Top Tips about tipping around the world

It’s tough trying to decipher what to tip from country to country, and many have no clue about how much gratuity to leave or offer. Sometimes you may not be inclined to tip, say in the case of bad service or if service has already been added.

Here’s a brief guide to tipping abroad:

1. Argentina

   It is customary to leave 10% at restaurants. Hotels generally charge around 10%, but where that is not the case then tip housekeeping and porters 1-2 pesos for taking bags into your room. You can also tip the maid a few pesos every day and get fantastic service. Taxi drivers usually do not expect to be tipped, but almost everybody leaves them some coins.

2. Belgium

   Tipping is not very common in Belgium. Service workers are generally well-paid and do not rely on tips. However, whether to tip or not depends on the situation. Restaurants usually add on 10-15%, but leave a few coins for good service. Where service is not included 15% tip is expected. Tipping is not the norm in hotels and in taxis, just round up the fare. Car park attendants receive 1€, cloakroom staff, 50c, toilet attendants 25c, and bar staff just small change. Tipping the taxi driver is not required in Belgium but is appreciated, especially from tourists.

3. France

   In France, service must be included in the price of a restaurant bill by law and this is usually 15% – so there is no need to tip. It is customary to round up your bill to include a little more – un pourboire. At hotels leave 1-2€ for housekeeping and porters. This is not true of bars so you should use your discretion if you feel you have got particularly good service or not. Generally, it is expected to give porters 0.50€ – 1.00€ per bag, housekeepers 1.00€ – 1.50€ per day. It is customary to tip your taxi driver 10%.

   

4. Netherlands

   Tipping in the Netherlands is not really expected.  However, rounding up the bill in restaurants is common. Restaurants charge 10% but where service is not included leave a tip of 10%. At hotels, tip as you please but taxis expect 5 per cent or round up the fare. Tipping taxi drivers is not common but you can leave 1-2€.

5. Portugal

   In Portugal, tipping is common only in the very touristic areas such as Lisbon and Algarve. At restaurants leave around 5%. Hotels tend to charge between 5-19%. Where service is not included leave the concierge and porters 2€. Taxi drivers expect 5-10%.

   

6.  Singapore

   According to government notices in Lion City, tipping is not allowed. Officials encourage tourists not to add to the 10% service charge that many high-end hotels include on the bill. Hotel porters are one exception to the no-tipping rule, as they usually receive a couple of dollars for lugging bags.

7. Thailand

    

   It is not very customary to tip in Thailand. Some places expect it and others don’t. In general, the more Westernised the place is, the more likely you’ll be expected to leave a gratuity. Cabs are now metered in Bangkok, so there’s no haggling over your fare, but local custom is still to round the fare up to the nearest five baht.

8. United States

   The United States is the tipping capital of the world and not tipping can easily offend. Restaurants and bars in the USA usually call for a 20% tip. Often, restaurant bills will suggest three tipping options: 20, 22 and 25 per cent. This supplements a normally meagre wage.

    

    

   This is true of everyone in the service industry, so the rule is, if someone helps you out in any way, from porter to bartender it pays to leave a tip for continued good service. It’s a deeply imbedded cultural thing.