Tipping Guide: Countries Where You Don’t Need To Tip A Percentage
If you come from a culture where
Tipping rules, customs, attitudes and expectations change depending on which country you visit.
In some countries, like the US and Canada, it’s customary and expected that you tip the restaurant waiters 15% to 20% of the total bill before
This has become the norm mainly because the wait staff in these countries don’t make a liveable wage and rely heavily on tips.
Most countries overseas and around the world don’t have such attitudes towards
It may be rude to tip in these countries.
In some countries, it’s considered rude to tip because doing a good job is just part of the job.
1) Japan:
Be careful not to tip at restaurants in Japan; you might insult someone.
The general ideology is that the wait staff works for the restaurant as a team, and if a customer enjoys their visit, they will return to the restaurant again, refer others, and bring more business.
Exception: I have been to some restaurants in Tokyo that received a lot of tourists and understood that some foreigners tip. In these rare cases,
2) China
Like Japan, it can be considered rude to give the wait staff a tip except for Hong Kong and Macao, which are becoming more westernized.
3) South Korea
Generally,
Tips are not expected in these countries:
Tipping is not customary in these countries but is slowly becoming more common, especially in touristy spots where tourists, probably from America or Canada, give tips.
Although tips are not expected in these countries, if you receive exceptional service and want to leave a tip anyway, round up; it will be much appreciated. It’s entirely discretionary.
4) Malaysia
5) Vietnam
6) New Zealand:
Tipping at restaurants in New Zealand is not widespread; however, if you get exceptional service and feel like it, you can leave around a 10% tip.
7) Australia:
There is no need to tip, but if you received exceptional service, round up to the nearest 5 or 10 Australian dollars.
8) Thailand
In these countries, tips are not expected, but…
Although
For example, if you buy a coffee at a French café for 1 euro 25 centimes, round up to the nearest whole number or leave the change. In this case, you could leave 10, 20, or 50 centimes.
There’s no need to feel guilty if you don’t leave a tip in these countries because there is usually a service charge already added to the bill or built into the prices.
Wait staff often receive benefits, including maternity and paternity leave, childcare, disability, and paid vacation from their employer or the government, so they aren’t dependent on tips to make a living wage.
Because
That’s why it’s best to carry change with you.
10- France
In France, you should see the words “Service Compris,” on restaurant bills. It signifies that a service fee, usually 15% was added to the bill. But leaving a small tip or a euro or two for excellent services is customary. To learn more about
General guidelines on how much to tip in France, who to tip and when not to tip.
11- Italy
The waiters and restaurants in the tourist meccas- Venice, Florence or Rome, have grown so accustomed to foreigners leaving tips, some expect it now.
12- Denmark
In Denmark, service charges are included in your bill; it’s a law.
13- Russia
14- Belgium
15- Austria
16- Spain
17- Iceland
18- New Zealand
19- Poland
Do your research
It can be really embarrassing and stressful to receive your bill in a foreign country and not know how much is too much or too little, or whether or not you should leave a tip at all.
Always do country-specific research on the
Here are a few service-related things to research.
- restaurants
- hotel staff
- taxi’s
- tour guides
- Spa and resort staff
- Hotel cleaning crew
- Bellhops
- hairdressers and barbers