Tipping In Bangladesh - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 5-10% If Good + No Service Ch.
🚕 Fixed Fare/Metered Taxi - 10-20% If Good
🚕 Non-Metered Taxi - Haggle, Don’t Tip
🛺 Rickshaw/Tuk Tuk - Haggle + Opt. ৳20-50 Tip
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - ৳30/Bag Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - 2-5% For All Staff In Box At End
📸 Tour Guide - ৳200-400/Half Day
🚍 Tour Driver - ৳200-400/Half Day
🍚 Street Market - Haggle To Fair Price, Don’t Tip
🧖♀️ Masseuse - Optional ৳100-200
🚽 Attendant - ৳20
🪙 Beggars - Don’t Tip
In Bangladesh, tipping (“Baksheesh” or “Bakshish”) should always be based on service.
Tips are customary in a lot of different scenarios but don’t overtip either. It’s best to just respect the local custom.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Bangladesh using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Taxis, Tuk Tuks, Hotels, Tours etc.
Bangladesh Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Bangladesh
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
The vast majority will tip servers in the 5-10% range for good service, in cash.
The more high-end the restaurant, the more of an expectation there will be for you to tip closer to 10% but it’s still based on service. You can tip lower or nothing for poor service.
Sometimes, you’ll see a service charge added to the bill, more commonly charged in the big cities like Dhaka. You don’t need to tip on top of this.
Leave a cash tip on the table when you leave or hand your tip directly to the server.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
For fixed fares or metered taxis most would leave a cash tip in the 10-20% range based on service.
If there’s no meter, it’s better to haggle the taxi fare before you set off in which case they won’t expect a tip.
For a Rickshaw, Tuk Tuk or CNG ride, you’ll bargain with them too. Sometimes they’re more expectant of a tip (in the ৳20-50 range) but if they’re not particularly friendly, there’s no need.
Just bear in mind that most work very long hours for very low pay.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s customary to tip the bellboy around ৳30 per bag.
They’ll usually wait at the door expecting a tip if you don’t give them one.
Tipping Housekeeping
Instead of leaving a tip for housekeeping, it’s more common to tip the entire staff the equivalent of 2-5% of the total bill at the end of your stay (tipping closer to 2% at high-end hotels).
You’ll usually leave this tip in the tip box at reception if there is one.
If you don’t see a tip box, ask at the reception desk. If there’s not one, you can hand them the tip and say it’s to be split between all staff.
Tipping Tour Guides
As long as you enjoyed the experience, it’s considered polite to tip tour guides and drivers separately around ৳200-400 per half day (closer to ৳400 for private tours).
The same would be true of the captain and crew on a boat tour.
Always tip in cash at the end of the experience.
Which Currency To Use
Use the official currency of Bangladesh, the Taka (৳, Tk, BDT).
Many hotels and restaurants will take card, especially in urban areas, but cash is still used in most transactions.
In any case, you should always tip in cash. Try to keep small bills on hand for tipping (৳10s, ৳20s and ৳50s).
“বাংলাদেশ উপভোগ করুন” (Bānlādēśa upabhōga karuna) - Enjoy Bangladesh! 🇧🇩🕌🏞️
Tipping In Laos - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Local Restaurant - Optional ₭20,000
🍽️ Western Restaurant - 5-10% If No Service Ch.
🍹 Bar - ₭20,000 If Exceptional Service
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected - Negotiated Fare
🛺 Tuk Tuk - Not Expected - Negotiated Fare
🚕 LOCA - 5-10% Via App If Satisfied
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - ₭10,000/Bag
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional ₭10,000-20,000/Day
📸 Tour Guide - Optional ₭100,000-200,000PP/Day
🚍 Tour Driver - Optional ₭40,000-100,000PP/Day
🧖♀️ Spa - Optional 10% If Satisfied
In Laos, tipping isn’t all that common. Some Laotians may not expect or accept tips.
In any case, always tip based on satisfaction and be discreet when doing so.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Laos using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Laos Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Laos
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Servers in most local restaurants would be surprised if you left a tip.
If you had great service, you could discreetly reward them with a small tip of around ₭20,000.
