In the U.S., we often don’t think twice about tipping 20% (or more!) for most everyday services. But the rest of the world’s practices differ regarding if, when, where, how, and how much you should tip. So, we’ve put together the below guide outlining tipping practices around the world.
As always, use this information as a basic guideline, and research your specific destination’s tipping practices before your journey to ensure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information possible.
Please note: If you are traveling with Odysseys Unlimited, tips are included for all local guides, meals, airport and hotel porters, and drivers included on tour. Since tipping is a highly personal matter (and by no means mandatory) and should reflect your satisfaction with the service received, we do not include tips for your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director. Should you wish to express your thanks for exceptional service, we recommend the following guidelines for gratuities: $10.00 to $15.00 per person, per day. You can find more information about tipping at your destination(s) in the General Information document on your My Odyssey portal.
Keep in mind that credit card readers outside of North America will often not offer the option to tip electronically, and receipts may not provide a space to write a gratuity amount to charge to your card. So, it’s a good idea to always have some cash on hand for tipping.
By and large, Europeans do not tip because many European countries pay service workers a livable wage. If you receive exceptional service, you may wish to round up the bill or leave a small tip of 5-10%, which is always appreciated (but never expected). Don’t feel obliged to tip if you feel the service did not deserve it.
If you do wish to tip, below are some guidelines:
Restaurants: Sit-down restaurants often include a service charge of up to 15% or have service fees built into menu prices. If you wish to tip additionally for exceptional service, you can round up the bill or tip 5–10% (tipping more than this can be seen as culturally ignorant). Tipping at counter-service restaurants or bars is not customary, but if your bartender was especially friendly or attentive, feel free to offer them a few euros or pounds.
You may wish to hand the tip directly to your server when you pay your bill, as this will ensure your tip goes to the correct person. Otherwise, leaving the tip on the table is acceptable.
Taxis: For shorter rides, round up the fare to the nearest whole increment. For longer rides, round up to the nearest 10. If the driver helps handle your bags, you can tip a little more.
Hotels: In general, one euro or pound for each bag a porter handles is appropriate. If you wish, you can also leave a few euros or pounds for housekeeping staff.
Other Services: Gratuity norms for other services vary by country; for example, the French and British tip hairdressers, but many others do not. When in doubt, ask a local or your tour director.
Australia’s tipping culture resembles that of Europe – tipping is not expected, though many people choose to tip between 10–15% to show appreciation for good service. Please note that service charges are typically not paid to the staff. For taxi drivers, it’s common practice to round up the fare. Tipping hotel staff is not customary, but you can certainly give a small gratuity of a few dollars for most hotel services and leave a few dollars per day for housekeeping, if you wish.
In New Zealand, tipping culture is truly merit-based, and native New Zealanders rarely tip except in cases of exceptional service. If you wish to tip, an appropriate amount at a restaurant is 10%. On holidays, a service charge of 10–15% may be applied in order to cover the higher wages of employees on these days – signs will be posted if this is the case. However, service charges often do not get paid to the staff, so any tip should be left in addition at your discretion. The same rule applies for hotel staff: tips are not customary, but you can tip a few dollars for excellent service. Taxi drivers will appreciate you rounding your fare to the nearest dollar.
Tipping culture in Canada closely mirrors that of the U.S.: tipping is customary, expected, and anticipated. Not only do tips supplement workers’ (typically very low) wages, but it is also seen as a display of appreciation for the provided service. A tip of at least 15–20% is a good standard across the board – for waitstaff, bartenders, and taxi drivers, as well as at cafés, salons, spas, and basically any establishment where you are asked to tip. At hotels, tip $1–2 per bag for porters and $2–5 per day for housekeeping. Offering concierges $5–10 for excellent and/or extra service is appropriate.
Unlike many other areas of the world, it can be seen as rude, disrespectful, and even insulting not to tip in the U.S. and Canada. But ultimately, it is optional and at the discretion of the customer. Do note, however, that gratuity is customarily only reduced or withheld if service was extremely poor or nonexistent.
Tipping in South America is not as strict as it is in North America, but it is expected for many services, especially at restaurants. The appropriate gratuity amount varies by country from 10–20%; when in doubt, 10% is a good starting point. Because service workers in South America are often not paid well and rely on tips to make a livable wage, we recommend tipping whenever possible and/or appropriate.
Restaurants: Sometimes, sit-down restaurants will include a 10% table charge (called a cubierto charge). Note that this is usually not for the staff. In these cases, tips are not expected, but you may wish to give 5–10% cash gratuity specifically to your waiter. However, if a service (serviço) charge is listed in the bill, no tip is required. In all other situations, tip at least 10% of the bill. At bars, tipping is not usually the norm, but feel free to round up the bill or give a small amount for good service.
Taxis: Tipping taxi drivers is not always expected in every country in South America; research your destination for specific advice. Regardless of whether it is expected or not, you may wish to offer a small tip or round up the meter if your driver helped with bags or provided otherwise exceptional service.
Hotels: Dependent on the country, but generally, tip about $1–2 per bag for porters and $1–2 per day for housekeepers (or equivalent in local currency).
Other Services: Keep in mind that though tips may not always be expected, they are almost always appreciated. A good general guideline is about 10% of the bill.
For many countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, it is customary to tip service workers – including at restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, spas, salons, taxis, and the like (especially in tourist areas). However, expected amounts vary, so be sure to research common tipping practices for your specific destination(s). In general, a good basic rule is about 10% of the bill. For exceptional service, increase it to 15–20%.
