A friendly taxi driver or an attentive waiter: in many countries, good service is rewarded with a tip. However, some countries have different rules and customs. Here are six things to watch out for when tipping while on vacation.
1. Percentages: In much of Europe, 5-10% of the bill is considered an appropriate tip. You’ll need to dig a little deeper into your pockets in the US or Canada, where 15-20% is expected as staff rely more on tips. Be careful: sometimes the service charge is already included in the bill.
2. Cash x card: If you want to make sure the money goes directly to the waiter or some other service employee, it’s usually best to tip in cash. In major establishments in Europe and North America, however, you can also tip with a credit or debit card.
You will have to name the price you want to pay or you will be shown a screen where you can tap a certain percentage when paying. When paying by card abroad, you should always have the amount displayed in your local currency to avoid additional conversion costs.
3. Rounding: In some countries, it is enough to round the bill amount. In Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland, you can round up a drink from €4.50 to €5.
An additional tip is often not necessary. In Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Greece and Spain it is customary to leave the tip on the table when leaving the restaurant. In other countries, you round up when paying – otherwise the waiter might think you’re not tipping.
4. When not to tip: Many Asian countries have a different tipping culture. It is not common to tip and this can be seen as a faux pas. In Japan, where good service is a given, tipping can be seen as an insult. The service charge is often already included in the prices of bars, restaurants and hotels.
5. Tip the bartender: In pubs in the UK and Ireland, the barman is generally not expected to tip. However, if you are satisfied with the service, you can say “and buy one for yourself” to buy them a drink. This is considered a nice gesture and is part of British and Irish pub culture. If it seems too complicated, leaving some coins on the counter is also an option.
Sospeso coffee from Italy: The so-called caffè sospeso or “pending coffee” is a special tipping tradition that originated in Naples, Italy. When you go to a café, you order and pay for an additional coffee, which the barista then gives to a poor person who asks if there is a caffè sospeso available.
