Restaurant Tipping Is SO Different Internationally — Heres What To Know

Owen Franken via Getty ImagesHave you ever found yourself in a mild panic when it’s time to pay your dinner bill on a vacation because you forgot to look up tipping etiquette in that country? You’re definitely not alone. Tipping expectations vary greatly throughout the world, and it can be hard to keep it all straight. Even if you know tipping isn’t standard in a particular region, it can still feel really weird not to leave a tip. Beyond that, in some places, tipping can even be seen as offensive.“Tipping culture in the U.S. is unique, and most other countries do not have the same tipping norms,” said Amanda Belarmino, associate professor at the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “In general, we tip more in the U.S. than other countries.”AdvertisementTo help eliminate the confusion and make things a bit easier for you as the busy summer travel season approaches, we reached out to experts to gather some intel and best practices for tipping on food and drinks when traveling abroad.Here’s what you need to know:Always do your research.Nearly every travel and hospitality expert we spoke with mentioned the importance of researching tipping customs before you set off on an international trip.Up-to-date guidebooks, social media posts and travel agents are all great sources of information. Try options like:The tourism website for the country you’re visiting.A guidebook from a series like Lonely Planet, Rick Steves, Frommer’s or Fodor’s.Reddit, Tripadvisor and other travel forums.Travel advisers at places like Virtuoso, Singita and American Express Travel.Travel blogs and social media posts.Once you’re on the ground, you can also check in with locals, whether it’s a hotel concierge, a tour guide or someone friendly you meet on the street.“My main personal rule for tipping is to never assume one destination’s tipping culture is the same as another,” said Ollie Jones, head of adventure operations at the travel company Flash Pack. “It’s very easy to unintentionally offend locals if you don’t have an idea of what their tipping culture is. When I don’t know, I ask them.”No matter how much traveling he’s done, Jones always looks up information about local tipping expectations before heading to a new country, and he suggests others do the same.Tipping culture is a bit different everywhere you go.In the U.S., a standard tip for a restaurant meal falls somewhere

around 15 to 20%. But that’s not the case everywhere. In New Zealand, where the national minimum wage is much higher than in the U.S., tips aren’t customary or expected. In many countries in Europe, a 5-10% tip is acceptable. And in Japan, leaving a tip can be seen as distasteful or awkward.Tips aren’t always welcome.Sometimes, tipping isn’t appreciated, and it’s important to know about that in advance so you don’t mistakenly offend someone.Advertisement“In some countries tipping can be seen as offensive or can actually be harmful to the economy and livelihood of the local people,” said Terika Haynes, CEO and founder of Dynamite Travel. “Travelers should be knowledgeable and aware of the destination tipping practices to ensure that they are bringing value to the destinations that they visit.”Nastasic via Getty Images Don\'t forget to bring cash to tip your bartender — if you\'re in a place where that\'s done.Places where tips might be seen as distasteful include Japan, where workers are paid a fair wage and cultural norms prioritize good service without the expectation of additional compensation, and China, where tips can be interpreted as rude or embarrassing because they can be seen as a handout, Haynes said.Always tip using local currency.It’s important to tip with the currency that’s used in the region you’re visiting. Even if you’re feeling desperate to empty your wallet of U.S. dollars, they’re probably not going to be all that useful to someone who lives in a country that doesn’t use them.“Be sure to tip in the local currency, as in most foreign countries, waiters won’t appreciate having to exchange the U.S. dollars,” said Alonso Marly, a travel agent at Skylux Travel.AdvertisementYou’ll also want to follow local norms around whether cash or card tips are preferred. Often, cash is easier.“Most [point of sale] systems in Europe don’t have an option to add a tip after you pay, like in the U.S., so there’s no way to be discreet without leaving cash,” said Amber Haggerty, founder of the travel blog Amber Everywhere.Look over your bill to see if a service charge has already been included.Some restaurants and bars might include a gratuity or service charge within your bill. Before leaving a tip, review the bill closely to see if any gratuity has been charged. If you’re unsure, ask someone who works there.“In some countries the gratuity is included in the total c