Where to tip … and where not to

TIPPING while travelling can be confusing, differs by country and doesn't always depend on service quality. Wego, a travel search website in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, has published a guide to tipping protocols.

‘Knowing which countries where you should leave a tip is just as important as knowing which countries not to,’ says Joachim Holte, chief marketing officer at Wego.

‘In Argentina for example, tipping is actually illegal, but waiters often expect to be tipped by foreigners. So if you were to tip, discretion is advised. 

In the US, low wage earners in the service industry are reliant on tipping to balance out their income, yet in Romania, tips are often declined and in Japan, tipping is considered offensive.

‘As a general rule, tips as a sign of appreciation are expected in restaurants in Austria, Brazil, Chile, Ireland, The Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey. 

However in Fiji, Malaysia, and South Korea restaurant tips are not required. 

Checking whether there’s a service charge added to your bill is also a good way to tell whether a tip is applicable or not, and then you have the choice to leave a small amount on top if the service was particularly impressive.

‘In the UK, tipping for food in restaurants is OK, although unexpected as service charges are generally included. Yet, tipping for drinks at a bar is just not cricket!’

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