With the holiday season looming, here's your guide to avoiding tipping mistakes while living it up in these 19 countries
By Martin Hutton
Published 28th Feb 2019, 14:03 BST
Updated 23rd May 2019, 11:08 BST
Knowing the rules surrounding tipping is a real minefield when on holiday.....should we give 10%, would a big tip offend? Here's a quick guide for destinations around the globe.
The legwork has been done by travel experts from MyBaggage.com to help Brits abroad avoid falling foul of local culture norms.
Gratuities can often make up a significant share of an American employed in a service industrys total salary, so its expected that both tourists and locals should tip waiters and waitresses, taxi drivers, porters, tour guides and others 15 to 20 per cent of your total bill.
Spain is one of many EU countries that typically add service charges to bills, so tipping isnt expected or customary, but will still be viewed as a kind and generous display of appreciation for exceptional service.
Its customary for Brazilian restaurants to charge diners a ten per cent service fee, but an unexpected additional five to ten per cent in cash will be gratefully received by servers who might not always receive their cut but keep it subtle, as Brazilians prefer to be discreet when conducting business.
Tips in Japan will often be politely refused by service staff and it may even be considered insulting to offer a gratuity in some cases, as strict Japanese cultural expectations are that good service should simply be a normal part of life rather than something to be rewarded.
A cubierto, or sit-down charge, will often be include in the bill at a Chilean restaurant and is usually ten per cent, so staff wont expect an additional tip but would still be grateful for a small show of gratuity in cash.
Emirati cities like Dubai require a ten per cent service charge be added to restaurant bills, but staff will still expect an additional 15 to 20 per cent tip to be gifted as a token of gratuity for their work.
Tipping is usually deemed unnecessary when using local service across China, but some high-end restaurants and tourist hotels will accept small, appreciative tips such as rounding up the bill.
Croatian tipping custom is for change to be left at bars, three to five per cent to be given at casual eating establishments and ten to 15 percent in gratuity at a more plush restaurant a nice round amount such as a fiver or tenner will be appreciated as a gesture of thanks by other service staff.