Restaurants: In larger cities and tourist areas, restaurants may add a 10% service charge to the bill; tipping additionally is not expected in these cases. Otherwise, 10–15% gratuity is expected at restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Taxis: Round up the fare to the nearest whole increment for most rides. For very long drives or if the driver assisted with baggage, you may wish to tip a bit more.
Hotels: Tip hotel porters a few dollars in the preferred/local currency for each bag they handle, and tip housekeeping a few dollars per day. If a concierge provides exceptional service, you may wish to offer them a small amount as well.
Other Services: Expect to tip about 10% for most services in which you would normally tip in North America. When in doubt, ask a local.
Tipping culture in West Africa varies by region, and while tips are not necessarily expected, they are always appreciated. A gratuity of 10% is usually acceptable. However, specific practices vary depending on the country. For example:
In Ghana, tipping is not expected at most establishments – however, it is always appreciated. If you wish to tip, leaving small change at most restaurants is considered generous. A small tip per bag/day is fair for hotel porters and housekeeping staff, respectively. However, when taking a taxi or dining at an upscale restaurant, a tip of 5–10% is expected.
In Togo, tipping taxi drivers, restaurant staff, and hotel staff about 5–15% is common and expected. Tip more for exceptional service.
In Benin, tips are appreciated but may not necessarily be expected (except in tourist areas). Rounding up the bill or tipping up to 10% at small restaurants is fair. For taxi drivers, round up the fare. You may also wish to give a small amount per bag for porters and per day for housekeeping staff.
Throughout much of the Middle East, tipping is common and anticipated. It even has its own name, baksheesh, and anyone who does anything in the way of service will expect it – and needs it. Wages are extremely low, and baksheesh is a common way for people to supplement their income. For this reason, it’s best to always carry baksheesh money consisting of small notes and coins.
Do not give baksheesh if you feel the service doesn’t warrant it or if you refused service but got it anyway. However, if you think it’s appropriate, a pound or two is always sincerely appreciated.
Restaurants: A service charge is sometimes added to the bill, but the money rarely goes to servers, so it is good practice to give additional gratuity on top of it. In general, 10–15% of the total bill is appropriate. At cafes and bars, give the equivalent of about 1–2 USD.
Taxis: Round up the bill and tip extra for exceptional service.
Hotels: In many countries, tipping the equivalent of about 1–2 USD per bag for porters and per day for housekeeping is customary. Tip the concierge about the same if they provide special assistance in any way.
Other Services: Again, anyone who provides any kind of service will likely expect baksheesh of at least small change or about 10% of the bill. Tipping the equivalent of about 1–2 USD in the local currency is appropriate for street performers, photographers, and the like.
Tipping isn’t widely customary in much of Southeast Asia and is ultimately optional, so it isn’t usually expected. However, in areas with high amounts of tourism, the tipping culture is becoming more pronounced. In general, rounding up the bill to the nearest whole amount or offering about 10% of the bill is appropriate and appreciated.
Do note that, historically, tipping was considered rude in many Asian countries (and still is in some East Asian countries like Japan and South Korea). However, due to low wages and an influx of tourism in Southeast Asia, people have become more accustomed to it. To be safe, it’s best to research tipping norms for your specific destination(s).
If you wish to tip, below are some guidelines:
Restaurants: Some restaurants include a service charge, but this fee may not go to the waitstaff. If you wish to tip, 5–10% of the bill is sufficient.
Taxis: Tipping either 10% or rounding up the fare to the nearest 10 is appropriate.
Hotels: Dependent on the country, but in general, tipping a small amount per bag for hotel porters and per day for housekeeping is appreciated (and in some cases, customary, such as in Vietnam).
Other Services: Keep in mind that wages are typically low in this part of the world, so tipping any amount is often seen as very generous. Note that, as in many countries, tipping is more expected in tourist areas and at upscale establishments.
In general, tipping is not customary or expected in East Asian countries. Some places may even consider it rude or offensive. As tipping in this part of the world can be a delicate matter, it’s best to research tipping norms for your specific destination(s). For example:
In Japan, “the customer is God;” excellent customer service is the standard, not something that requires extra compensation. Due to this belief, tips are not expected or accepted. If, for some reason, you ever do feel it is necessary to tip, do so discreetly and respectfully. Place the money in an envelope and give it directly to the recipient by holding it in both hands and bowing slightly. However, be prepared for your tip to be politely (if not embarrassedly) rejected.
In most parts of China, tipping isn’t a common practice. Locals do not tip, so service workers do not usually expect it, and some might see it as rude. However, in touristic areas, tipping is becoming more common and may even be expected from a foreign traveler. Overall, if you do wish to tip, rounding up the bill or offering 5–10% gratuity is sufficient for most situations. Upscale restaurants and tour guides are the exception, as they do expect tips. Similarly to Japan, tips should be offered subtly in China.
In South Korea, tipping is unacceptable in almost every situation. Service workers will almost always see it as rude. South Korean culture emphasizes employers’ responsibility to pay workers fairly, and some industries even have laws prohibiting businesses from asking for additional compensation on top of listed prices. So, tipping is rarely, if ever, necessary.
As is the case with many on-tour questions, feel free to ask your Odysseys Tour Director about tipping practices at your destination while on tour. We hope you find this information useful for your future journeys. As always, reach out at the phone number below or submit an online reservation request when you’re ready to travel with us. We’d be delighted to have you join us on one of our small group tours.
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