One of the most perplexing issues with traveling around the world is not what to pack or where to get your passport stamped – it’s all about tipping. Depending on where you’re traveling to, you need to have more than a few dollars in your pocket to handle tipping the people assisting you. However, some countries will think that you’re insulting them if you try to hand over any money whatsoever.

When it’s Okay Not to Tip

In shops and independent stores, you don’t typically need to tip anyone who is helping you. The reason is because the people who are helping you are either being paid high wages to provide the services to you or they are getting a commission within whatever they sell you. The only exception to this rule is if they go above and beyond, such as helping you out to your car or calling you a taxi before you leave the store. In most cultures, you can get away with handing them a small amount as a thank you. If you’re not sure, ask them if you can and they will tell you one way or another.

As for anywhere else, you probably need to tip, except for various hotels and restaurants in Europe and Japan. When you’re in a restaurant, take a close look at your bill. Most of the time there is a service charge added to the receipt, which means that you don’t need to add anything else for the servers because it’s already been included.

When it’s a Must to Tip

In hotels, cruise terminals, bus stations and airports, when someone is helping you with your baggage, you should be tipping those who are helping you. The reason that you should tip is because they’re handling your prized possessions, so it’s typically customary to hand over between $0.50 and $3 per bag depending upon what country you are in. Unfortunately, failure to do so could result in your bags “accidentally” getting damaged.

There are exceptions to this rule, however. In Hungary, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, Singapore and in the United Arab Emirates, it’s considered rude to tip. Just keep the money in your pocket and say thank you. It will be much better received.

In restaurants and bars throughout the world, you need to make sure that you provide gratuity as it is customary within that country. In many cases, especially with the fine dining restaurant, the gratuity is already included in the bill. Throughout the United States, you should tip 15-20%. In Australia, it’s 10% while China expects 3% (unless you’re in Hong Kong, where it goes up to 10-15%). Other countries, however, you will insult them if you try to hand them any money. This includes Japan, Denmark, Fiji and several others. It is considered a way of waving your wealth in their face and will be considered extremely rude.

If you’re ever in doubt of whether or not you should tip, ask the hostess or the maître d for guidance when you’re being sat to avoid any confusion.

When you’re taking a taxi trip anywhere, you will either need to give a 10% tip, round up to the nearest full amount or leave nothing at all. In England, Israel, the United States and several other countries, giving them 10% of the total fare will provide you with good manners. Throughout most of Europe and South America, rounding up is sufficient enough where as China, Japan, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and others won’t accept any money from you.

As for any other public transportation that you take, there’s no real need to provide a tip because the person operating the transportation is being paid to provide the service. If the person helps with bags or is giving a tour, you can hand them a little extra, but it’s best to follow the lead of others who are also on the public transportation to determine if it’s appropriate or not.

 

This is a guest post by cheap car hire providers, Carrentals.co.uk.