A few days ago, I wrote about an undercover investigation in Paris, to see how Americans are ripped off at restaurants compared to locals.
I found the findings there to be fascinating, and one of those is that service was “included” for the person posing as a local, but not for the person posing as an American. When the American decided to tip 10%, the server increased that amount to 15%, seemingly thinking that wasn’t sufficient.
Tipping is always a hot button topic, and I’d like to address that more broadly. Yes, us Americans are the “worst” when it comes to this, but honestly, this is anything but straightforward.
In this post:
Tipping cultures vary greatly around the world
To start, let’s briefly discuss tipping cultures around the world. I’d say most countries fit into one of three categories:
- On one end of the spectrum you have Japan, where you absolutely don’t tip under any circumstances; correct me if I’m wrong, but I can’t think of any other country where there aren’t even any circumstances where you’d round up
- Then you have countries where it’s customary to round up a little bit, but we’re talking small amounts; for example, the German word for tip is “Trinkgeld,” which means “drinking money,” and I think that is a pretty good descriptor of the intent there
- On the other end of the spectrum, you have countries where tipping is a consistent expectation, and contributes toward a person’s ability to make a living
There’s a huge amount of variability within that last category, in terms of the amount you tip and the situations in which you tip.
In the United States, tipping 20% in restaurants is the norm, but it goes way beyond that. Staying at a nice hotel? It’s common to give money to the airport shuttle bus driver, the valet, the bellman who flags a taxi for you, the person who helps you with luggage, the concierge, the housekeeper, etc. Sometimes you’re even encouraged to tip front desk agents and self check-out machines!
At the same time, I think many non-Americans underplay the extent to which tipping is also part of the culture in their own country. For example, if you go out to a nice meal in a major European city, even most locals tip a non-insignificant amount (assuming there’s not a percentage service charge included). If you have a check equivalent to $99 (in local currency) in London, Madrid, Paris, etc., even most locals aren’t simply going to round that up to $100 (though if anyone has a different take, let me know!).
I always find it funny to read guides online about tipping at restaurants outside the United States. It usually goes something like “tipping is not customary or expected, but if service is good, a tip of X% is considered appropriate.”
How should Americans tip when traveling internationally?
Us Americans are collectively guilty of exporting our tipping culture to other countries. We’ll show up at hotels, and often start tipping the same way we would in the United States.
We’ll use justification like “oh, they were just so nice,” or “oh, it’s not a lot of money to me, but it means a lot to them.” In terms of the economic impact, this is probably most apparent in countries where the average income is way lower than in the United States.
Of course over time, this creates a challenge:
- Those working in tourism expect tips from Americans, because that’s just how we’ve always acted
- Most people are happy to be given extra money, so they’re not upset about the tips, even if local customs aren’t being followed (with Japan being an exception)
- To some extent, what makes some people in tourism like Americans is that they know they’re getting a bit of a payday when they hear a certain accent; I think many in service even go above and beyond for Americans, since they know there’s quite a bit of upside
- As people in tourism come to expect tips from Americans, they might be shocked when Americans don’t tip, and view that as them being cheap, or something having been wrong with the experience
- The added problem is that overtourism in so many places has increased the cost of living for locals, and in some places, locals working in tourism start to rely on tips to deal with the higher cost of living, when that wasn’t previously the case
- I think the whole “sharing” economy concept has contributed to this even more, in terms of the normalization of tips; for example, I was shocked that when I took an Uber in Tokyo, I was even given the option of tipping
Tipping culture gets all the more complicated if you’re staying internationally at a western hotel group (Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, etc.), or if you’re somewhere that’s overrun with Americans (like Cancun). But generally speaking, more and more I find myself at international destinations where I’m asked if I want to add a tip (either verbally, or in writing). It’s rather awkward to say “no,” at least for me.
If you ask me, we’ve dug ourselves a bit of a hole here. I don’t know what the solution is, but I often struggle with figuring out the best course of action. Is there a solution, other than pretending one is from a different country?
To those who work in tourism outside of the United States, how do you feel about this? If your local culture is that tipping isn’t necessary, how do you feel when an American doesn’t tip? Do you feel they’re being cheap, or are you impressed they’re following local customs?
Bottom line
The United States is known for its tipping culture, and there’s no denying that this has spread globally a bit. As an American traveling abroad, it’s something I struggle with. It feels like those working in tourism have largely started to expect Americans to tip the same way abroad as they do at home, given how many people do.
I’m not sure what the right balance is, but it feels like it’s getting worse and worse.
Where do you stand on Americans tipping abroad, and what the right approach is?
In the US, a 10-15% tip is fair to me. 20% is outrageous, but maybe for remarkable circumstances. The value of my tip depends on service. If I'm in Europe and a server asks for a tip, that's a no from me. It is awkward, but I don't care. Asking for tips is rude.
I don’t tip internationally. I tip 15%. 20% is not the norm.
Likewise. I tip closer to 10-15%. It was 10% in 2000, and since prices have increased, so has the dollar amounts of that 10%. I don't understand why the tipping percentage goes up, in addition to the cost of goods/services.
Unless they look at your passport, they don't really "know" that you're an American, so why tip like you're in the US when you are not (which doesn't make sense to begin with)? Don't be scared of disappointing strangers you will probably never see again
I'm from the UK and was in a café while visiting Vienna a few years ago. In the UK we normally tip by leaving behind the money we wish to tip after having paid, whereas in German-speaking countries that I've spent time in, you tend to say to the waiter/waitress how much you wish to give them once they've told you the total bill, working on the assumption that whatever you offer them over the...
I'm from the UK and was in a café while visiting Vienna a few years ago. In the UK we normally tip by leaving behind the money we wish to tip after having paid, whereas in German-speaking countries that I've spent time in, you tend to say to the waiter/waitress how much you wish to give them once they've told you the total bill, working on the assumption that whatever you offer them over the cost of the bill is their tip. E.g. bill comes to €7, you hand over €10 and say "It's OK" (implying, you keep the rest). I had a momentary lapse, having been back in the UK for a few years and forgot this. Having finished my Kaffee und Kuchen, the waiter told me the price, I gave him an amount of money and awaited the change fully intending to hand some straight back to him. He got all shirty and said in German "Huh, so my service is worth nothing is it?" and stormed off moaning to himself. By the time I'd computed what he had said, it was too late for me to provide a witty retort, and he had indeed lost his tip. As others have said, it's imoortant to remember, 'when in Rome...'
Norway and Australia are also countries with a no tip culture. And, I am pretty sure this is also true for the other Nordic countries.
I tried to tip in an Australian bar once. It was a great pub and we were having a blast, and the service was excellent. The barman politely but very firmly told me, “we get paid well enough we don’t need charity, mate.” He pushed the tip back across the bar and I avoided that landmine the rest of the trip.
Spent time in London and Paris last month for the first time. It definitely took some adjustment the first few days, looking to tip servers but they never even presented the opportunity to. They flash the card reader, I tap and they walk away. No questions asked. Then in Paris on the last night we had a nice dinner and had good service. Waittress wasnt even looking for a tip but we left her one...
Spent time in London and Paris last month for the first time. It definitely took some adjustment the first few days, looking to tip servers but they never even presented the opportunity to. They flash the card reader, I tap and they walk away. No questions asked. Then in Paris on the last night we had a nice dinner and had good service. Waittress wasnt even looking for a tip but we left her one anyways and she was so happy. Coming back to the USA and being blasted with it everywhere in the usual ridiculous areas where there is no service is annoying
@Ben, is there any way I can tip for reading this article?
It's one thing for Americans to tip willingly when it is not required, but it's something else when European restaurants that cater to American tourists to expect a tip. The last few years I've been seeing "TIP NOT INCLUDED" (in English) stamped on more and more restaurant checks in Europe. The worst offender was a high-end tourist trap restaurant in Dubrovnik where the handheld terminal had a tipping screen with preset values of 10%, 15%,...
It's one thing for Americans to tip willingly when it is not required, but it's something else when European restaurants that cater to American tourists to expect a tip. The last few years I've been seeing "TIP NOT INCLUDED" (in English) stamped on more and more restaurant checks in Europe. The worst offender was a high-end tourist trap restaurant in Dubrovnik where the handheld terminal had a tipping screen with preset values of 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% (and a small button for a custom tip, fortunately). I bet they don't use the same device for Croat customers.
