their roles. Pre-paid daily gratuities should be supplemented with cash tips if expectations are exceeded. Tour guides and Safari drivers garner $10-25 per person for exceptional service.
In Europe, reduced tips are the norm since service charges are often included. Rounding up the bill slightly in restaurants and taxis suffices. An extra euro or two is welcome for notable service. Hotel and tourism staff appreciate tips but modest amounts of €1-5 are typical. Resist overtipping and flaunting wealth.
Throughout Asia, moderate tipping reflects respect for this gift-averse culture. Restaurants, taxis and hotels operated by locals rarely expect tips. High-end establishments catering to tourists add 10-15% service charges. Supplement with 5-10% of the bill for superb service if you desire. Hotel porters and tour guides welcome $1-5 per guest as a token of gratitude. Lavish tipping can cause embarrassment.
In India and the Middle East, tipping customs recognize social hierarchies. Waiters and drivers rely on gratuities from foreigners yet prefer modest tips slipped discreetly to avoid offending other patrons. Avoid unnecessary tipping that could be misconstrued as a bribe.
South America’s tipping culture mimics the U.S. with 10-15% expected at restaurants and $1-5 for taxi drivers, porters and tour guides. Carry small bills. In Africa, tipping is appreciated but not obligatory. Staff tips are often pooled and shared. Evaluate service, then offer $2-10 per day. Over-tipping on safaris is frowned upon.