Tips on tipping

Australians have a reputation for being ‘mean’ tippers. Here are a few tips to keep the money circulating and to save embarrassment.

It’s an all-too-familiar conundrum for today’s traveller, especially when you’re in a never-before-visited destination – how/who/when to tip?

A good thing to do is to make a beeline for a friendly face at your accommodation’s reception and ask for a quick lesson on local tipping, including gratuities expected by hotel staff, taxi drivers and waiters.

Collect a stash of small denominations as soon as you arrive in a country. Keep your tipping cash in a separate compartment of your wallet.

Tipping does have its dark side: it can be demanded and cross the line to bribery, as has been reported by travellers who have visited developing nations. Be careful not to break any ‘little’ laws – parking, not knowing the road rules etc. – the police can come on quite heavy.

Australians have pretty long pockets when travelling but it’s all part of the travel experience I’m afraid. If you don’t do it in some countries there can be embarrassing consequences – like being chased down the street by a screaming waiter or chef.

The general rule is to pay about 50c to toilet attendants in Asia; round about $1 per suitcase to hotel porters. If you are in Eastern European countries and are lugging a suitcase up steep steps to a railway platform, a knight in shining armour will invariably turn up to help with your bags. Be prepared to pay the asking price of a couple of euros.

Rip-offs are common in corrupt nations but beware the tourist destinations in the south of France or in the cafes of the Champs-Elyseés in Paris. Waiters often don’t return with your change – and act very surprised when you call them on it.

An anomaly is Japan. Tips are not expected and I once had a waiter running after me to return the couple of dollars that I had left as a tip on the table.

UK: A service charge of 12.5 per cent is automatically added to the bill at many restaurants. If it isn’t, a 10 per cent tip is the norm. Taxi drivers expect a 10 per cent tip.

France: Service is already included in the price here and the average gratuity is 15 per cent – and it’s customary to round your bill off with some small change. Taxi drivers don’t expect to be tipped – it’s up to you. Museum guides should get about three euros after a guided tour.

Germany: A common tip of 10 per cent of the total bill. Back down to 5 per cent if the bill is high with expensive wines. Taxi drivers get about 10 per cent. Two to three euros for porters delivering luggage and the same for doormen.

Italy: Keep tips to a minimum. They aren’t expected but if you feel the service needs rewarding go for it. Remember, you are being charged a coperto (cover charge) and often extra for pane (bread) in restaurants.

China: You don’t have to tip anywhere in China. Foreigners are charged more as a matter of government policy.

Japan: Tipping will cause embarrassment and offence to those tipped. NO tipping in Japan.

Hong Kong: Taxi drivers here don’t expect tips unless they are taking you to the airport or station that connects with the airport.

New Zealand: As long as you don’t treat Kiwis like your personal slave or discourteously, you don’t need to tip unless the service is exceptional; if the menu says ‘service not included’; or just tell your taxi driver to keep the change – round off the fare.

Singapore: Tipping not usually encouraged by the government. Hotel staff will accept a couple of dollars although there are signs that say ‘no tipping required’.

Switzerland: Tipping has been abolished here. Yippee! There is a 15 per cent service charge tagged to all hotels, restaurants and taxi bills. Tipping is still appropriate for railway and hotel porters and toilet attendants.

USA: Tipping everyone in the service industry is a given (it gets very wearing!). Restaurants, usually 15 per cent.

Canada: Most service folk receive 10-20 per cent tip.

Editors tip: My failsafe tipping advice is to pick up about $50 worth of single American $1 notes before you go overseas. Keep them separate and they are gratefully accepted all over the world. ‘One dollar Mr’, is heard all over Asia, so flash the greenback and there’ll be no ripples in the tipping pool.