When in Rome, do as the Romans.
Once I was with my family touring Spain.
We went to a nice restaurant in Cordoba.
After we finished our meal, the waiter came up with the bill but before delivering it to us he asked if we were Americans. When we said no, he quickly apologized and went back inside. Later on he went back and said that they have removed the "gratuity fee"...
This is why when Brits subtly grovel for tips or want to drunkenly argue Trump with me in London, I shut it down by saying I'm Canadian.
Never had a single issue with tipping anywhere on the Continent. I prefer the German method of "machen Sie bitte XX.XX" to add a little Trinkgeld to the final bill. Oh, and their whole social safety net thing that ensures people don't have to navigate this stupid, informal, performative social labyrinth.
I tip 15% before tax in states with no minimal wages for restaurants workers.
I tip 7-10% before tax in states with minimal wage for restaurant workers.
I tip 10% before tax in Canada
I Tip only if obligated to Mexico, Caribbean and Central America and only around 5-10%
I never tip in eruope or Asia.
I never tip in lounges (I don’t drink), I never tip in hotels and I never tip on airplane. And I don’t like it when others tip. But whatever.
Recently in Sydney the hotel included a very nice buffet breakfast for a fairly nominal charge-like $15 AUS. I tipped the person setting up and cleaning my table $10 AUS.
The American culture has ruined a lot of places in our opinion. As said here by many, it is expected now. Certainly if one is speaking english.
You can still speak English British, because they don't tip much. So tips are not expected from them.
I remember traveling to Japan and South Korea, it was an insult to tip back then. The hotel included the tips in your room charge.
Now in Europe...
The American culture has ruined a lot of places in our opinion. As said here by many, it is expected now. Certainly if one is speaking english.
You can still speak English British, because they don't tip much. So tips are not expected from them.
I remember traveling to Japan and South Korea, it was an insult to tip back then. The hotel included the tips in your room charge.
Now in Europe its difficult. Well if you don't want to tip, try not acting or looking like an American, I guess.
Tipping in the USA is just a way to move the entrepreneurial risk away from the entrepreneur to the employee, which is simply wrong on all accounts.
I know Ben is not interested in Korea, but it's also tip-free just like Japan.
All the East Asian countries are tip free. Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, all of them.
I don't tip. If the owner expects me to eat at their establishment, the need to pay their help a living wage. If they don't, I don't.
If you tip, you are part of the problem.
I use cash in the US just so I can vanish without getting presented with the 'do you want to pay 20% extra just to cover someone doing their job and spending 2 minutes carrying a plate' nonsense on the credit card screen.
The whole thing is absurd. All a server does is carry a plate!
There are tip category employees and non-tipped positions. Sit down restaurants. where you are waited on is a tipped position. Counter help is not. US federal law only requires an employer pay about $2.15 an hour for tipped positions. The exceptions being states with state minimum wage laws which may require higher hourly rates. Mainly, what are considered coastal and/or Blue states.
You are generalizing and wrong. It is State by State. Those below minimum wage restaurant positions exit in some States only. Many States such as NY and CA require restaurants to pay at least minimum wage.
In San Francisco restaurants even charge an additional SF mandatory for health cost which sometimes is up to 7%.
Follow the local customs! It's pretty easy to agree that American tipping culture is toxic and backwards, and we should do everything we can to not export it.
My experience living in France: I tip about 5% (rounded up or down) on a nice meal and it's genuinely appreciated (other than in tourist traps in Paris or beach clubs on the Riviera that have a largely American clientele and aren't shy about asking for more, though I'm never a return customer there). You tell them what total you want them to charge to your card. If you tip a delivery driver a euro...
My experience living in France: I tip about 5% (rounded up or down) on a nice meal and it's genuinely appreciated (other than in tourist traps in Paris or beach clubs on the Riviera that have a largely American clientele and aren't shy about asking for more, though I'm never a return customer there). You tell them what total you want them to charge to your card. If you tip a delivery driver a euro coin, you'll get a heartfelt thank you-- it's just not expected, but I do it anyway. Otherwise, I tip like the French tip.
Curiously in Germany they seem to have credit card readers that allow you to add a tip in after the fact, and in places like Berlin and Munich they are eager to tell Americans that "tip is not included," which doesn't sound right to me.
Mykonos is the only place I've been in Europe where a 10% tip at a beach club was met with actual indignation and I was told "20% is normal." Again, not really (for many reasons) going to be a return customer in Mykonos.
And even in your beloved tip-free Japan, Ben, as you probably know, Niseko is another story. All those Aussies working cafes and restaurants are more than eager to hint at and accept a tip.
The correct reaction to "20% is normal" would be "okay, make it zero". People need to start doing this, anyone who pressures you into tipping or tipping more doesn't deserve a tip. It's an extremely impolite behaviour and thus a bad service.
All these guys who hate tipping are not forced to tip. They can leave absolutely zero at 99% of the places they frequent. But they'll have to take it like a man when they inevitably get called out on it. And if it really bothers them enough to not do it, then maybe their conscience is trying to tell them something.
They love preaching individual freedom and no social safety net. But when it doesn't work in their favor, enter overgrown baby mode.
The problem with tipping is too many people are greedy, and expectations of tips versus gratitude for them has become the problem.
There is not a single thing wrong with giving a gift to somebody else for something you appreciate, and it’s accepted throughout the world. The only problem is the expectations that are not communicated and then ignored by both parties, causing conflict when there shouldn’t be.
I think the biggest reason Americans Tip...
The problem with tipping is too many people are greedy, and expectations of tips versus gratitude for them has become the problem.
There is not a single thing wrong with giving a gift to somebody else for something you appreciate, and it’s accepted throughout the world. The only problem is the expectations that are not communicated and then ignored by both parties, causing conflict when there shouldn’t be.
I think the biggest reason Americans Tip is the majority of them are underpaid in the service industry and those with the most money are going to pay extra to get better service. Unless you have a two tiered system of pricing, tipping is the only way to differentiate The value assigned to individual patrons.
The problem comes from people who abuse the system on both sides, treating other people like commodities instead of human beings.
Tipping isn’t the problem, we are. And I don’t mean Americans, I mean, greedy, selfish humans that don’t have empathy for others.
Do NOT tip! In many places it is even considered a bribe, i.e. a criminal offence. I'm always surprised how much legal risk people take in this respect, while they are pretty relaxed about anything else.
Genuinely interested in a list of places where tipping = bribe, Andy.
I think there is a bit of irony here. A vast majority (not all) of American abroad expect everyone to understand and speak English (and especially American accent), and act without trying to even remotely understand the local culture. As such, I don't think it's unreasonable for local workers to have made it an expectation that they'd tip as it one were in the USA.
As an American tourist, you are very welcome to discover...
I think there is a bit of irony here. A vast majority (not all) of American abroad expect everyone to understand and speak English (and especially American accent), and act without trying to even remotely understand the local culture. As such, I don't think it's unreasonable for local workers to have made it an expectation that they'd tip as it one were in the USA.
As an American tourist, you are very welcome to discover the local culture, learn a few words in the local language, act a bit more as a local and you'd see the tipping expectation naturally disappear (in my opinion).
I wondered whether the credit card machines in other countries know you're American based on the issuing bank and includes an Add Tip line while a local paying for his/her meal with a local credit card does not get the Add Tip line.
My god, you make everything about you, don't you? Imagine being this self centered.
American spotted, lol.
Of course the card machine knows where the card was issued (that's how they deduct VAT in Uruguay for example) but of course it doesn't use that information to offer you a tip option or not. It's either there or not. We tip too, but much less and in some locations only for exceptional service.
In Europe, anyway, the server brings a terminal to your table, types in the amount (which you can split among the people who had dinner) and then you tap your card. You can (optionally, except in Italy where it's required by law) accept a receipt, but the transaction is complete by then. In other words, there's no point at which the domicile of your credit card would be used to determine the mechanics of the payment.
Why are you damned if you don't?
If any server in Europe makes a point of telling you that “service is NOT included”, they know you’re a tourist and are trying to guilt you into tipping. They would never say this to locals, and locals would never tip any sort of fixed %.
Thats the thing tho, who cares if service is included or not?
You dont get on a plane only to have the driver try to extort you for an extra 20%. Its part of the price listed on the menu!
