Tipping etiquette around the world
By Aimee Heckel
Any restaurant server in the United States knows the difference in tipping when a customer at your table is from a different country. It’s not personal; it’s cultural.
It’s just not standard to tip 20 percent in many other countries.
And unless your customer has been well schooled in American etiquette, chances are, you’re going to get a fraction of the tip you’re expecting — sometimes just rounded up to the nearest whole number. And that’s a compliment about your great service.
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Beware when you’re traveling, too; not knowing other countries’ tipping etiquette can make you appear rude or clueless — or be a big waste of your money. Many service industries actually pay their employees a living wage (imagine!), so they don’t rely on tips to make ends meet.
Here are some helpful money rules to remember when traveling:
Many European countries already include 15 percent gratuity on your bill, according to the personal finance website Mint.com. Look for the tip included on your bill at many restaurants in the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Don’t tip your bartender in the United Kingdom. It’s not expected.
And don’t tip your server in China, Japan, Thailand and South Korea, where it’s by and large not customary. In fact, tipping in many Asian countries can be considered offensive — “a vulgar display of wealth and a disregard for the culture,” according to CNN.com.
Visitors aren’t expected to tip servers in France, according to Mint.com. If service is particularly good, round up to the nearest Euro.
No need to tip your taxi driver in some countries, such as Chile or New Zealand, according to CNN.com.
Other regions, such as Buenes Aires, greatly appreciate and hope for tips, according to TravelAndLeisure.
For more help with international tipping, check out Travel and Leisure’s helpful “Tipping Point” tip guide.
Knowing when to tip and when to hold on to your cash can save you money on your next vacation. So can checking these travel coupons and discounts.
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