London, England
Tipping rules in the UK are not much different from those in the US. When you enjoy a fine dining restaurant, the tip can range from 10 to 15% of the total bill. But before you leave the tip on the table, check the bill first. Some restaurants will automatically add a 12.5% tip to the bill, especially for crowded tables.
Tipping at fast food restaurants, bars, and pubs is not mandatory. Tipping taxi drivers is also a nice gesture (usually 10-15% of the total bill). Londoners often round up tips to the nearest £1 (about 35,000 VND). However, if you are traveling a long distance, such as from Heathrow Airport to Buckingham Palace, you should tip the driver more (about 8 USD).
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| The British are only sixth in the list of most generous tippers. Photo: Triroute. |
Barcelona, Spain
When dining at high-end restaurants in Barcelona and receiving attentive service, it is customary to leave a tip of 7-13% of the total bill. But if you are not satisfied with the quality of the food or service, feel free to leave no tip as a way to send your feedback to the restaurant.
Tipping in Spain is a way to show your satisfaction with the quality of the product or service, not a mandatory practice like in the US. However, tipping taxi drivers is a must. For short distances, the usual tip is 0.50 euros (about 15,000 VND), for long distances you can optionally tip the driver more.
Paris, France
Come to the “city of light” and enjoy life here like a true Parisian while sipping wine or watching the Seine River in a cafe. But don’t be too generous when leaving a tip, because here the tip is added directly to the bill when you pay (15% of the total bill).
Service charge is definitely included in the price of the item listed on the menu. However, if you are particularly satisfied, you can add a few euros to the tip. Tips for taxi drivers in Paris range from 10 to 15% of the total bill.
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| Sidewalk cafes are a characteristic of Paris. Photo: theavenuestory. |
Sydney, Australia
The only thing you need to remember about tipping in Sydney is that it’s 10, whether you’re in a taxi or eating at a restaurant. The 10% tip convention may not apply to small bills. With small bills, you may not need to get your change back as a tip.
Prague, Czech
In Czech restaurants, diners usually tip 10% of the total bill. You should also pay attention to check whether the bill includes a tip or not. When leaving the taxi, you should tip the driver around 20 CZK (equivalent to 21,000 VND) or 50 CZK (equivalent to 52,000 VND) if you are generous.
Rome, Italy
Even though Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg didn’t tip his waiter during his 2012 honeymoon in Rome, you should still do so. The general rule of thumb is to tip no more than 10% of the total bill. However, if you see the words “servizio incluso,” you don’t need to leave a tip; the tip is already included in the bill. For taxi drivers, just round up the bill and let the driver keep the change.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When tipping in Rio, it should be discreet. Brazilians are particularly modest about accepting tips. In restaurants, you don’t need to tip because the total bill already includes a 10% tip. For taxi drivers, rounding up the bill to the nearest $0.40 (VND 8,000) is enough.
Bangkok, Thailand
When you enjoy Tom Yum Goong (spicy shrimp soup), Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad) or any other specialty in Bangkok restaurants, tipping is not required. But if you want to express your satisfaction with the food and service, you can leave a small tip or up to 10% of the total bill for service. With taxi drivers, it is customary to tip round up the bill.
Istanbul, Türkiye
When dining in Istanbul, try to tip in Turkish lira (1 Turkish lira is about $0.45). In mid-range restaurants, you can tip 5 to 10% of the total bill. In fine dining, tip 10 to 15%. For taxi drivers, a tip of about 50 kuru (1% of 1 lira) is enough. When using high-end services such as relaxing at a traditional Turkish bath (Hammam), you can tip 10 to 20% to the staff who served you.
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| Hamman bath. Photo: katpatukahoteltour. |
Cape Town, South Africa
Generosity is highly valued in Africa. In Cape Town, you can tip restaurants 10 to 15 percent of the bill (some places include it in the bill). Taxi drivers are also accustomed to receiving 10 percent tips. If you are departing from Cape Town International Airport (CPT), your driver will help you carry your luggage, so you can tip them 20 to 30 South African rand (ZAR), which is about 38,000 to 57,000 VND. If you rent a car, leave a tip of 1.30 to 1.80 USD when returning it.
