Tipping can be confusing for visitors to a foreign land, especially if they’ve never lived in a country with a tipping culture. In these places, the workers usually don’t receive livable wages without tips from guests. Here are ten countries where you’re explicitly expected to leave a tip.
France
Here’s where a lot of people from countries that do tip get tripped up. In France, a small tip is considered customary and even good manners. What might seem rude in the US is actually considered a great token of gratitude in France: rounding up the change on your coffee in a café, for instance, would look like a bad move in the US. However, leaving a 20 percent tip in France would look like excessively flashing your wealth.
Brazil
In Brazil, some restaurants will automatically include something called a “gorjeta.” This is just a 10 percent service charge, so, if you see it on your bill, you don’t need to feel compelled to include any additional gratuity—though it would be appreciated! If you don’t see the gorjeta on your bill, leave a 10 percent tip for your server. This also applies to taxis drivers, hairdressers, and bartenders.
United Kingdom
The UK has a tipping culture similar to Brazil’s, with somewhere between a 10 or 12 percent tip being considered customary. Likewise, you’d be expected to tip your barber, bartender, or taxi driver in addition to restaurant wait staff in the UK.
Thailand
Thailand doesn’t traditionally have a tipping culture, but the areas you’re likely to visit as a traveler have recently developed a more Western-style approach to the issue. You should leave around a 10 percent tip at fancy restaurants—preferably as cash in the hand of your server.
Egypt
Egypt has a local practice known as “baksheesh,” but an American would call it tipping. And, unlike the US, workers in many industries in Egypt would expect a tip, from travel guides to hotel workers. Since wages in these professions can be low and tourists make up a significant portion of their clientele, they expect some compensation.
India
India’s tipping culture is quite similar to the UK’s, which might not surprise some history buffs. If you visit a nice restaurant, you might see a service fee on the bill. If you don’t, leave around a 10 percent tip. This goes for hotel staff and taxi drivers, too!
Italy
This one is a bit more complicated. If you’re visiting Italy, the odds are good that you’re going to be in an area where tipping is expected and considered customary. However, the wait staff and bartenders in these areas likely expect between a 5 and 10 percent tip. If your bill includes a service charge, usually labelled “servizio” or “coperto,” then don’t worry about tipping.
The United States
Of course, the main country you think of when you picture a tipping culture is the US. American businesses don’t fairly compensate servers, instead paying them far under minimum wage and expecting them to make up the difference with their tips. Not tipping at a bar or restaurant would be seen as outrageously rude in the US.
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Canada
Canada’s culture isn’t too different from the United States’ when it comes to tipping and eating in restaurants. Workers here are also not compensated fairly for their work and rely heavily on 20% tips to make ends meet, and that applies to hairdressers and taxi drivers as well as waiters.
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Mexico
It should come as no surprise that Mexico also has a tipping culture like the US and Canada’s, given that the three countries make up the cultural majority of the North American continent. In fact, even taxi drivers and shop owners would expect a small tip in Mexico.
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