It should be illegal for additional fees to be added beyond what is listed on the price imo
This varies by country and there are some circumstances in which service is genuinely not included (and so noted on the menu).
Like most other commenters, I completely disagree that people outside the US expect us to tip because we're Americans.
Quite the opposite - they expect us to act like we're guests in THEIR country, not continuously attempt to pack our American culture in our suitcase and impose it on them when we arrive.
Tipping is a clumsy and cumbersome cultural norm. It exists because Americans are gullible enough to believe that the price on the...
Like most other commenters, I completely disagree that people outside the US expect us to tip because we're Americans.
Quite the opposite - they expect us to act like we're guests in THEIR country, not continuously attempt to pack our American culture in our suitcase and impose it on them when we arrive.
Tipping is a clumsy and cumbersome cultural norm. It exists because Americans are gullible enough to believe that the price on the menu is what they're paying, so they are more likely to come. Services business would do the whole country a favor by raising their prices (to what they actually are) and eliminating tipping in their establishments.
I emigrated to New Zealand a few years ago where it is SO refreshing that this whole tipping circus doesn't exist. Service providers charge what they need to to pay their people a living wage. When American tourists try to tip here, people just look at them like they're naive and uniformed (in other words, like they're Americans...).
PTO:
Actually, the way you tip on credit cards in Spain, Australia (and really anywhere outside the U.S.) is let's say the bill is 124 Euros...you say "make it 135 Euros"...they say thank you and put 135 Euros on the reader.
Who do you think get's that money? In the US the POS systems for restaurants have tip management, which pools the tips and then distributes them among all the tipped workers according to a programmable formula. That doesn't exist in Europe, it's simply a bunch of euro transactions. I'd be surprised if there was someone in the back comparing the terminal transactions with the checks (which they probably don't even keep) and distributing tips.
Tipping culture in the US is out of hand with these technology platforms that give you an option to choose the percentage. Sometimes you just wanna pay and leave so it’s awkward to enter a custom number or search for more options. I definitely have to get better at thinking about how much I want to tip before I go to any establishment.
If you just pour out drip coffee for me from a...
Tipping culture in the US is out of hand with these technology platforms that give you an option to choose the percentage. Sometimes you just wanna pay and leave so it’s awkward to enter a custom number or search for more options. I definitely have to get better at thinking about how much I want to tip before I go to any establishment.
If you just pour out drip coffee for me from a dispenser I do not think it warrants a 20% tip.
I haven’t tipped an Uber/Lyft driver ever, and have had no problems getting a ride.
My wife and I were in Japan and in South Korea. Yes, tipping is not common. We didn't know at the time is Seoul, but we had a waiter refuse our tip. This is despite my wife speaking broken Korean to him.
In India, yes you do tip, but it is not outrageous. Similarly for Vietnam and Cambodia.
In Europe...err Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkiye you may see something called as a...
My wife and I were in Japan and in South Korea. Yes, tipping is not common. We didn't know at the time is Seoul, but we had a waiter refuse our tip. This is despite my wife speaking broken Korean to him.
In India, yes you do tip, but it is not outrageous. Similarly for Vietnam and Cambodia.
In Europe...err Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkiye you may see something called as a cover charge on your bill. If you do, tipping is not necessary. Even then it is not unreasonable and not outrageous like the USA.
Similarly in Latin America they have tipping, but I have had tips returned to me in Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Argentina. Probably because I speak Spanish pretty well. One waiter in CDMX was surprised that I was a foreigner because he said that I spoke Spanish well enough to pass for a Latin American. Intonation and all. I am not Latin American. He thought I was a South American....Argentine from my accent. I speak Spanish with a Cordoban Criollo Accent, common around Cordoba Argentina.
As a Kiwi do not ever tip here. EVER.
Never ever.
I usually see a 10% service charge added at most of the restaurants I go to in NZ.
I live here and have never ever seen this in my life.
its pretty common at places like Botswana Butchery, Hello Beasty etc.
I’ve never seen that either
In the old days, there were stories about people getting chased out of restaurants and having the tip money thrown at them -- then getting beaten up by the server if they refused to take it back. Apocryphal? Maybe, but it gives the sense of just how unacceptable tipping was / is in New Zealand.
Now that tips (up to $25000) are not taxed in the US, I will find it very difficult to tip in the US - why should I have to pay tax on my income and a server does not?
They're still going to be taxed. It's just that the employee will have a new deduction to claim. It won't be a tax credit, just another deduction. Hoodwinked by Trump again.
10% used to be the norm when I first visited US. Anyone expecting twice as much today can kiss his own ass. And I tip when I feel like it and the person deserves it, not just because business owners underpay them. BTW, during online ordering, I round up to nearest full dollar, even if it is just one cent. Nothing more.
I appreciate this post Ben, yet the comments became fully centered on US/Europe + Japan, forgetting the entire rest of the world.
I’ve been scolded in countries in Africa and Asia for not tipping to expectation, despite what the guidebooks say is “local custom”.
The truth is in many places, we aren’t local. And we aren’t held to their customs. We are held to their expectation.
Anyone who wants to discriminate against me on the basis of my nationality can get lost together with their expectations. Notwithstanding the above, I have to say that I have never had any issue around tipping , or rather not tipping, in the numerous Asian countries that I've visited - but then again I am not American.
Where in Asia you got scolded? Asia is huge with many countries and many local customs.
Shame on America for allowing business owner to get away with not even paying their staff a living wage. As an Australian I can even understand why you all don't grow a spine and call out this appalling behaviour, it doesn't take much to tell the business owner what you think of their business practices and even less to take your business elsewhere.
I'm a strong advocate of following local customs, so I don't tip in countries where it's not customary. But there are two sides to that coin, and the other is following the customs of countries where tipping IS part of the culture.
While it annoys me when Americans tip in countries where it's not part of the culture, it annoys me MORE when non-Americans refuse to tip in the United Status. In the first...
I'm a strong advocate of following local customs, so I don't tip in countries where it's not customary. But there are two sides to that coin, and the other is following the customs of countries where tipping IS part of the culture.
While it annoys me when Americans tip in countries where it's not part of the culture, it annoys me MORE when non-Americans refuse to tip in the United Status. In the first case your putting extra money into someone's pocket (even if inappropriately), in the second you're treating waiters as slave labor because you don't "like" the country's customs.
I lived in Rome for a few years. Speak Italian fluently, have my citizenship/passport for Italy. When I travel there alone, I’m treated like a local and am never given a prompt to tip/pay service
But last time I traveled there with my parents and sister (who don’t speak the language), we were met with service charges/tips at a few restaurants
All it took was me (nicely) speaking in Italian to the waiter that it...
I lived in Rome for a few years. Speak Italian fluently, have my citizenship/passport for Italy. When I travel there alone, I’m treated like a local and am never given a prompt to tip/pay service
But last time I traveled there with my parents and sister (who don’t speak the language), we were met with service charges/tips at a few restaurants
All it took was me (nicely) speaking in Italian to the waiter that it was unfair to be targeting American tourists (and bonding over our love for the soccer team of Rome). It always seemed to work, but sucks that others who can’t speak the language/stand up for themselves are taken advantage of
I was in Italy last month with a couple of American friends who know better but still don't seem to be able to leave a restaurant without leaving a large tip.
A waiter in one place we ate simply declined a tip with "I'm sorry, there's no way to put it in the machine".
Even the robots in the US expect tips! It was amusing to go to a coffee shop in Seattle where everything was done by "barista bots" and there was a line in the bill for a tip ... just ridiculous
Tipping isn’t customary in most if not all of East Asia, Australia, NZ and many other places. I don’t know why Japan is always cited as the one place tipping isn’t a thing, especially since it is actually a custom there at some high end ryokan.
TBH, i’m willing to tip but they have to make it a bit easier for me. I have been at many restaurants where they’ve just asked me to add the tip at the credit card machine and I’ll do that. Usually about 10% unless service is clearly included. But some places won’t allow that and I’m just not getting the kind of cash I would need to be tipping in cash all the time. And...
