A guide to tipping etiquette around the world
%2Ftipping-in-europe.jpg)
No matter where you are travelling, good tipping etiquette is important. While the idea of added generosity for excellent service is deeply embedded in many cultures around the world, in others it can be misinterpreted as a sign of disrespect.
To avoid any potentially awkward situations on holiday, we’ve put together this handy guide on basic travel tipping etiquette from around the world. It will cover the dos and don'ts in some of our favourite destinations, backed up by search data from a recent research project we completed.
Tipping culture around the world
We conducted an internal study in order to understand which countries’ tipping culture was the most confusing to UK-based travellers. The results are as follows:
CountrySearch VolumeFrance18,160UK1,690Spain660USA600Italy370Portugal300Greece260Germany190Russia140China100
With this data in hand, we looked towards creating a thorough tipping guide, focusing on information that UK-based individuals (and, hopefully, others worldwide) would find useful.
Do you tip in France?
If you want to enjoy Corsican wine just off the exquisite coastline of France soon, you should know that you will be expected to tip in most places you go to. Although there will not be outright pressure to do so, extra generosity from visitors is highly appreciated
Restaurants:
A 15% service charge (or service compris) is usually added to the final bill. If you received particularly good service, you can show your appreciation by adding a tip of 5-10% on top of this.
Food delivery:
It is recommended to add 1-2€ for efficient service.
Transport:
Cab drivers struggle to make a good living in France, so a 5-10% tip goes a long way.
Tours:
Tip 2-5€ for a day trip if you have had an enjoyable experience.
Bars:
You should tip 1-2€ at bars.
Spas:
Tipping 10-20% is customary at spas in France.
Our luxury villas in Corsica offer instant access to some of the best nightlife, tours and spas in the region.
Explore our full collection here
Tipping in Italy
Italian locals are generally quick to say that locals should make themselves at home without having to leave any tips for their hospitality. Doing so is usually only appropriate after receiving exceptional service. That said, there are specific cases where you should tip regardless.
Restaurants:
If you are visiting a
or elsewhere in Italy, a service fee (reflected as servizio incluso on the bill) will be included and you will not have to add anything extra.
Food delivery:
There is not a formal expectation to tip, but drivers do appreciate a small contribution if you are satisfied with the service.
Transport:
Unlike so many locations around the world, taxi drivers do not need to be tipped in Italy.
Tours:
It is essential to tip tour guides here, as this is their primary source of income. Pay each operator at least 10€ for a day drip. We recommend carrying cash to make it easier to do so.
Bars:
It is not customary to tip in bars in Italy, unless you are sitting down somewhere for a drink. You do not need to tip when you are visiting a standing cafe for your morning tea or coffee.
Spas:
It is not necessary to tip for a spa treatment, unless the service has been extraordinary. If you decide to, do not add more than 10%.
See the best of Italy by staying in one of our breathtaking Sicily villas or explore our Puglia villa collection for an unforgettable luxury holiday experience.
Tipping in Greece
Greek culture dictates that tourists from all over the world should always be received with warmth. Whether you’re visiting mainland Greece or you find yourself exploring the immaculate Greek Islands, there is a strong culture of tipping between local service providers and tourists.
Restaurants:
Some Greek restaurants will automatically round up the bill to include a tip. For those that do not, it is customary to add anywhere from 5-10% extra to the total. Try to do so with cash, as credit card tips rarely reach the wait staff.
Food delivery:
Tipping is not expected for food delivery, but a cash tip will rarely be turned down.
Transport:
Add 10% to the base fare for your taxi driver no matter how long the trip is, and a bit more if the driver helps you with your bags.
Tours:
Tour operators rely on tips for their livelihoods. Add 2-5€ per person per day as a thank you.
Bars:
Bar staff do not expect to be tipped, but giving them an extra euro will be much appreciated.
Spas:
Tipping at spas is not required, although exceptional service can be rewarded with up to 10% extra.
