Travel
Gratuities And
urants
By Maralyn D. Hill
sommelier and wine server, etc.
When we get a check like that, we
draw an > between all the lines and
they can split it up. I’ve no desire
to have my experience add 40% to
my bill.
In Canada, tipping is usually
between 15 to 20 %. Like the US,
if the party size is larger than six
or eight, it may already be tacked
on the bill. Be sure to check.
Mexico and the Caribbean—in
general, the going rate is 15%.
However, be sure to read the bill,
as some upscale resorts add in15
to 17%.
Central and South America are
mixed. While visiting Argentina,
Chile, and Uruguay, it is common to
tip between 10 and 15%, depending
on service. In addition, you are
sometimes charged $2 to $4 for
utensils. This shocked me at highend hotels. For Costa Rica, Brazil
and Peru, 10% is automatically
added to your bill. It is quite common
to add a few extra coins for
especially good service.
Throughout Latin America, you
frequently have to hunt the waiter
down to ask for a check. They are
used to slow dining and do not want
to be intrusive.
Whereas it seems like prices are
higher in Europe, they really are
not, as tips usually supplement
salaries and are therefore a more
discretionary bonus. France factors
in a service charge (compris) into the
check by law, which equals 15%, yet
it’s common to leave a few more
euros that equal about 5%. Italy is
the same in factoring in a service
charge (servizio) and 5% is the norm.
are paid a good salary.
For the UK, it is not expected to tip
at pubs, but is at restaurants. Check
to see if your bill reflects this,
as many add this charge, which
is about 10%.
For Fiji, tips are not expected or
included. If you do leave something,
it should be token and not high.
However, in French Polynesia,
10% is included in restaurant bills.
In Switzerland, the price on the
menu is the price you pay. No tax
or additional gratuity, you know
upfront the cost.
When traveling to Africa and the
Middle East, whether it is Morocco,
Israel, United Arab Emirates
or South Africa, check to see if
a service charge is included. If
not, 10% is appropriate.
In Germany, be sure to hand the tip
directly to the server, otherwise it
is considered disrespectful. Usually,
the tip is around 10% to 15%.
Germany is second only to France
in Michelin star restaurants and that
service would generally be 15%.
Cruise Lines are another story.
Years ago, they were all inclusive.
Now, policies vary by each line and
many, if not most, charge between
$10 to $15 per day added to your
stateroom account, as well as 15%
to your bar bill. Specialty
restaurants have the tip factored
into the surcharge. Extremely
high-end cruise lines are still
generally all inclusive, thank
goodness.
For Eastern Europe, it is always
important to have local currency,
even if paying by credit card. A
cash tip of 10% is always welcome.
In Asia, it varies a great deal by
country. For Thailand, Singapore
and China, tips never used to be
expected. However, now some hotel
restaurants include a 10% gratuity
in the bill. In Hong Kong, feel free
to leave an addition 5%, but not at
noodle shops or dim sum parlors.
For India, it varies throughout the
country and is included in the bill,
so no additional amount is expected.
Japan, please don’t tip, as it is
considered an insult. In South Korea,
please don’t tip at restaurants, as
the reaction is similar to Japan.
When service is exceptional, I often
tip more. If service is not good,
Australia, New Zealand and the
South Pacific are different. In
Australia, some Aussie friends have
told me not to tip at all, that the
Americans are ruining things. Yet,
other friends said they tip 5 to 10%
for exceptional service, but it does
have to be exceptional. The same is
true for New Zealand. Service help
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I do not feel obligated to tip the
expected amount. If it is somewhere
where a tip is automatically
included, I will be sure to advise,
usually in writing, what was wrong
on the back of the check. I’ve waited
tables, my children have, I know the
importance of tips, but I also know
and appreciate good service.
If I’ve overlooked a country or area,
it was not intentional. This is based
on what I’ve experience