TBH, i’m willing to tip but they have to make it a bit easier for me. I have been at many restaurants where they’ve just asked me to add the tip at the credit card machine and I’ll do that. Usually about 10% unless service is clearly included. But some places won’t allow that and I’m just not getting the kind of cash I would need to be tipping in cash all the time. And even if I were, it’s coming out of an ATM and it’s not in the right denominations. It used to be that your hotel would happily make change for you and now that gets harder and harder to accomplish. I just don’t want to take extra cash out of the ATM, buy something I don’t need for cash in order to get hopefully small enough denominations, and even then, not enough of them. I found myself at a super nice hotel on this last trip and got a massage and wanted to tip the massage therapist and had literally no cash and they wouldn’t let me do it any other way and I felt really bad. It’s funny because Europe has more advanced credit card technology than America generally. If people are waiting for me to give them cash tips, they’re usually going to be disappointed.
Re: Tipping in Japan
It is appreciated if there is a private service involved, like an exclusive guide or a butler (it’s called okimochi). But yes, not necessary in public places like restaurants, haircut salons, hotels, and so on.
American here. I’m not tipping anymore. No more than 10% moving forward here in the states. Enough of this. Different times. Uber tip only if they proactively take my luggage on airport rides or I’m being reimbursed.
Overseas no tipping with the exception of housekeeping. Taxi no. Uber no. I’ll tip the housekeeper if I have 5 CHF in coins left over or the smallest bill is 10 CHF.
Sorry but this is just wrong. We don't tip housekeeping in Europe but we do tip (reasonably!) in restaurants in most of Europe. Tipping housekeeping makes no sense.
@Samo
Ok.
Wait till your uber rating goes down for not tipping and becomes harder and harder to arrange a ride
You can always use Bolt, Grab, Indrive, Cabify, Didi and any number of non-US companies.
Luke, Uber drivers rate you when they drop you off, before they know whether you will tip. Further, the idea that lower rated riders have a harder time arranging a ride is folly. When you request a ride, you're doing so from a driver who is available to take you for a ride. Very few Uber drivers are in a position to turn down rides. They are almost always driving for Uber because they need whatever income they can get.
Some American corporation has exported one ghastly aspect to Berlin airport: at the counter-service (i.e. McDonalds-like arrangements) the machine asks for a tip.
That's a straight zero from me.
I was initially appalled, and then realised one could perhaps see it as a way to get Americans to pay more, while the rest of the world happily clicks on zero.
It's just part of the coding in those platforms. Just hit no tip and move on with your life like everyone else does. I don't know why Americans struggle with that.
It is probably more like an option than coding when they set up the payment machine for a restaurant. I have seen some machine tips calculate before tax while others after. Then some set tipping at 18, 20 and 22%. I noticed a lot of Chinese restaurants set tip % after tax and some will go as high as 28%. I mean good luck with that.
Ken, they struggle because the POS device is in view of the staff person taking your order and they feel they will be judged if they don't tip.
I never tip in Australia (and I’ve lived there for 10 years). IF I am feeling generous, I may buy my hairdresser a bottle of French champagne as a Christmas thank you gift. But that’s it. The minimum wage is very high, and most of the service is mediocre at best (especially at restaurants). For the foreign tourists (especially those from the US)- please don’t tip!
The other problem is that when Americans tip outrageously compared with everyone else, tour guides pander to them at the expense of other tourists. A friend recently had a trip in France where an American man insisted on practicing his French throughout the tour with the tour guide, taking up huge amounts of the guide’s time at the expense of the other people who were on an English speaking tour. The guide appeared to allow...
The other problem is that when Americans tip outrageously compared with everyone else, tour guides pander to them at the expense of other tourists. A friend recently had a trip in France where an American man insisted on practicing his French throughout the tour with the tour guide, taking up huge amounts of the guide’s time at the expense of the other people who were on an English speaking tour. The guide appeared to allow this in expectation that he would receive a big tip.
Yeah, or maybe the guide was simply pleased to find an American who was bothering to take the time to learn a little French.
I recently traveled to south America. In Argentina 10% is automatically added in most restaurants. In Chile, 10% is the norm too but they ask you if that’s ok when they bring the handheld device to you (it’s a legal requirement to ask I was told). Chileans pretty much always say yes.
Big businesses and industries always find a way to shift the costs and expenses to other parties. Below is an interesting read that just came out in the nick of time
https://www.vox.com/explain-it-to-me/420772/tip-tipping-history-wage-service-jobs
My number one rule is to always tip the maid in your hotel. Anyone that has unsupervised access to my toothbrush and a toilet deserves a tip and thank you note.
Speaking of crazy tipping culture, about 10 years ago I was able to travel on Air France La Premiere A380 SFO/CDG. So it was a big cabin. Anyway the Air France lady walked me and another guy to the plane. I was ahead of them and entered the aircraft first and then turned around to thank the lady and saw the guy was trying to press a $20 in her palm while she was refusing profusely . I was like dude ♂️
In my experience, anything Americans do abroad will be considered rude and offensive. The world basically hates us, and I can't really say I blame them.
"Hate" is a strong word. Some of the cultural stuff you've exported to the world is puzzling, however, and tipping is one of those things.
Was a good weekend. The President bought in another $1.1 Trillion between Japan on Friday and the EU finally caving into daddy. He even got a round of golf in.
I visited Japan last year. Almost daily, I had a very pleasant experience with a Japanese person. People frequently took pictures of themselves with my wife and I. Why? Because I took the time to learn some Japanese before my trip.
Nobody hates you, and most of Americans don't experience any negative reactions but that's because they don't act like 'Muricans and respect the local norms.
Stay home. We hate the liberal Americans, too. You're even more rude and obnoxious.
We really, really hate you.
As a Brit, no-one I know thinks Americans are necessarily rude or offensive, but many find some commonplace American behaviour to be rude and offensive.
Beside tipping, my pet hates of Americans abroad are, inter alia: talking too loudly in bars and restaurants; talking audibly in public about your earnings, business successes or societal status; booking restaurants more than a day or two in advance; wearing unsuitable clothes in a smart casual (or better) restaurant;...
As a Brit, no-one I know thinks Americans are necessarily rude or offensive, but many find some commonplace American behaviour to be rude and offensive.
Beside tipping, my pet hates of Americans abroad are, inter alia: talking too loudly in bars and restaurants; talking audibly in public about your earnings, business successes or societal status; booking restaurants more than a day or two in advance; wearing unsuitable clothes in a smart casual (or better) restaurant; and assuming that anyone else is interested in your views on Donald Trump or any other political matter.
Looking at your username, perhaps that last point is why you've experienced negative attitudes abroad. I usually find that Americans who avoid these traps are delightful people.
If that's your experience, maybe look in a mirror?
I'm glad this perrenial topic has finally been resolved!
Great writeup and great comments.
I'm glad we can all put this behind us knowing exactly what to do in every country in the world based on what country we [claim to] come from.
So happy this topic will never come up again.
Stay tuned for the next topic..... ' whirled. peas ' !
A tip should be for exceptional service not for simply what you should expect. I find service in America to be some of the worst and least sincere anywhere, so clearly the tipping culture doesnt promote great service.
Business should pay a fair wage for someone to do their job well and if they exceed that it should be optional for someone to reward that because they appreciate it.
You should always tip an American barman who opens a Bud for you. It’s a complicated task and he should be praised for doing it well.
Tipping is a horrible cultural practice that needs to be abolished everywhere and employers need to pay employees properly. I can't stand American tipping culture that has moved Northwards to Canada.
IF I tip, which I sometimes do, I decide upon. an amount and tip NOT based on a percentage. When I visit a country where tipping is. ot the norm I follow that country's practice, not tipping or rounding up to an appropriate...
Tipping is a horrible cultural practice that needs to be abolished everywhere and employers need to pay employees properly. I can't stand American tipping culture that has moved Northwards to Canada.
IF I tip, which I sometimes do, I decide upon. an amount and tip NOT based on a percentage. When I visit a country where tipping is. ot the norm I follow that country's practice, not tipping or rounding up to an appropriate amount.
In general, I HATE the practice of tipping.
I agree that tipping is an export that should have a Tarif placed upon it.
In my opinion, tipping will be difficult to curtail in cultures where it is present now because restaurant owners and the service industry employers have backed themselves into a corner over time. Restaurant prices, and I refer to real restaurants not fast food places, have underpriced their food (the menu items) historically and these prices are now the upper...
I agree that tipping is an export that should have a Tarif placed upon it.
