How much, where and when?
An essential part of the travel culture is tipping. It shows appreciation for good service and can be a way to behave respectfully in a foreign country. However, expectations and habits regarding tipping vary significantly in different countries. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at typical tipping practices in popular holiday destinations to help you behave appropriately.
In most holiday destinations, the amount of the tip refers to the amount of the bill as a percentage.
| Land | Hotel | Restaurant | Taxi | Tours and excursions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | 5-10% | 5-10% | 10% | 5-10% |
| Italy | 5-10% | 5-10% | 10% | 5-10% |
| Spain | – | 5-15% | 10% | – |
| Portugal | – | 5-15% | 10% | – |
| France | – | 10% (divided into group) | Tipping is customary | – |
| Greece | 5-10% | 5-10% (depending on type) | Rounded off | – |
| Turkey | Already included | 5-10% | Rounded off | – |
| Scandinavia | – | – | – | – |
| Denmark | – | – | – | – |
| Finland | Already included | – | – | – |
| Norway | Already included | – | – | 5% (with great satisfaction) |
| Sweden | – | – | – | Rounded off |
| Benelux | – | 5-10% | 15% (taxi driver) | – |
| Asia | – | – | – | – |
| China | – | – | – | – |
| Thailand | – | Max. 10% | – | – |
| United States | 15-20% | 15-20% | – | – |
| Canada | 15-20% | 15-20% | – | – |
| V.A.E. | Already included | 10-15% | – | – |
| Australia | Arbitrary | Arbitrary | – | – |
| New Zealand | – | Not common | – | – |
Please note that these are general guidelines and it is always advisable to consider the service and local customs.
Countries in detail
Kroatien
- Hotel: Around five to ten percent of the total amount is considered a reasonable tip. If a place setting is already included in the bill, the tip may be correspondingly lower.
- Restaurant: Similar to a hotel, five to ten percent is considered appropriate.
- Taxi: Around ten percent tips are usually given.
- Tours and excursions: About five to ten percent of the price, or a rounded up amount, is considered a reasonable tip.
Italien
- Hotel: Around five to ten percent tips are expected.
- Restaurant: Just like in a hotel, five to ten percent is considered appropriate. If the tip is already included in the bill, the amount may be correspondingly lower.
- Taxi: About ten percent tip is usually given.
- Tours and excursions: Five to ten percent of the price or a rounded up amount is considered a reasonable tip.
Spanien und Portugal
- Restaurant: In these countries, five to 15 percent of the bill amount is considered a reasonable tip. It is recommended not to tip small coins, as this can be considered stingy.
- Taxi: Around ten percent tips are usually given.
Frankreich
- Restaurant: Tipping is given together as a group in France. The total amount is divided by the number of people to determine the amount per capita. Around ten percent of the total amount is considered appropriate.
- Taxi: Tipping is also customary here.
Griechenland
- Restaurant: If the tip is not already included in the bill, five to ten percent of the amount or rounding up is expected. The amount of the tip may also depend on the type of restaurant.
- Taxi: Here, too, it is usually rounded up.
Türkei
- Restaurant: Five to ten percent of the invoice amount is considered a reasonable tip.
- Taxi: Rounded up amounts are usually given as a tip.
- Hotel: The service charge is already included in the hotel bill. However, chambermaids and porters expect tips.
Skandinavien (Schweden, Norwegen, Dänemark, Finnland, Island)
- Denmark and Finland: Waitresses and waiters do not expect tips. In Finland, the service is already included in the invoice.
- Norway: The cost of service and VAT is included in the restaurant, hotel and bar costs. However, if the service is particularly good, an additional tip of around five percent can be given.
- Sweden: It is customary to round up.
Benelux (Belgien, Niederlande, Luxemburg)
- Restaurant, taxi and hotel: Often the tip is already included in the price, but with good service, five to ten percent of the invoice amount is recommended.
- Theatre or cinema in Luxembourg: ushers receive a small tip.
- Taxi drivers: 15 percent of the travel costs are expected.
Asien
Tipping is rather uncommon in most Asian countries, especially in China, where it is often perceived as an insult. Thailand is an exception, where tipping is already customary, with a maximum of ten percent of the amount being given or rounded up.
USA und Kanada
Even if the bill includes an operating surcharge, you should plan between 15 and 20 percent tip.
Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
Although a service fee is often included in the bill, many waitresses and waiters expect an additional tip of ten to 15 percent if the service is good.
Australien und Neuseeland
- Australia: Good service is rewarded at your own discretion. An appropriate tip is appreciated (e.g. 10 – 15% of the bill amount).
- New Zealand: Tipping is not customary.
Tipping in another currency
If you are traveling in a country where a different currency is used, you should tip in that currency if possible. Since in many countries the euro, dollar or another currency is used as a legitimate means of payment despite having your own currency, you can also use this currency for tipping there.
If it is difficult to tip properly due to the lack of banknotes in the foreign currency, it is acceptable to resort to the euro. However, we recommend giving banknotes instead of coins , as they are easier to exchange.
Tipping at all-inclusive resorts
In some countries, especially in popular holiday destinations with all-inclusive resorts, it is customary to tip for special service. This may vary from country to country, and it is advisable to obtain information about this from the hotel reception.
Service Fees
In some countries, service fees may already be included in the invoices. In such cases, it is important to know whether the tip is expected in addition or not. It may be that an additional tip is still appropriate for exceptional service.
