Top tips for tipping abroad

THOMAS COOK has put together tips to take the trickiness out of tipping when on holiday.

Do your research –Just as customs vary around the world so does tipping etiquette and expectations. To avoid unintentionally causing offence, familiarize yourself with local customs before you go.

Consider who to tip – To some extent, this is at your discretion and varies depending on the assistance and service you’ve received. As a start, you might want to consider tipping the following people: waiters, bartenders, parking valets, hotel porters, taxi drivers, housekeepers, concierges, hairdressers.  

 Carry some cash – If you find yourself in a situation that calls for tipping, it can be embarrassing if you don’t have any cash to hand, so make sure you have some local currency with you at all times.

Look around you – If you are visiting a country where tipping is commonplace and you forget to research the local tipping etiquette, play it safe by tipping 10 percent on restaurant bills (15-20 percent in the US), and a euro or a couple of dollars to those providing you with a service such as arranging an excursion with a tour company, or carrying your bags. 

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