Recommendation for travellers – How much you should tip on vacation – and where it’s even mandatory

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A friendly driver or an attentive waitress: good service is often rewarded with a tip in this country. But what about financial appreciation abroad?

In most countries, a tip of five to ten percent of the bill is the right amount. You should dig deeper into your pocket in the USA or Canada, where 15 to 20 percent is expected – unless a service charge is already included in the bill, as the Association of German Banks explains. In American restaurants, in particular, tipping is an unspoken obligation.

If you want to ensure the service charge goes directly to the waiter or concierge, it is better to tip in cash. However, tips can now be paid by credit or debit card in many places.

Round up instead of tipping!
In some countries, it is sufficient to round up the invoice amount. These include Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. An additional tip is often not necessary here.

By the way, In France, Greece and Spain, it is customary to leave the tip on the table or the bill plate when leaving the restaurant.

Tipping is an insult in these countries
Be careful in many Asian countries: Here, tipping is uncommon and can put your foot in your mouth.
In Japan, tipping can be seen as an insult. This is because good service is taken for granted here. A service charge is often included in the prices of bars, restaurants, and hotels.

Drink instead of money in pubs
In pubs in the UK, Ireland, and Scotland, tipping is taken literally: If you are satisfied with the service, you simply buy a drink for the person at the tap. This is seen as a nice gesture and is customary there.

Tipping with the “caffè sospeso”
A special tipping tradition comes from Naples: the “caffè sospeso” or “deferred coffee”. This involves ordering and paying for an additional coffee, which the barista will later serve to those in need on request.

This is how much money is customary on vacation
Asia

Good service is very important in Japan – tipping is not seen as a nice gesture but as unusual or insulting. The situation is similar in Vietnam, Malaysia and China. Thailand is the only country in Asia where a ten percent surcharge is quite common.

Australia and New Zealand
In Oceania, vacationers are doing everything right with a ten percent surcharge. This applies above all to fine-dining restaurants.

Greece
The Greeks join the ranks of the southern countries: Here, too, diners should not forget to add a small surcharge. In upscale restaurants, a ten percent surcharge is appreciated, while in lower standard restaurants or cabs, it can be rounded up. Gestures are appreciated here: the chambermaid is particularly pleased when the money is handed over personally.

Great Britain
A service charge is often included in the price in British restaurants. If not, holidaymakers are safe with a tip of ten to 15 percent. In hotels, travellers can thank the chambermaid with one pound per night and round up the fare when paying in a cab.

France
While a financial gift is not absolutely necessary for the French in hotels, you can expect to pay ten percent in cabs and ten to 15 percent in restaurants. But be careful: the bill is not rounded up. Instead, the money is left on the table after payment.

North Africa
If you want to appear as a friendly tourist in Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt, you should give a “baksheesh”, as the tip is called in these countries, of around ten percent when eating. Hairdressers and other service providers are happy to accept a financial thank you.

North America
Vacationers in the USA or Canada should plan on tipping waiters 15 to 20 percent. A Canadian or US dollar per night can be paid at the hotel and for the porter per piece of luggage. In a cab, 15 percent is appropriate.

Scandinavia
As in most Scandinavian countries, tipping is unusual in Finland, Norway and Denmark. Sweden is an exception: A ten percent surcharge is considered appropriate in restaurants.

Spain and Italy
Tipping is welcome in Spain and Italy: for paella, pasta, pizza and all the other delicacies that we Germans love so much, you can thank the waiter with a tip of a maximum of ten percent. Even less if a surcharge has already been added to the bill for the place setting. In a hotel, five euros per night is a guideline.