Tips aren’t frowned upon, they’re always appreciated, they’re just not expected.
It’s a different story in high-end western restaurants. Here, it’s customary to tip 5-10% for good service but only if a service charge (typically 10%) hasn’t already been added to your bill.
Tipping in Bars & Pubs
You don’t usually tip in bars and pubs but if a staff member has really gone out of their way for you, they’d probably expect a tip of around ₭20,000.
Hand them their tip discreetly.
Tipping Taxi, Tuk Tuk & LOCA Drivers
Traditional Taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers don’t expect tips since you’ll usually negotiate the fare before you set off.
If they’ve gone out of their way to your drop off location or if they’ve helped load/unload heavy luggage, you could always tip them a small amount to cover a drink or snack.
Since you don’t haggle with LOCA (similar to Uber or Lyft) drivers, it would be considerate to tip them around 5-10% for good service via the app.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s customary to tip porters around ₭10,000 per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Tipping housekeeping isn’t all that common but feel free to leave around ₭10,000-20,000 per day with a thank you note if they’ve done a good job.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tipping your tour guide and tour driver is optional.
If they’ve done a good job and you’d like to reward them for it, you could tip the guide around ₭100,000-200,000pp/day and give the driver ₭40,000-100,000pp/day.
Always be discreet.
Feel free to give them the US dollar equivalent, just make sure the notes and clean, crisp and somewhat new or they’ll have trouble exchanging them.
Which Currency To Use
The Lao Kip (₭, ₭N, LAK) is the official currency of Laos and you should stick to that if you can.
US Dollars ($, USD) and Thai Baht (฿, THB) are accepted in the larger towns and cities but if you use USD, you should stick to new, crisp, clean and undamaged notes with no graffiti.
In any case, you’ll usually receive Kip as change.
A growing number of establishments in the larger cities like Vientiane and Luang Prabang accept cards but it’s always good to have some Kip on hand for tipping.
Some cities have ATMs that dispense Kip but they tend to have low maximum withdrawals and charge fees.
“ໂຊກດີ” (Sok Dee!) - Good luck! 🇱🇦🌺🐘🍲🌄
Tipping In Cambodia - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% (៛2000 Min) If No Serv. C.
🍹 Bar - 10% (៛2000 Min) If Table Service & No S.C.
☕️ Café - 10% (៛2000 Min) If Table Serv. & No S.C.
🚕 Taxi - No Tip or Round Up By At Least ៛2000
🛺 Tuk Tuk - No Tip or Round Up By At Least ៛2000
🛎️ Bellhop - ៛4000 Total Customary
🛏️ Housekeeping - ៛4000/Day Customary
📸 Tour Guide - 10% Customary
🍚 Street Food - No Tip Expected
Tipping is a mixed bag in Cambodia. Sometimes it’s customary for good service, sometimes it isn’t. It really depends on the scenario.
In any case, bear in mind that many service workers work long hours for a low wage and a little always goes a long way.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Cambodia using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Tuk-Tuks, Hotels etc.
Cambodia Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Cambodia
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
You can tip around 10% if the service is great but, at a bear minimum, it’s always considerate to tip at least ៛2000.
It’s better to leave at least ៛2000 than to leave change worth less than that as it could be deemed insulting.
If there’s a service charge (“SVC”) more common in high-end, tourist and urban restaurants, there’s no need to tip extra but there’s no guarantee your server will get a portion of that amount.
You can usually pay and tip using Cambodian Riel or US Dollars but bear in mind that dollars will face greater scrutiny.
Older USD bills or those with small tears or graffiti are often not accepted as they’re harder to exchange.
If you pay the whole bill with USD, you may get some small Riel back and you might be shortchanged in the exchange.
Remember that servers aren’t paid well, they tend to go out of their way to provide good service and they often work long hours.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
If you’re just grabbing a drink at a bar or getting a coffee, there’s no need to tip.
In sit-down establishments with table service, tipping 10% with a minimum of ៛2000 would be considerate.
Tipping Taxi & Tuk Tuk Drivers
It’s quite unusual to to tip Taxi and Tuk Tuk drivers. They won’t expect a tip and will not be offended if you just pay the fare and take your change.