Choose one of our incredible luxury villas in Lefkada or our villas in mainland Greece for exceptional accommodation during your stay in the country.
Browse all of our villas in Greece
Tipping in the UK
Thanks to fixed regulations that ensure workers get paid at least the National Minimum Wage, tips are not the primary source of income for workers in the UK. Employers are barred from topping up wages from tips. As a result, it is rarely expected but still warmly received where appropriate.
Restaurants:
Many restaurants automatically add a service charge to the bill (around 12.5%). Check whether or not this goes to the wait staff and, if not, add 10-15% if you enjoyed the experience.
Food delivery:
Although you do not have to tip for food delivery, an extra £1-2 — even just to thank them for their hard work during lockdown — makes a difference.
Transport:
It is normal to tip taxi drivers, along with rounding up the fare to the nearest pound. If they help with your bags, add 10-15% extra on top of the base fare.
Tours:
Whether one hour or a day-long adventure, tip at least 10% for the service.
Bars:
Tipping in bars is not something that happens often in the UK.
Spas:
As with local tours, 10% extra for an unparalleled spa experience should suffice.
If you are based in the UK, the above advice should come as no surprise to you. However, we hope the rest of this guide can serve as a useful document during your next Mediterranean holiday. Our knowledgeable team is here to help you every step of the way.
Begin planning your next holiday abroad
Tipping in the USA
Tipping is so prominently embedded in American culture that locals do it automatically. Although the country boasts universally higher wages, no matter where you end up in the US, you will encounter people who depend on tips to make a living.
Restaurants:
When the bill arrives after a sit-down meal, the expectation is that a tip of at least 15% should be added if you were satisfied with the service. Fast food restaurants are the exception to the rule.
Food delivery:
Any kind of delivery in the US should be met with a tip. Most people add 10-15% based on the total before the tax is added.
Transport:
Tipping for a taxi is a must, even if the service you received was only satisfactory.
Tours:
Any kind of formal tour requires you to set aside a bit extra for the operator. $1 per hour per person is the absolute bare minimum.
Bars:
Bar staff expect to be tipped for their services, typically about $1 per drink.
Spas:
Expect to tip at least 15% at the end of your spa treatment, with the norm being up to 20% for an excellent experience.
Holidays to the United States are lovely, but often too far afield. Consider a vacation closer to home in one of our wonderful destinations.
Explore the Mediterranean with The Thinking Traveller
Common tipping searches around the world
On top of the UK-based search findings detailed earlier, our internal study also covered the most common tipping searches all over the world and in the USA. We discovered these are the most common phrases used to find information about tipping in specific locations:
how much to tip in [country]
how much should i tip in [country]
how much should you tip in [country]
tipping in [country]
how much should i tip in restaurants
how much do you tip in [country]
is it customary to tip in [country]
Worldwide, the following countries are searched for the most when it comes to tipping etiquette:
CountrySearch VolumeFrance270,570China60,510Kenya18,150Spain10,330Italy5,950UK3,990USA3,710Greece3,390Germany3,230Portugal3,410Denmark2,450Russia1,940Japan1,930Poland1,690Switzerland1,370
Interestingly, our research also discovered that US-based searches using the same set of keywords centre around tipping etiquette abroad as well as within its own borders. This reiterates the extent of how tipping is embedded in American culture.
CountrySearch VolumeFrance74,130Spain4,470USA1,510Italy1,120Russia760Greece690Japan620Germany540Portugal530China490
Explore the Mediterranean with The Thinking Traveller
Having gone over the specifics of good tipping etiquette around the world, you are now officially ready to embark on your next adventure with peace of mind about how and when to show some extra gratitude along the way.
We would be more than happy to help you source the perfect Mediterranean accommodation, allowing you an extraordinary experience abroad. When you are ready to explore one of our exclusive villas, please contact our team - we’re here to assist you every step of the way.