In my opinion, tipping will be difficult to curtail in cultures where it is present now because restaurant owners and the service industry employers have backed themselves into a corner over time. Restaurant prices, and I refer to real restaurants not fast food places, have underpriced their food (the menu items) historically and these prices are now the upper level of what customers are prepared to pay. Profit margins on food are slim. Alcohol sales subsidize food sales. Conversely, people will balk at paying a certain amount for food on a menu but will pay double what the food costs and double the wholesale price (at least) for a marginal bottle of wine. In the same way as food has been underpriced, restaurants have underpaid their staff chronically, again to subsidize the low margins on food. In this case, like alcohol for food, the subsidy for low staff wages is tips.
It is almost impossible to get out of this death spiral as, for example, if you (Americans and the cultures you have exported your tiping culture to) were suddenly faced with all in prices as are the norm in Europe, the pasta item on the menu would cost $30 dollars (tip and tax included) vice the $20 it costs now. You still pay $30 dollars roughly under both schemes, but the upfront cost is hidden and like buying a new car you are enticed by the lower sticker price but blindsided at the end by the add ons in the finance office. In addition, the tip in Europe is often 12.5% whereas in North America the tip machines now have an annoying habit of starting the tip at 18% and going up in 2% increments. It is almost like you are insulting the server if you give the lower tip. And they watch you as you choose the tip amount while you pay.
You know tipping is out of control when the drive through coffee place asks for a $1 or $2 or $3 dollar tip on a $2 dollar coffee using the automatic pay machine.
Do not export this culture to Europe. People in the service industry are generally paid an honest wage there and being a server in Paris is an honourable profession that people proudly do as a career, not just to pay their way through university.
Tipping in cultures where it is the norm will be difficult to stop or curtail. Frontline staff will take the first hit as it is unlikely their employer will raise their wages as they cannot raise the menu prices.
Stop. Tipping. Everywhere.
You can't add a tip in France on a credit card in my extensive experience in 15 cities over 14 years outside Paris. I avoid Paris and cannot speak about it. Locals have heard there are credit card machines that allow tipping, but have never seen one. I have, in Bordeaux last May in two of four visits to one restaurant. The establish had a tipping jar (not uncommon) and the first time I dropped...
You can't add a tip in France on a credit card in my extensive experience in 15 cities over 14 years outside Paris. I avoid Paris and cannot speak about it. Locals have heard there are credit card machines that allow tipping, but have never seen one. I have, in Bordeaux last May in two of four visits to one restaurant. The establish had a tipping jar (not uncommon) and the first time I dropped in a euro and hit "no tip" when I saw the tipping option on the screen. The second time, I selected the round up option, which cost me less than a euro (duh!). The last two times, I had a different server, had no tipping option on the machine, and added a euro to the tip jar. The rounding up option practice of leaving a few coins is dying as the population ages. It is seen mostly with the older crowd. I'm eating lunches that max at about €25. My one euro "tip" is not viewed as cheap, particularly since most aren't tipping. And, BTW, with tipping jars they can hear the clink but not count the amount. While I generally leave a euro at restaurants with servers, I have on occasion forgot to make sure I had change. I have never had negative feedback from a €1 or no tip. I know a lot of locals who say I'm more generous than they are. Finally, I'm cooking my own dinners (serviced apartments) and am not having dinners or eating at expensive/fancy places.
Imagine being this stupid. Just say the amount you want to pay, you f*cking moron.
You absolutely can add a tip on a credit card in France. You just say the amount you want to pay. (not saying you should or shouldn't...but that's how you do it)
Americans are unbelievably idiotic. The reason that fatty up there is saying that is they can never imagine you can accomplish something in any other way than them.
Imagine that. Coming from a country of either overbearing Karens who talk too loud or rednecks. At least the latter group know they're stupid.
The reason that round-up is dying out is the switch from cash to credit cards. In Italy, you used to simply leave the change on the table. Now there _is_ no change to leave.
Don't. Do. It. Always tip according to the local standards and respect the local culture. Moving the income from wages to tips is NOT good for service industry workers!
Don't let anyone pressure you into tipping either. Anyone who pushes for a tip doesn't deserve one by definition - that behaviour alone is sufficient to define a bad service. I had this guy in Budapest recently who was very pushy about getting a tip despite...
Don't. Do. It. Always tip according to the local standards and respect the local culture. Moving the income from wages to tips is NOT good for service industry workers!
Don't let anyone pressure you into tipping either. Anyone who pushes for a tip doesn't deserve one by definition - that behaviour alone is sufficient to define a bad service. I had this guy in Budapest recently who was very pushy about getting a tip despite 14% service charge already being charged (!!!), even trying to guilt me by saying how he's not happy about it (!!!!!!!). All he got was a one star review for the restaurant. Don't let this tactic work, don't ruin it for everyone.
This applies to whether you're American or anyone else.
If it’s not good for service industry workers then why are service industry workers the biggest critics of a livable wage and no tips in the U.S.?
Hint: it’s because they make way more money with tips than they would being paid a livable wage.
Definitely no tip in Europe, unless they've been quite good, or paying cash and leaving a few € behind. If the wait staff had been particularly attentive on a €200 bill, I'd give them €10 cash (if I had it, which I often don't). I think it's seen as more of a nice thing to do if you can, rather than an expectation. Rarely am I pressured to tip, by there even being an option...
Definitely no tip in Europe, unless they've been quite good, or paying cash and leaving a few € behind. If the wait staff had been particularly attentive on a €200 bill, I'd give them €10 cash (if I had it, which I often don't). I think it's seen as more of a nice thing to do if you can, rather than an expectation. Rarely am I pressured to tip, by there even being an option on the card machine or bill. Let's reward good work, or good service, not just doing their job.
" tipping 20% in restaurants is the norm"
Not true. That is what servers want you to believe.
STOP TIPPING - MAKE IT ILLEGAL. Force employers to pay a fair wage.
Lol there’s no way to determine a “fair” wage. Also, many cities/counties/whatever require full minimum wage for tipped employees, so is that “fair”?
You answered your own question - "many cities/counties/whatever require full minimum wage for tipped employees"
Of course there is a way to determine a "fair" wage. Start with the legal minimum wage and go up from there.
Not high enough? Don't take the job or lobby politicians to change the local minimum.
You understand that, since typical restaurant profits is 5% or so of sales, they can't pay 15% of sales in additional wages. Make it illegal if you want, but fully expect the meal that was $70 after taxes and tip to be $70 after taxes with no tip allowed. (Actually, a $40 menu-price meal that ends up on your card at $49.22 [$40×1.07×1.15] will need to be $46.42 on the menu [$40+$6.42 tip above] and...
You understand that, since typical restaurant profits is 5% or so of sales, they can't pay 15% of sales in additional wages. Make it illegal if you want, but fully expect the meal that was $70 after taxes and tip to be $70 after taxes with no tip allowed. (Actually, a $40 menu-price meal that ends up on your card at $49.22 [$40×1.07×1.15] will need to be $46.42 on the menu [$40+$6.42 tip above] and will cost you $49.67 [$46.42×1.07] with 7% tax. The extra $0.45 is additional tax going to the state, because the tip replacement is taxed [$0.45=7%×$6.42].)
Then just add a 15% or even 18% service charge and be done with it. It is not the amount, it is the ever creeping amount servers tried to add. Lunch used to be 15% and dinner 18% before tax. Nowadays even restaurants with minimum service expect 20% and up AFTER tax. The worst is that tipping is expected at bakeries. “Just say no”.
I was in Amsterdam last winter and went to two restaurants....
Then just add a 15% or even 18% service charge and be done with it. It is not the amount, it is the ever creeping amount servers tried to add. Lunch used to be 15% and dinner 18% before tax. Nowadays even restaurants with minimum service expect 20% and up AFTER tax. The worst is that tipping is expected at bakeries. “Just say no”.
I was in Amsterdam last winter and went to two restaurants. The first one was a very nice Michelin restaurant Asian fusion restaurant. At check out no tip was even mentioned and they just run the credit card.
The following night I went to a popular touristy fish restaurant. Had a great time talking to a couple of fellow Americans. Payment was made at cashier. The couple was ahead of me and I saw them hesitated and then tipped 10%! I just tipped 5% and the cashier’s face just darkened. But I really didn't care.