That being said, if you’d like to tip them for good service, you could tell them to keep the change as long as it’s at least ៛2000 (anything less may cause insult).
Tipping The Bellhop
Bellhops are common in Cambodian hotels and guesthouses.
It’s customary to tip them around ៛4000 total or $1 USD.
When using dollars, stick to newer, crisp and clean notes with no tears or graffiti. With Riel, the condition doesn’t really matter.
Tipping Housekeeping
It’s customary to leave the maid a daily tip of around ៛4000 or $1 USD (again, using newer, crisp and clean USD if you are using them).
Leave the tip under a pillow or under a towel or the staff member that checks the minibar might get it.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides do tend to expect tips. As long as the guide was average, tipping them about 10% of the total tour cost is customary.
Cambodian tours are pretty cheap due to the massive amount of competition.
Plus, most tour guides work hard to learn a language and gain the knowledge required.
If you go on a free tour, always tip the equivalent of what you’d have paid for the experience.
Which Currency To Use
The official Cambodian currency is the Riel (Symbol: ៛, Code: KHR) but US Dollars (Symbol: $, Code: USD) are almost universally accepted in all transactions.
That being said, stick to Riel if you can as dollars face more scrutiny. You’ll need to use newer USD bills that are crisp and clean with no tears or graffiti.
Plus, you’ll often get change in Riel no matter how you pay and you may be shortchanged.
Debit cards are accepted in some establishments but cash is king in Cambodia.
ATMs in airports and big cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap dispense both currencies but they often charge withdrawal fees.
“Sok sabay Cambodia!” (សុក្រសាបកម្ពុជា!) - Enjoy Cambodia! 🇰🇭🐘🎋🍚
Tipping In The Philippines - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Most Restaurants - Opt. ₱20-50 If No Serv. C.
🍽️ Luxury Restaurant - 10% If Good + No Serv. C.
🍹 Bar - Round Up By ₱10-50 If Upscale + No S.C.
☕️ Café - Round Up By ₱10-50 If Upscale + No S.C.
🚕 Taxi/Tricycle - Round Up (+ ₱20-50 If Excellent)
✈️ Airport Porter - ₱20-100 Total Expected
🛎️ Hotel Porter - ₱20-50 Total Customary
🛏️ Housekeeping - ₱20-50/Day Customary
📸 Tour Guide - ₱50-100 If Satisfied
🧖♀️ Spa - ₱20-100 Customary
🅿️ Parking Guard - ₱20-50 Expected
⛽️ Fuel Attendant - ₱20 If Extras Like Tire Check
Filipino tipping etiquette depends a lot on the scenario. Tipping is completely optional in some cases, in others it’s customary or even expected.
In any case, due to lower wages and lower cost of living, a small tip can go a long way. Have plenty of ₱20 and ₱50 bills on hand.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for The Philippines using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Philippines Tip Calculator
Good Tip For The Philippines
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Service charges of around 10% are common so always check for that first (“GST” is tax). It’s very unusual to tip on top of a service charge.
On the rare occasion that an upscale city centre restaurant doesn’t include a service charge, it would be customary to tip around 10% in cash but only for good service.
When dining out anywhere else, there’s really no obligation. Staff won’t be offended as many locals don’t tip.
If you want to, leave them around ₱20-50 in cash no matter the size of the bill. Anything over ₱100 would be considered extremely generous.
Tipping Food Delivery Drivers
If you’re ordering via Grab Food, Food Panda or similar, it’s not that common to tip the delivery driver.
Since it’s rarer, that does mean that most will really appreciate a tip if you do offer them one.
Anything in the ₱20-50 range will be appreciated. You could tip on the higher end if the weather’s bad, if you’re up on a high floor, if it’s late or you’re ordering a lot of food.
Again, tipping anything over ₱100 would be considered extremely generous.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
In any case, if there’s a service charge (typically 10%), it’s not customary to tip extra.
If there’s no service charge, tipping isn’t customary unless you’re in an upscale establishment, in which cash you could leave the change or simply round up the bill so the next ₱10-50.
