While it may seem a foreign concept for Australian’s to leave a tip, it is quite a big deal in places like USA and Canada to leave a certain percentage of the bill as a tip at the end of a meal or a service.
We all know the story, you arrive in a country that you have never visited before, get to the hotel and are greeted by the bell boy who kindly takes your bags out of the boot and to our room, you’re then filled with a panic of what to tip them, do you tip them? How much? Will they be insulted?
It’s a very familiar story and with each country having their own tipping etiquette it can get quite confusing, hopefully we can help shine some light on the subject.
USA & Canada
- Waiters – 15% to 20% of total bill
- Porter/Bell Boy – $2 per bag
- Bartender – $1 per drink
- Maid – $2 to $5 per day depending on star rating of the hotel
- Tour Drivers/Guides – $10 – $20
- Taxi Drivers – 10% to 15% (or round up the fare)
Europe
- Waiters – No more than 10% of the total bill
- Porter/Bell Boy – €2 per bag
- Maid – €2 to €5 per day depending on star rating of the hotel
- Tour Drivers/Guides – about €25 per person per day
- Taxi Drivers – 10% to 15% (or round up the fare)
India
- Waiters -10% of the total bill
- Porter/Bell Boy – 50 rupees or $1 per bag
- Maid – 250 rupees per day
- Tour Drivers/Guides – about 400 rupees per day
- Taxi Drivers – no tips are expected, just round up the fare
Thailand
- Waiters – About $1 per person at the table
- Porter/Bell Boy – $2 per bag
- Maid – Most hotels will include a service charge in the bill
- Tour Drivers/Guides – $20 per guide, $2 per driver
- Taxi Drivers – $1 for the trip is sufficient
United Kingdom
- The UK are much like Australia with tipping, if you receive exceptional service feel free to tip, but otherwise no one is really expecting a tip and won’t be offended if you don’t leave one.
Japan & China
- Both countries aren’t accustomed to leaving tips and would not expect you to give one with exception to bell boys who generally get around 10 Yuan in China and drivers in Japan who expect around 2500 Yen.
Time to Tip!
With the exception of USA and Canada where tipping is a way of life for waiters and bar tenders, you can get by in most places with a modest tip, a couple of dollars here and there will go a long way especially if you are worried that you will offend someone.
In the bigger cities in the world, such as Chicago for example, you will find meals at restaurants cost a little bit more, so the tips do start adding up. But it is just a way of life.
You will find in most countries that everyone is so friendly and happy to help regardless if you tip them or not.
And if you receive service that is way below par, you are well within your rights to refuse a tip, never feel pressured into giving where you don’t think its deserved, it’s totally up to you.