Sorry, but if the "typical" restaurant profit is 5%, they would all have gone out of business. That sounds like an over-generalisation used to convince people that its not the employer's or even the employee's problem that they aren't paid fairly. Europe, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ all have well paid hospitality workers (including housekeeping) As do HK, Singapore, Japan. Other countries may have low wages, but the few hospitality employees you encounter is a...
Sorry, but if the "typical" restaurant profit is 5%, they would all have gone out of business. That sounds like an over-generalisation used to convince people that its not the employer's or even the employee's problem that they aren't paid fairly. Europe, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ all have well paid hospitality workers (including housekeeping) As do HK, Singapore, Japan. Other countries may have low wages, but the few hospitality employees you encounter is a small ripple in a sea of low paid workers. If you feel strongly enough find a genuine Humanitarian group, that shows on their books that most donations end up in the hands of the people they are trying to help.
Agreed, I recall when 12% was the norm. Then 15%.
But here's the thing - tips go up naturally with inflation, so there is no need for the percentage to go up as well. It's a con.
I stick to 15%. And nobody in a hotel gets a tip from me except in the bar or restaurant.
Based on your name, I understand the frustration. Service in Miami is notoriously horrible. Bunch of miserable people who put in zero effort and borderline accost you for dining at the restaurant
And with so many foreign tourists here who don’t understand US tipping culture, we’re constantly met with a mandatory 20%+ included on the check, even for beyond mediocre service
Ben, if you don't actually know, don't make sweeping statements. In Europe most locals definitely DON'T generally tip. Belgian here - I used to round up when paying in cash (1-2 euros on a mnice meal with a group). Now, with machines, that money would just go to the owner.
Indeed we don’t and there’s no obligation to do so. Service charges are usually included, at least in the U.K. and if not , you may leave something if the service exceeds expectations.
The tipping culture in the US is vile. In many states there’s no requirement for an employer to pay a minimum wage if the difference can be made by tipping someone. Staff expect a tip for simply doing their job. Bring...
Indeed we don’t and there’s no obligation to do so. Service charges are usually included, at least in the U.K. and if not , you may leave something if the service exceeds expectations.
The tipping culture in the US is vile. In many states there’s no requirement for an employer to pay a minimum wage if the difference can be made by tipping someone. Staff expect a tip for simply doing their job. Bring a glass of water and they expect a tip.
Even worse are those receipts with suggestions starting at 15%.
And it gets better. Many places have replaced humans with self service machines which still recommend paying a tip.
"Suggested" tips are now generally 18, 20, and 25 percent. No 15% anymore! And they're often "calculated" (for your convenience) on the after tax amount.
An acquantaince in the food industry told me that tips inflate over time not only as the underlying check amount inflates, but also the percentage rate increases. They were unable to to estimate at what point in time tips would exceed 100% of the check amount.
It varies. In many locations in Europe it's still common to leave few euros, and you can do it by card (the tips do go to staff, although they now have to pay taxes from that income - which is fair). But yes, there are locations where this isn't a thing and I don't tip e.g. in Benelux.
What I do is the following in Europe
1. If I pay by cc and they run my card , hand me a receipt and say thank you then no tip ( unless the service is above and beyond at which point I will do the round hi with some euro coins or 5€ cash at the most )
2. If they run my card and suggest a tip don’t give more than 10%
I'm sick of tipping.
How can food servers / bartenders provide shitty service, be condascending and look down on you if you don't order their expensive recommendations of food and drink and then present the bill with a change of attitude and then expect 20 % + .
In many restaurants they are working 30 odd hours a week, pulling in a couple of grand for doing so and making more than the poor owner.
***k 'em
That is so true. A little 10 years ago I was having an end of audit dinner with the auditors at a very popular restaurant in San Francisco. One of the auditors had experience working in restaurants and we did the math and figured the waiters could make more than $100k a year there and that was more than most junior auditors were making.
Singapore is kind of like Japan. No tipping. Sometimes the credit card machine prints out the tip line. And we ignore it.
I remember traveling in the UAE with an American colleague around 10 years ago and ordering something from room service.
There was a price, plus tray charge, plus convenience fee, plus service fee, plus 10% gratuitity. And on top of that, my colleague insisted on both filling in the TIP line on the folio, as well as giving an additional cash tip.
That was the moment I realised tip culture was totally out of...
I remember traveling in the UAE with an American colleague around 10 years ago and ordering something from room service.
There was a price, plus tray charge, plus convenience fee, plus service fee, plus 10% gratuitity. And on top of that, my colleague insisted on both filling in the TIP line on the folio, as well as giving an additional cash tip.
That was the moment I realised tip culture was totally out of control.
If there's a service fee or gratuity already included in the bill, I do not add anything more.
Do you think they profiled you based on the horrific m'lady hat?
Not Scott- I don’t think you know who Sean M. is around here then..
Looks like a redditor in a dorky hat who tells the ladies 'i'M a nIcE gUy' but never gets any action.
Sean is Indian & works in Africa, so try again
20% is not the norm for US dining IMO, yet is definitely pushed.
I offended someone in Greece with a tip. My party was picked up at the airport by the hotel, and I didn’t realize when I tipped the driver it was also the hotel owner. Apparently he liked to met each guest personally when possible.
When i was a kid, 5-10% was a norm, at this pace by 2035, 30% will be the norm
This is such an interesting story. You should definitely tell that at parties.
Italy:
We round up a few years
If it’s 96€ we leave 100 or similar
Maybe cash
No written rule, no server excepts anything but would normally see a 5€ or 10€ note at the end of a meal
Litteraly nothing more than that. Even for a big table (6/8 people - 500/700€) an Italian restaurant would not expect anything more then 50€
I am Italian but travel A LOT and...
Italy:
We round up a few years
If it’s 96€ we leave 100 or similar
Maybe cash
No written rule, no server excepts anything but would normally see a 5€ or 10€ note at the end of a meal
Litteraly nothing more than that. Even for a big table (6/8 people - 500/700€) an Italian restaurant would not expect anything more then 50€
I am Italian but travel A LOT and go out for dinner A LOT in Italy (litteraly 4/5 times a week out between business travel and home dinner) and trust me in Italy (Milan but also outside - tourist traps aside) this is the expectation
As a European when traveling in the EU I know the same kind of applies: servers from EU citizens don’t expect tips
Exactly this. Leaving a few euros in cash/coins based on the total bill is perfectly fine and a nice gesture
Getting a mandatory service charge (not a coperto) at the end of a meal is a scam
OMG Ben this article is really poorly done. European here. We don't tip, yes you may round up a bit, but we don't tip. Please stop the American export of "tipping culture", it's a disease. Do not tip or you will make Europe like the US. The main reason why you don't tip is because the employees in Europe are paid properly with all the normal benefits of a regular job.
Also - if...
OMG Ben this article is really poorly done. European here. We don't tip, yes you may round up a bit, but we don't tip. Please stop the American export of "tipping culture", it's a disease. Do not tip or you will make Europe like the US. The main reason why you don't tip is because the employees in Europe are paid properly with all the normal benefits of a regular job.
Also - if you don't pay cash, you typically can not even add a tip in Europe. Yes, this is changing a bit unfortunately all thanks to Americans so in the tourist hot spots overrun by Americans, there are now suddenly tip fields to fill in. I once asked ar a German restaurant when paying by card if he can add something extra. His answer was - I can , but this doesn't go to the servers, it goes to the owners. Keep in mind that in many places including the US where the workers are normal salaried employees - the tip on that machine may not go to the workers at all, but is added profit for the owner.
When you buy escorts in the Alps, tipping is no issue.
And yes, Ben. I know Francesco. Very well, in fact.
Iḿ betwen the UK + Ireland - if a place expects a tip itś generally just there as a service charge, declared on the menu and on the bill when bought to you. Otherwise, not expected. However, what I definitely do see - especially in Dublin, which has a higher concentration of American tourists, as someone who lives there, the person with the card machine will normally just X the tip. However, for tourists, they...
Iḿ betwen the UK + Ireland - if a place expects a tip itś generally just there as a service charge, declared on the menu and on the bill when bought to you. Otherwise, not expected. However, what I definitely do see - especially in Dublin, which has a higher concentration of American tourists, as someone who lives there, the person with the card machine will normally just X the tip. However, for tourists, they do offer the card machine with tip screen. Tipping certainly exists, but if it happens itś like €28 becoming €30 or the like normally, and not percentage based.