Tipping Taxi, Tricycle & Grab Drivers
For taxi and tricycle drivers, most would just round up the fare when paying with cash (e.g. ₱185 would be rounded up to ₱200).
Be careful what you hand them as some will just assume you’re doing that and won’t offer change anyway.
If your taxi/tricycle driver has gone the extra mile, offering you local advice, managing bad traffic and/or loading/unloading your luggage, you could tip them around ₱20-50 but that’s not obligatory.
For Grab drivers, you’d typically hand them a cash tip of ₱20-50 since you’re usually paying the fare by card in the app.
Tipping Airport & Hotel Porters
Airport porters are those staff that offer to carry your luggage from the carousel to a taxi.
They will expect to be paid around ₱20-100 in cash, on the higher end of that range for lots of heavy luggage. More of a payment than a tip.
Hotel porters should be tipped ₱20-50 total. Tip on the higher end of that range if you’re feeling generous or if you’ve got a lot of luggage.
Tipping Housekeeping
It’s customary to tip housekeeping around ₱20-50 per day in cash. You could leave it with a note on the pillow.
Tipping Tour Guides
It’s customary to tip tour guides around ₱50-100 per person in cash depending on the length of the tour and how entertaining/informative your tour guide is.
Which Currency To Use
Always stick to the official currency when paying and tipping in the Philippines, the Philippine Peso (Symbol: ₱, Code: PHP).
Cards are accepted in major cities and tourist areas but having cash is always handy. You’ll always use cash when tipping so make sure you have plenty of ₱20, ₱50 and ₱100 bills.
Bear in mind that ATMs are less common outside cities so it’s best to get cash when you can.
"Tangkilikin ang Pilipinas" - Enjoy the Philippines! 🇵🇭🌴🥥
Tipping In Taiwan - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Don't Tip
🍹 Bar - Don't Tip - Optional 5-10% If High-End
☕️ Café - Don't Tip
🛵 Delivery Driver - Optional NT$100
🚕 Taxi - Not Customary
🚗 Private Driver - Not Customary
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - NT$20-40/Bag Expected
🅿️ Valet Parking - NT$100 Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Customary
📸 Paid Tour Guide - Usually No Tip (Can Check)
🚶 Free Tour Guide - Tip Any Amount If Good
🧖 Spa - Not Customary
Whilst you almost never need to tip or “xiǎofèi” (小費) in Taiwan, tipping is customary in some situations.
In any case, respect their culture by sticking to the local custom and remember that a simple thank you, “xièxiè” (謝謝) goes a long way in any situation.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Taiwan using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Taiwan Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Taiwan
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
You aren’t expected to tip when dining out. In fact, attempting to leave a tip may result in confusion, awkwardness or embarrassment on behalf of the waiting staff.
Even if you leave a small amount of change on the table, a staff member might chase after you thinking you’ve forgotten to pick it up.
Some mid/higher-end restaurants will add a 10% service charge (not to be confused with ‘GST’ which is tax) but don’t tip on top of this.
In some eateries, you may order your meal via a device and spot a tip screen. Don’t leave a tip in this situation either.
With the exception of high-end restaurants, a lot of places require that you pay when you order or when you’re on your way out. Getting the waiter’s attention to ask for your bill goes against typical Taiwanese custom.
Tipping in Bars, Clubs & Cafés
It against Taiwanese custom to tip in most bars, night clubs and cafés but there is an exception. If you’re in a luxury cocktail bar and the bartender mixes you a complex drink, feel free to tip around 10% (still not mandatory).
You may spot a tip jar in some of the more Western establishments but that’s more to cater to travellers who rely on their own customs.
In any case, it’s best to tip like a local and locals wouldn’t tip in this situation either.
Tipping Food Delivery Drivers
If you order via UberEats, Food Panda or similar, it’s up to you whether to tip or not.
It’s not that uncommon to leave a tip of around NT$100, especially if it’s raining or if the driver has to carry your food up several flights of stairs.
Tipping Taxi, & Uber & Private Drivers
Whether you’re in a metered taxi or you’re paying a fixed or negotiated fare, it’s not customary to tip taxi drivers.
If you’re paying with cash and you leave the taxi before you receive your change, the driver may think you’ve forgotten it and call out after you.
