- Tipping is not widely expected in Asia, and can actually be seen as offensive in some countries.
- In most of Africa, a 10-15% gratuity on restaurant bills is customary.
- In Europe, it varies from country to country, but in general visitors don’t need to leave a huge tip.
To tip or not to tip – and how much – is a question on many American travelers’ minds as they venture abroad this summer.
The U.S. is known around the world for its generous tipping culture, but that standard, as much as 20% on some bills in some cities, hasn’t exactly been exported to other locations. In fact, according to Justin Chapman, a travel expert who specializes in safaris at Go2Africa, tipping in some locations may actually be seen as offensive.
Here are his rules of thumb depending on where you’re visiting this summer.
How much to tip in Europe
It varies from country to country, but in general visitors don’t need to leave a huge tip in most of Europe. In some countries it’s becoming increasingly common for a 10%-15% service charge to be included in the bills in places like restaurants, while in others, it’s up to the visitor’s discretion.
Chapman said a good rule of thumb for Europe is to leave a little change and round up to the nearest euro on a bill if you’re not sure what to do. The same goes for taxis, bars and coffee shops.
How much to tip in Africa
In most of Africa, Chapman said, a 10%-15% gratuity on restaurant bills is customary, as are tips equivalent to $10-$20 per day for…