When I lived in London, my experience as an American was roughly 50/50. Half the time, publicans and servers would make a point to mention tipping in an awkward expectant way (e.g., "I know you're used to tipping haha...") or blatantly (one barmaid told me in detail about how her sister needed money for childcare) and the other half, they'd either say nothing or explicitly remind me service was included.
So as with most...
When I lived in London, my experience as an American was roughly 50/50. Half the time, publicans and servers would make a point to mention tipping in an awkward expectant way (e.g., "I know you're used to tipping haha...") or blatantly (one barmaid told me in detail about how her sister needed money for childcare) and the other half, they'd either say nothing or explicitly remind me service was included.
So as with most things, more than one thing can be true. Yes, Americans are spreading tipping culture overseas and over-doing it. But many folks overseas are also all for it. Turns out people like getting extra money, who'd have thought?
When I lived in England (a long time ago -- the early 80s) they mechanism for tipping a barman was to ask "something for you"? You'd then give him (or her) the price of a drink (which was under a pound then). They could then pull the drink right away, or put the money aside for later.
Recently I was watching a British murder mystery series from the 2010s and a publican who was being...
When I lived in England (a long time ago -- the early 80s) they mechanism for tipping a barman was to ask "something for you"? You'd then give him (or her) the price of a drink (which was under a pound then). They could then pull the drink right away, or put the money aside for later.
Recently I was watching a British murder mystery series from the 2010s and a publican who was being interviewed about a suspect described them as "a good tipper, though". So things may have changed?
@LarryInNYC, yes, my uncle and cousins in the north of England use the term "take your own" to buy the barman a drink. In NYC, I routinely see bartenders (some who are casual friends of mine) overtly call out non-tippers; I have seen foreign tourists followed into the street as well by angry waiters or restaurant managers. Also worked with some UK folks who were years-long NYC residents but routinely stiffed servers and bartenders, constantly...
@LarryInNYC, yes, my uncle and cousins in the north of England use the term "take your own" to buy the barman a drink. In NYC, I routinely see bartenders (some who are casual friends of mine) overtly call out non-tippers; I have seen foreign tourists followed into the street as well by angry waiters or restaurant managers. Also worked with some UK folks who were years-long NYC residents but routinely stiffed servers and bartenders, constantly claiming they were new to the country and had no idea. It's all cringe as hell and I wish there were another way but hey, this is an expensive country to live in.
In Brazil tipping is expected at 10% (for sitting service and it is common to tip the delivery driver), but you should see the amount already included in your final tab. I think it may be similar in other Latin American countries.
When I travel I try to act like locals, so not bringing the US tipping culture to other countries (I am Brazilian who lives in US).
Personally, I would call a percentage charge disclosed on the menu and added automatically a "service charge", rather than a tip.
Tipping is a uniquely American, vulgar practice, that exists in the US because wages are low. Doing it abroad, notably in Europe, is bad form and will immediately identify you as an American. The worship and culture of money that travels through every vein of American society is not something as commonplace anywhere else in the world.
I am from a country Central Europe and most people round their restaurant bills to the nearest unit of currency, or add a few unit on top, for which the waiter usually thanks him-her. But it is NOT expected or required, make no mistake. American tipping culture is awful, all it does is encourage subsidizing business owners.
Tipping doesn't exist in the US because "wages are low" (although they often are). It exists because so-called "tipped workers" are EXEMPT from federal minimum wage laws (although some states and localities apply their own minimum wage laws to tipped workers).
I'm here for the comments.
My approach:
US: Only tip sit down restaurants and when I truly get out-of-the-way great service (not just doing your job). The only way to get employers to pay employees sufficient wages is for it to hurt for a little while and employees demand change. We need to reverse this stupid trend of tipping everywhere.
Europe: No tip as standard
East Asia: No tip as standard
SE Asia, S Asia, Latin...
My approach:
US: Only tip sit down restaurants and when I truly get out-of-the-way great service (not just doing your job). The only way to get employers to pay employees sufficient wages is for it to hurt for a little while and employees demand change. We need to reverse this stupid trend of tipping everywhere.
Europe: No tip as standard
East Asia: No tip as standard
SE Asia, S Asia, Latin America, Africa: Will tip a couple of dollars equivalent, ideally in cash. Not percentage based, just a few bucks based on how involved the person was in providing service (one drink vs a multi-course meal and multiple drinks etc).
you literally don't routinely tip at restaurants in the U.S.? Man, you must have some stories to tell..
I’m not that brave! Sit down restaurants in the US is the only place I tip by default. Everywhere else in the US usually don’t
you wrote:
"US: Only tip sit down restaurants and when I truly get out-of-the-way great service (not just doing your job)
oh, maybe now I get it-- your "and" was really an "or" :)
'or' would have been a better word choice haha. I didn't pass kindergarten
Oh is this the JonNYC gossip girl who's banned from Flyertalk for spreading false rumors?
Tipping at 20% is the norm? Mmmm not really, it's more like 15%, which if you do over the total including taxes you're effectively tipping close to 17%
Used to be 15-18% tips on the total before tax if service is good, and because servers had a different min. wage.
Now it's 18-20% tips on the total after tax even if service is just average, and in many states (and in Canada, all provinces) servers have the same min. wage as any other occupation.
So if I'm quite comfortable saying no to tips. Put in a 10% service charge like the rest of...
Used to be 15-18% tips on the total before tax if service is good, and because servers had a different min. wage.
Now it's 18-20% tips on the total after tax even if service is just average, and in many states (and in Canada, all provinces) servers have the same min. wage as any other occupation.
So if I'm quite comfortable saying no to tips. Put in a 10% service charge like the rest of the world and call it a day, if you want to make menu items more expensive go right ahead, I'm all for transparency in pricing. I don't want to play mind games.
Americans, please do not come to Europe. We really don't like you. It has nothing to do with your current or former president, and everything to do with your behavior.
Yeah, you think you're a cool liberal coastal American. But you talk loudly. You speak over people in restaurants. You eat like pigs with your cutlery handling. You send eyes to tables where people smoke.
We truly, honestly hate you. We wish you get run...
Americans, please do not come to Europe. We really don't like you. It has nothing to do with your current or former president, and everything to do with your behavior.
Yeah, you think you're a cool liberal coastal American. But you talk loudly. You speak over people in restaurants. You eat like pigs with your cutlery handling. You send eyes to tables where people smoke.
We truly, honestly hate you. We wish you get run over when you leave the restaurant. Stay. Home.
Do not come. I'll take a 20% living standard reduction to eliminate American tourists if need be. Because we Europeans care about living well, not about being wh=res with nosejobs and loud, shrill voices.
Sounds good Adolf, anything else?
Wait, what? LOL
dickhead
Jon, this is why people hate you. You do know your identity is readily available online, right?
In my experience, most Europeans really love Americans!
... but do they love the person or the tips $$$ !!!
... lol
In Japan, I've seen older Japanese guests tipping the in-room dining server at a ryokan inn. But they usually bring a stylish envelope with them to put the money into. (This avoids the taboo of handing uncovered money from hand-to-hand; this is why those little money trays exist at most cash registers.)
I've also seen it when a group hires a maiko-san to entertain for an evening, but again it's in a pretty envelope.
High-end ryokans are the one place where it is customary to tip in Japan. Usually upfront at the start of the stay.
A few bozo Americans with too much time on their hands keep trying to make generalized tipping a thing in Japan. Please for the love of God stop!
(I'm a former 20-year Japan resident.)
@ brianna hoffner @ Commentator -- Wait, I'm fascinated. You tip upfront?! Do you know what the logic/backstory there is? How much do you tip, and if you give the money upfront, isn't it a bribe rather than a tip? :p
"For example, if you go out to a nice meal in a major European city, even most locals tip a non-insignificant amount"
I don't agree with this. There are definitely many cities in Europe where tipping is not at all expected, regardless of how nice the meal is. I'm originally from France and it wouldn't even occur to me to leave a tip if I'm eating there. Most of everything is cashless at this...