If they’ve really gone out of their way to help you. If they’ve loaded/unloaded your very heavy suitcase, a 5-10% tip is normally acceptable but always try to gauge the situation.
Tipping your Uber driver is more common since that’s easily done via the app. However, reserve your 5-10% tip for clean cars and safe/friendly drivers.
Private drivers (single/multi-day) won’t expect a monetary tip but if you stop for snacks, it’s polite to ask if they’d like anything.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Tipping the porter around NT$20-40 per bag is standard practice.
Tipping Housekeeping
Your housekeeper won’t expect a tip.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t help them out a bit. Keep your room relatively tidy and they’ll appreciate you making their job that little bit easier.
Tipping Paid & Free Tour Guides
Locals don’t tend to tip paid tour guides. However, guides in the more touristy areas have grown accustomed to receiving tips in the range of NT$200-400 per person, per day (tipping at the end).
Sometimes they’ll just hand you their business card. Their way of saying “tell others about this amazing tour you’ve just had”.
If in doubt, ask your tour operator.
It is customary to tip “free” walking tour guides at the end of the tour as long as you enjoy the experience.
Just imagine what you’d normally pay for the tour and tip them that or see if your tour operator provides a recommended tip amount.
Which Currency To Use
Always pay (or tip) using the official Taiwanese currency, the New Taiwan Dollar (Symbol: NT$ or 元, Code: TWD), sometimes referred to as ‘Dollars’ or ‘NT’.
"Tâi-oân chia̍h!" (台灣享!) - Enjoy Taiwan! 🇹🇼🍜🏮🏞️
Tipping In Luxembourg - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Optional 5-10%
🍹 Bar - Optional 5-10% For Table Service
☕️ Café - Optional 5-10% For Table Service
🚕 Taxi - Optional 10%
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €1-2/Bag Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - €1.50-€2/Day Customary
📸 Tour Guide - 10% If Not Built Into Cost Already
In Luxembourg, most of the time, the absence of a tip won’t imply dissatisfaction. Tipping isn’t mandatory here in a lot of scenarios but it’s still a common way of expressing your appreciation for good service.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Luxembourg using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Luxembourg Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Luxembourg
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
There really is no social pressure to tip here. Some Luxembourgers will leave a tip of 5-10% for a good meal, others will only tip in upscale restaurants, others will never tip.
If anything, tipping is becoming less common as card transactions continue to grow in popularity. Cash tips are still preferred.
Some locals have always been nervous about the introduction of an American-style tipping culture so it’s best to stick to the 5-10% rule if you are tipping.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
You don’t need to tip in bars, clubs or cafés. Those that do tip usually leave around 5-10% or €1-2 but that’s normally reserved for table service only.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Your taxi driver won’t expect a tip, especially if you’re paying by card and/or it’s a fixed fare.
That’s true even if they offer you helpful local advice or they load/unloaded your luggage.
Whilst they won’t expect one, they’d still appreciate a tip of around 10% of the fare if you offered them one. Cash is best.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s customary to tip the porter around €1-2 per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Housekeepers are used to getting tips of around €1.50-€2 per day. Leave cash on the pillow with a note or they might not know it’s for them.
Tipping Tour Guides
Most tour companies in Luxembourg actually build the tip into the tour cost (you may see a 10% service charge on your receipt) but you can always tip 5-10% extra if you’ve had a great time.
If there’s no mention of a service charge, you can always ask your specific tour provider or just stick to 10% to be safe.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to Luxembourg’s official currency, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR) whether you’re paying or tipping.
“E flotten reis!” - Have a great trip! 🇱🇺🏰🌳
Tipping In Latvia - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Satisfied + No Service Fee
🍹 Bar - 10% or €1-2 If Satisfied + Table Service
☕️ Café - 10% or €1-2 If Satisfied + Table Service
🚕 Taxi - Optional Round Up
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €0.50/Bag Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional (Any Amount)
📸 Tour Guide - Optional 10%
Tipping is Latvia is common and customary in a lot of scenarios but only for good service. Always tip in cash.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Latvia using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Latvia Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Latvia
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
In Latvia, it’s customary to tip around 10% of the bill in cash. Don’t tip for poor service and tip closer to 5% for adequate service. Tips approaching 20% are highly appreciated but incredibly rare.
