Travel & Hotspots

HOW DOES TIPPING WORK IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

Tipping, I believe, is still a thing. How much do you give? What is too little and what is excessive? I always give too much myself. At least, if I'm satisfied with the service; otherwise, I give nothing. That's also because I know from my time in hospitality how nice it is to receive some extra. Working in hospitality is really not a gold mine, and tips often serve as extra salary that has to cover basic expenses. Bread on the table, so to speak.

I know that it in New York often happens that the staff doesn't receive a standard salary at all, but has to make do with the monthly tips (that's why there's such a high tipping expectation there). Once, when I paid for a delicious lunch in Brooklyn with a decent tip (I guess about 15% of the total amount), I was reprimanded. “Did you not like the food? We expect more than 20% tip.” Heavy stuff.

“Did you not like the food? We expect more than 20% tip.”

Don't you always know how much to give where? And then you also have the difference between a taxi and a restaurant. I'll help you.

US

Restaurant: 15% to 20% on the bill (tip is part of the salary). If you only have one drink at the bar, you give one dollar tip. Make sure to check if the service charge is already included in the bill. Otherwise, you give double the tip.

Taxi: 20% on the fare.

Hotel: for the chambermaid, you leave one or two dollars.

England

Restaurant: 10% to 15% of the amount, but also check here if the service charge is included in the bill.

Taxi: rounding the costs up.

Hotel: one or two pounds if someone helps you carry your suitcase to your room.

Thailand

Restaurant: tipping is not always customary, so if you ask the staff for advice, they will always say that it is absolutely not necessary. You can just leave some coins. And a ten baht note if you found the service really very good. But don't feel obligated.

Taxi: rounding the costs up.

Hotel: ten baht per suitcase that is brought up.

Spain

Restaurant: in tapas bars and small restaurants, you can decide how much tip to give. But an amount around 15% to 20% of the bill will get you a big smile in return.

Taxi: you can round the fare up.

Hotel: in fancy hotels, you give one euro to the bellboy or porter.

Italy

Restaurant: usually, around 10% in service charges has already been added. You can leave some coins. In some Italian restaurants, they charge ‘coperto’. This is a small amount generally between €0.50 and €4.00. This is usually indicated on the menus.

Taxi: with an extra euro on top of the fare, you're doing just fine.

Hotel: Are they super nice? Slip something into their hand.

France

Restaurant: 15% to 20% on the total amount.

Taxi: you can round the amount up.

Hotel: this is not often done, but give that baggage guy something in his fist, come on.

Greece

Restaurant: you give 10% on the total amount of the bill.

Taxi: you can round up to about a euro. You really don't have to overdo it.

Hotel: tipping in hotels in Greece is not necessary, but giving one euro to the person who carried your suitcase is very kind.