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By Eliott C. McLaughlin CNN Adjust font size:
    (CNN) -- The good news on gratuities is that the United States is an anomaly: No other country hands out tips as often or as large as Americans do. The bad news for thrifty business travelers? It's quickly catching on. One of the most vexing aspects of traveling abroad is deciphering the tipping customs in a country: How much do you tip the waiter, the cab driver, the hotel porters and valets? "We tend to tip better when we are in other countries as well because we're used to forking out the 20 percent," said Lynn Staneff, marketing director for Magellan's, a travel supplies company. You can always research on the Internet before you leave, or e-mail your hotel and ask about the local customs, Staneff said. Also, she added, "the hotel concierge is a great resource" once you arrive. But what if there's no time? You're about to lose a major account and the boss wants you in London by morning to woo the conglomerate back. No problem, said Doug Stallings, an editor with Fodor's Travel Publications. There are guidelines to make sure you don't get fleeced before finding a concierge. "I don't think anybody's going to get jacked if you want to add 10 percent," he said, explaining how to stay in the good graces of waiters and taxi drivers. A dollar or two, or the local equivalent, for valets and a buck a bag for porters are also safe bets, he said, but don't freak out. "What I notice more is people get so worked up about tipping, and it shouldn't be so stressful," he said. Stallings is no exception. Once, on a trip to Bangkok, he found himself with only large Thai baht bills -- nothing he could hand to a cab driver -- so he got a car service instead. "Even though it cost two or three times as much as a taxi, I did that because I didn't want to worry about having to tip," he said. In many cases, especially in Europe and South and Central America, you won't have to worry, said Staneff. Belgium, Ecuador, England, Finland, Hungary, India, Israel, Kenya, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden and Wales are among countries whose hotels and restaurants -- especially the posh ones -- generally add a service charge, usually around 10 percent, she said. "It's your cue to know you've already tipped X amount," she said. "If the service was good, feel free to tip more." But service charges don't necessarily mean you can skip the tip, she said. Hotels and restaurants in Austria, Chile, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Italy, Macao and Spain often levy service charges, but you should still add another 5 to 10 percent. The general rule in Europe, said Staneff, is "anytime you'd tip here, you'd tip there. Just be careful about service charges." Elsewhere, there are other tipping customs you should observe, Stallings said. Especially in Asia and the South Pacific, there are regions where tipping is "not only not customary, but it would be considered quite rude," he said, offering parts of Tahiti, Fiji and Singapore as examples. Places like China and Vietnam are just starting to embrace the "capitalistic impulse" of gratuities, Stallings said, and in Australia, Iceland, Japan and New Zealand, only high-end establishments and tourist traps expect it. In some central and eastern European countries, like Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Hungary, leaving your tip on the table at a restaurant is considered uncouth. Go ahead and hand it to the server, Stallings said. And whenever possible, tip in the local currency unless you're in a country with close American ties like Mexico or the Philippines. "If you're in Jakarta (Indonesia), and you give someone a dollar, the money is worthless to them," he said. "They still have to change it to rupiah," and they'll likely get hit with an exchange fee. In parts of Asia and the Middle East, gift-giving is a more entrenched part of the culture than tipping, though Stallings said, "I can't for the life of me think of a circumstance where you'd be so personally beholden to someone." Staneff is more comfortable with the idea, especially in countries where tipping "is not appreciated in the manner in which the gesture is given." When traveling to Asia and the Middle East, "it might not be a bad idea to take a few little wrapped gifts from the U.S." for concierges and chambermaids. Stallings, however, thinks you'll always be safe leaving a dollar or two everyday on the pillow or nightstand for the maids. "Hotel maids are usually the least paid and least compensated in the hotel," he said, adding that a daily gratuity is a "good way to get more towels or more toiletries." While there are no concrete rules for tipping abroad, Stallings and Staneff said you can learn about a country's gratuities culture by asking a concierge or following the locals' lead. Remember, though, a tip is a way of saying, "Thanks for the service," whether it's a speedy cab or a welcoming waiter. Don't feel obliged to tip if the service was bad, and don't be afraid to tip extra if it was particularly good, Staneff said. "We always, always, always say that in the end, it's up to you," she said. |
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