A service charge, usually around 10%, may already be built in to your bill especially if it’s a group booking. There’s no need to tip on top of the service charge.
Depending on the restaurant, your server might keep the whole tip or it might be split between all staff (front and back of house).
Whilst cards are widely accepted, tip in cash. If you tip via card, your waiter won’t really consider this a tip since it’ll likely just go to the owner.
If you're paying the whole bill with cash, you also have the option of just rounding up (e.g. €27.70 bill, leave €30).
Tipping in Bars, Pubs & Cafés
Locals will only really tip for table service in bars, pubs and cafés. Tipping the barista or bartender for counter/bar service is uncommon.
Tipping around 10% in cash or leaving a €1-2 coin would be considered the polite and customary thing to do. You’re also likely get better service on your return if you do.
Card-based tips rarely make their way back to the employee so they’re not greatly appreciated.
If you’re paying the whole bill in cash, you can round up to make things easy but make sure the tip is at least €1 or the waiter might find it insulting.
Tipping Taxi & Bolt Drivers
Locals will only tend to tip traditional metered taxi drivers if they’re paying in cash and want to round up the fare to make things easy.
Tipping your Bolt driver here isn’t common.
If you do opt for a metered taxi, try to agree on a fare before you get in and make sure the meter is switched on so you’re not taken advantage of. Another reason why Bolt is the more popular option.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
If a porter carries your luggage to your room, they’ll expect a tip of around €0.50 per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Tipping the housekeeper isn’t essential or customary but it’s still very much appreciated.
Instead of tipping daily, those that do tip tend to leave one larger tip at the end of the stay.
They won’t take money that’s just left lying around the room (for fear of being accused of theft) so if you do want to tip, leave it on the pillow, ideally with a note.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides in Latvia won’t expect a tip but they’ll always appreciate one.
If you’re satisfied with the tour and you’d like to reward the guide, feel free to leave them a tip that’s around 10% of the total tour cost (it’s not essential).
Which Currency To Use
Always pay and tip in the official currency of Latvia, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR). Don’t use any other currencies. The Euro replaced Latvian Lats on January 1st 2014.
Most establishments will accept card but it’s always better to tip in cash to ensure the service provider gets it directly. This shouldn’t be an issue as ATMs are commonplace.
“Priecīgas ceļojuma!” - Happy Travels! 🇱🇻🌲🎻
Tipping In Lithuania - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 5-10% Customary If Good
🍕 Fast Food - No Tip Expected
🍹 Bar - No Tip Expected
☕️ Café - No Tip Expected
🚕 Taxi - No Tip Expected
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - Optional €1-€2 Total
🛏️ Housekeeping - No Tip Expected
📸 Paid Tour Guide - 5-15% Customary
🚶♂️ Free Tour Guide - €5-€10PP Expected
Tipping has been part of Lithuanian culture since the late 1990s which saw growing Western tourism and business travel.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Lithuania using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Lithuania Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Lithuania
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
In Lithuania, you’ll usually tip your server around 5% for your standard good service (10% if great, 15% is a nice bonus if excellent).
That’s the case whether you’re in a kavinė (a casual restaurant) or a restoranas (mid/top-tier restaurant).
There’s no need to tip if you’re eating at a valgykla (self-service canteen) or you go for fast food like a McDonald’s, Hesburger or Charlie Pizza.
Cards are widely accepted but most restaurants don’t cater well to tips by card. There’s usually no tip line on the bill and you can’t always add a tip to the total when paying by card.
That means you’ll usually need to carry cash for tips.
Bear in mind that a lot of Lithuanian servers are part-time or seasonal workers and whilst you’re not expected to subsidise their salary by tipping, they often do rely on tips as part of their income.
Tipping in Bars, Pubs & Cafés
Your bartender or barista won’t expect a tip.
Sometimes there’s a tip box or tip jar on the counter where you can throw in loose change (again, cash/coins can come in handy) but you don’t need to.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Taxi drivers here won’t expect a tip. It’s not common.
