Gratuities Expected Around the World

My dear polite travelers,

In some countries, it is considered impolite to tip. In some, Americans are viewed as rude or pretentious because we over-tip. So, here are some guidelines that appear to be a ‘general rule’. Still, it is best to ask the hotel staff where you are staying. Just like in the U.S., there are regional differences.

Australia—Not expected

Dining: 10%

Porters: $2 per bag

Taxi: Round to the next dollar

China—Most don’t expect a tip

Dining 10-15% in large cities

Porters $2-3

Taxi None

Britain—Not always necessary, but appreciated

Dining: 10% if not added to the bill

Porters: £ 2 per bag

Taxi: common to round up to next pound or 10-15% if assisted with bags

France – Usually included in the price

Dining: 5% or Leave change on the table; Check your receipt

Porter: € 1 per bag

Taxi: Drivers don’t earn much, so a 5-10% tip is appreciated.

Germany

Dining: 5%

Porter: € 1 per bag

Taxi: Round to the next Euro

Italy

Dining: 10% + service charge

Porter: € 1-2 per bag

Taxi: Round to the next Euro

Japan

Tipping is not common and may be an insult. Inquire at your hotel about individual venues.

More by The Polite Traveler

How I Save Money When Visiting Paris, France

Three Top Traditional Foods of Beaune

Top Five Free Things to Do When Visiting Paris, France

Comments

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa Review

Art, Excellent Service & Penguins...Oh My My Dear Polite Travelers, Maui has experienced some horrific natural disasters, including a devastating fire and, more recently, torrential rain that caused severe flooding. However, none of that was visible during my last visit. The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort is a huge, richly landscaped, multi-building beauty. It includes a 40-acre oceanfront lagoon and a waterslide into a children’s splashpad. However, I saw many more adults enjoying the splashpad than children. It did look inviting. Directly adjacent to the lobby is a penguin den. Guests are invited to watch a daily penguin presentation. I enjoyed watching them play. They are quite adorable. Dining & Shopping In the main building, you’ll find multiple shops, including a gallery filled with unique and quite excellent art. My favorite shop was actually Honolulu Coffee . As a family-owned,...

Venue Review: Hilton Hawaiian Village

Unexpected Upgrade at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Hotel Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, For our most recent visit to the “Gathering Place”, better known as Oahu, we decided to split our ten-day stay between two excellent Hilton properties: Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel ( review ) and Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Hotel. During our stay at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, I thought it couldn’t get any better. We enjoyed our stay immensely. Nevertheless, Hilton surprised us once more. Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting. Always wear your face mask when in public. We’re upgraded to where? Yep, because we are Hilton Honors members, we were upgraded again to...wait for it…the Ali’i Tower! Breathe, breathe. Amazing upgrade. Here’s a bit of the background about this excellent upgrade. Earlier this year, my husband noticed an unbelievable half-price deal on suites at the...

A Few Days in Palm Springs

Palm Springs Activities Hello, my Polite Travelers, As an older couple, we often just want to relax and enjoy our favorite places at a leisurely pace. This was the case during our recent revisit to Palm Springs. For the most part, we explored downtown, stopping for coffee and chatting with the locals. Additionally, we embarked on a few other excellent adventures. Agua Caliente Cultural Museum As a Smithsonian Affiliate, I found this museum to be outstanding. This museum is a mixture of immersive video, sound, and visuals (including lifelike exhibits) to tell the story of America’s rich—and many times heart-wrenching—indigenous story. The permanent gallery begins with the 360-degree immersive video of the Agua Caliente “Creation & Migration” story. The quality of their digital animation and sound is impressive—there’s even a screen on the floor. I found their creation story to be fascinating. Don’t Miss! For the Love of Art! Don’t Miss The Palm Springs Art M...

The Polite Traveler

Search This Blog