"For example, if you go out to a nice meal in a major European city, even most locals tip a non-insignificant amount"
I don't agree with this. There are definitely many cities in Europe where tipping is not at all expected, regardless of how nice the meal is. I'm originally from France and it wouldn't even occur to me to leave a tip if I'm eating there. Most of everything is cashless at this point anyway, and the credit card machines software isn't like in the US, and will rarely give the option to add a tip (although it seems to be changing unfortunately, and I have now seen it a couple of times while it wasn't a thing at all not so long ago).
It's not just the machines, but also the credit-card contracts - in the USA the vendor can add a tip AFTER the customer has signed. This is done for convenience of customers but does allow misues by vendors.
Vendors can also just charge your card (E.g. at a gym) purely from having the number; without any speckific recharge authority.
I’m very happy to not tip outside the US. Don’t know why people get so hung up on it. I remember once watching a group of Americans, most likely on some kind of business trip, making such a scene in a restaurant in Spain about leaving a big tip. They felt like they absolutely had to, and the server was trying to tell them they really don’t need to.
Careful Brian, tipping in restaurants is expected in most of Latin America, normally 10% (it's been that way since I was little.)
And Spain isn't pan flute country, so what's your point, missy?
I have been living in Spain for the past eight years and I follow the local customs - no tipping or rounding up the bill. It has never been been awkward for me because a tip is not expected here - even from Americans (if a tip is expected then you are in a tourist trap).
@ John -- So that's interesting, and I think this is where people get confused. When you Google this topic about Spain, you come to pages like this:
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/customary-tipping-in-spain-etiquette-best-practices/
This person claims to be an expert on Barcelona who knows everything, and she says the following about the topic:
"The average tip in Spain for a meal is around 7 to 10%. Or sometimes 1 euro per person, if it’s a group splitting...
@ John -- So that's interesting, and I think this is where people get confused. When you Google this topic about Spain, you come to pages like this:
https://www.foreverbarcelona.com/customary-tipping-in-spain-etiquette-best-practices/
This person claims to be an expert on Barcelona who knows everything, and she says the following about the topic:
"The average tip in Spain for a meal is around 7 to 10%. Or sometimes 1 euro per person, if it’s a group splitting the bill. Consider giving more (15 to 20%) if you are eating at a Michelin star restaurant or other fine dinning venue: staff at luxury places are used to tips, and leaving no tip or a small tip might make them think there was something wrong with their service. Better show them you were happy, if you were."
I totally believe you, but I'm curious, what do you think is going on here? Is she lying because she works in service herself? Is she telling Americans what they want to hear? Or...?
My experience in Spain is invariably the waiter brings the card reader, enters the bill amount (no service charge), you tap and the receipt is printed. There is no opportunity to add a tip. You would need to have cash to leave on the table if you wish to tip. Same in Australia.
It used to be the case in Europe. But thanks to the great American technology export, the last time when I was in Greece the waitress turned the hand held machine to me and said the machine was asking me a question, as if she never seen it before! I never tip more than 5% in Europe. Most of the menu said service is included anyway.
No offense, Ben, but that seems like an incredibly low quality source to cite -- it's just a blog post designed to generate traffic for their random tour business. The section on restaurant tipping doesn't even fully make sense: obviously 1 euro per person is not equivalent to 7-10 percent unless it's a very cheap meal.
There is absolutely no expectation of a tip in Spain. If you enjoyed your meal or the service was good. Then by all means round up, or leave a euro or two, but only if you actually had a meal. Do not ever tip if you just get drinks or a snack.
Ben, if you read that (at least, the part you quoted) it's pretty obviously an American bending over backwards to come up with reasons to tip to make themselves feel better. The internet is a cesspool of misinformation.
Since when is a 20% tip the norm? I thought it was 15-18%. It's the credit card machine choices that started 20-33% tip.
I tip what I want. It's my money.
Let's get back to tipping being for extraordinary service, not just meeting expectations. Average is the new great.
That's fair. My personal opinion is:
I tip what I want. It's my money.
Let's keep tipping service industry workers because the government on both sides of the aisle sure as hell isn't going to do jack about a living minimum wage, life is short, I'm lucky to be born into a country of comfort and prosperity and abundance and if I can go out and order margaritas and pizzas and sundaes, I can spare an extra $20 for some kid working their way through college.
Your broad generalization does not reflect the industry as a whole. And bringing politics into something so simple yet silly, just shows the ignorance of people today.
Alonzo, politics are inherent here. The policy of the US government is to create a society where there is a minimal social safety net and no federally mandated minimum wage that ensures a basic modicum of financial survival. All while cost of living grows higher and higher. It's absolutely germane to the topic. So I would re-evaluate who is being ignorant here. In the meantime keep stiffing hardworking people so you can feel smarter, or something.
It's gotta be location specific. I had a bartender in Sweden once actively tell me not to tip. Not that I was going to anyway. Somewhere like Mexico, tipping is fairly common, but I know that when the bellman insists on carrying my backpack to my room with me, I'm aware I'm being fleeced and I sort of just deal with it. Oddly in Egypt, I'm pretty good at saying "no" to BS situations where...
It's gotta be location specific. I had a bartender in Sweden once actively tell me not to tip. Not that I was going to anyway. Somewhere like Mexico, tipping is fairly common, but I know that when the bellman insists on carrying my backpack to my room with me, I'm aware I'm being fleeced and I sort of just deal with it. Oddly in Egypt, I'm pretty good at saying "no" to BS situations where they solicit tips. I think it's very much a IYKYK thing and as long as you're not violating local customs, you're never really out of line.
I found it hilarious how the shuttle bus driver at a hotel in Mexico spoke no English other than to say… “shuttle free, pay tip”.
The guides online are so vague about it. I think it is perfectly fine to not tip as it's unlinkely to see the people again. We have to stop tipping for bad service in the US. Stop tipping for take-out. Let's fix the problems at home first and begin to make it as awkward for the employees as they do for us. When they turn the IPAD to us and say it's just gonna ask...
The guides online are so vague about it. I think it is perfectly fine to not tip as it's unlinkely to see the people again. We have to stop tipping for bad service in the US. Stop tipping for take-out. Let's fix the problems at home first and begin to make it as awkward for the employees as they do for us. When they turn the IPAD to us and say it's just gonna ask a few questions, we need to ask what the questions are and why they are on the screen for take-out. Will the food be better if we do tip? Worse if we don't?
Do you have a suspicion that most of the local "experts" on-line are really American ex-pats insitu for a year or so, and writing travel advice as a side hustle? No wonder they advise tipping.
The food might be 'worse' if it's prepared AFTER no tip !
... lol
This is how I travel and how all people should travel. “Do as the Romans do”.
So I refuse to tip internationally where it isn’t customary. Nothing in Europe. Japan etc.
I am also pushing back on tipflation. Areas where people are looking for an extra tip that didn’t exist before. Like Jamba Juice, subway, Starbucks etc. I’m not paying extra to make a drink. And when you ask for a tip before...
This is how I travel and how all people should travel. “Do as the Romans do”.
So I refuse to tip internationally where it isn’t customary. Nothing in Europe. Japan etc.
I am also pushing back on tipflation. Areas where people are looking for an extra tip that didn’t exist before. Like Jamba Juice, subway, Starbucks etc. I’m not paying extra to make a drink. And when you ask for a tip before the order is prepared. It’s not a tip any more. It’s a bribe.
Fast food workers are now very well paid. So why are office admins to the CEO now getting less? Than a Starbucks barista. Even an entry paramedic gets less than a barista now….a paramedic can’t ask for a tip before saving your life?
It’s out of control.
I'm an American in tourism in UAE (Abu Dhabi)
Tipping is encouraged for delivery drivers and taxi drivers. Tour guides see the occasional tip.
Dining, hotels, bars, it is not an expectation at all. I've had tips refused many times.
I wholeheartedly agree regarding being asked to tip before service is rendered. I want the option to increase or decrease the amount based on the service provided. As Isaac said, being asked to tip prior to service being provided is a bribe.
I live in Japan now and appreciate the non tipping culture. When I come back to the states (and I waited table for 20 years) tipping has gotten out of control. Employees in Japan truly seem to like what they do and hope they did a good job and you are happy, which can be shown with emotions. I do not get that feeling at all when I’m in the states. It’s sad.
Indeed ... $$$$ is KING in the EEUU, sadly !