That’s become increasingly true given the rise in app-based taxi companies. Instead of a monetary tip, leaving a 5 star review on the app, if that’s an option, can help them a lot.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Porters in larger, international chain hotels are more used to getting tips than those in mid-tier, local hotels.
In any case, it’s not essential but if you would like to tip the porter, you can give them €1-€2 total.
Tipping Housekeeping
It’s not really customary in Lithuania to tip housekeeping.
You can help them out by ensuring your room is at least somewhat tidy but in terms of a monetary tip, whilst it would be appreciated, it’s not expected.
Tipping Tour Guides
For paid group or private tours, tipping 5-15% is common if you have a knowledgable/entertaining guide.
You can leave a good review on TripAdvisor or Social Media on top of (or instead of) a monetary tip.
For free tours, the guides live off of tips. Give them €5-€10 per person depending on the length and quality of the tour.
Which Currency To Use
The official currency of Lithuania has been the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR) since January 2015 when it replaced the Lithuanian Litas.
Whilst card and mobile payments are widely accepted, it’s best to tip in cash.
"Turėkite gero kelio!" - Have a good trip! 🇱🇹🏰🌲🍺
Tipping In Cyprus - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - If Satisfied, Optional 5-10%
🍔 Fast Food - Don’t Tip
🍹 Bar - Tip Not Expected
☕️ Café - No Tip (Optional €1-€2 If Sit-Down)
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected - Optional Round Up
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €0.50-€1/Bag Polite
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional €5-€10 On Check Out
📸 Tour Guide - Optional 10%
⛽️ Petrol Attendant - Optional €1-2 If Extra Service
In general, tipping in Cyprus is completely optional (never tip for bad service). In most situations, a tip won’t be expected but it will be appreciated.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Cyprus using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Cyprus Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Cyprus
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
There’s no pressure to tip in Cyprus but you could consider leaving a 5-10% tip (no tip for fast food) as long as you’re satisfied with the service. Whilst tips are appreciated here, they’re not expected.
If your bill includes a service charge (not to be confused with VAT or Value Added Tax), there’s no need to tip extra.
In fact, you can ask for this charge to be removed if you’re not satisfied with the service.
Before you decide, bear in mind that waiters aren’t paid very well and most don’t see a cent of the service charge. It usually just goes straight to the owner.
Cash tips are preferred but if your bill includes a service charge, it’s fine to just pay the whole amount by card.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
Bartenders and baristas won’t expect a tip. If you’re in a sit-down café, you could leave €1-€2 if you have change and the service is good.
Again, it’s not expected but it is appreciated.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
You don’t need to tip your taxi driver in Cyprus.
You can always round up the fare if you’re paying in cash and want to make things easy but most locals will just thank the driver, pay by card or take their change.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s considered polite to tip hotel porters around €0.50-€1 per bag.
Most hotels will add a service charge to your bill but there’s no guarantee the porter will get a share of that fee.
Tipping Housekeeping
Tipping your housekeeper is completely optional in Cyprus.
Instead of a monetary tip, you could just make their job that little bit easier by keeping your room relatively tidy.
If you do want to leave them a cash tip for great service, it’s not customary to tip daily. Instead, you consider leaving €5-€10 on the day you check out.
Alternatively, why not do a mutual exchange and leave your unwanted change for the housekeeper. That helps them out and saves you the hassle of getting rid of it.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides around Cyprus are more used to getting tips since they deal with tourists from a range of cultural backgrounds.
If your guide was knowledgable and entertaining, consider leaving them a cash tip of around 10% of the tour cost. Again, it’s not expected but it is appreciated.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to the official currency of Cyprus, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR). Don’t use any other international currencies.
Both cash and cards are widely accepted. If you’re looking for an ATM, they’re commonly found in or near banks, shops, petrol stations, ports and airports.
Just be aware that some of them charge ATM withdrawal fees.
“Kali taxidi" (Καλή ταξίδι) - Have a good trip! 🇨🇾☀️🏖️🌳
Tipping In Iceland - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Tipping Not Customary
🍹 Bar - No Tip Expected Even If Tip Jar
☕️ Café - No Tip Expected Even If Tip Jar
🚕 Taxi - No Tip Expected
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - No Tip Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - No Tip Expected
📸 Tour Guide - No Tip Expected - Optional kr1000
🚽 Public Bathroom - No Tip Even If Tip Jar
Iceland doesn’t have a tipping culture. Employees are paid fair, union-agreed wages so they’re not reliant on tips to supplement their income.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Iceland using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Iceland Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Iceland
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
It’s not customary to tip your waiter in Iceland, even if you receive exceptional service. That’s true whether you’re eating in a casual/fast food restaurant or you’re dining in a more formal establishment.
You may see some tourists leaving a tip but that’s usually just because they’re unaware of Iceland’s no tip culture.
If you feel odd not tipping, bear in mind that Icelandic waiters are paid a fair wage so they’re not reliant on tips as an income supplement. Plus, some locals fear that by importing a tipping culture, employers may be inclined to pay less.
On a side note, some tourists find themselves waiting a while to receive their bill. In Iceland, you usually have to ask for the bill. They won’t always give it to you automatically.
And, if you see ‘VAT’ on your bill, that’s Value Added Tax, not a service charge.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
You’re never expected to tip in Icelandic cafés or bars. Sometimes, you’ll see a tip jar but those funds are usually used to pay for employee social gatherings rather than being paid out as tips.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
It’s not customary to tip your taxi driver in Iceland.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Even hotel porters won’t expect a tip in Iceland so there’s no need to keep small bills aside for your arrival.
Tipping Housekeeping
It’s not customary to tip hotel housekeepers either.
The best thing you can do is just ensure your room is not left in too much of a mess when you leave for the day. That will make their job slightly easier and they’ll appreciate that.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides are more used to getting tips since they often run into tourists who import their own cultural tipping practices.
However, they still won’t expect a tip so you won’t see many standing around waiting for a tip at the end of your tour.
If you’ve had a great time and you do want to give them something, tipping around 1,000 Icelandic króna would be considered a generous gesture.
Which Currency To Use
Use the official currency, the Icelandic Króna (Symbol: kr, Code: ISK, Plural: Krónur) whether you’re paying or (rarely) tipping in Iceland.
Don’t use any other international currency. The occasional establishment might accept USD, CAD, EUR or Nordic currencies but usually at a poor exchange rate.
Card payments are a lot more common than cash.
"Góða ferð!" - Have a good trip! 🇮🇸🌊🌋🐋🌌
Tipping In Finland - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Not Expected - Optional 5%
🍹 Bar - Not Expected
☕️ Café - Not Expected
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - 50c-€1/Bag Polite
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected
📸 Tour Guide - Not Expected
🌲 Finnish Cottage - Not Expected
Tipping is really uncommon in Finland. Whilst Finns do appreciate tips when they get them, they won’t tend to expect them so don’t feel obliged in most cases.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Finland using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Cafés, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Finland Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Finland
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Don’t feel obliged to tip waiters in Finland as a lot of Finns don’t tip, even for great service. Instead of a cash tip, feel free to just thank your server for good service (“kittos”).
There may be a service charge on your bill but don’t confuse that with sales tax (ALV). It would be considered very unusual to tip on top of a service charge.
If there isn't a service feee and you do want to reward your server, feel free to round up your bill to the next €5 or €10 or tip around 5% (10% is very generous here). Just tell the waiter what you want to pay.
Whether you’re at a fine-dining establishment in Helsinki or a casual restaurant in Lapland, if you’re paying by card you may see a tip screen on the payment terminal.
This practice is frowned upon in Finland since it’s considered rude to ask for a tip. Don’t feel pressured to tip if you don’t want to, feel free to select “0%”
You can pay and tip with cash too (which will help you avoid the tip screen) but most Finns don’t carry cash for tipping.
Why the lack of tipping culture? A few reasons.
Finnish servers are paid a relatively good salary and most are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Many also believe service is already incorporated into the price of the food and the onus should be on the restaurant, not the customer, to pay the staff a fair wage.
Tipping in Bars & Cafés
Most Finns will just pay the bill without a tip.
If you’re paying in cash or you have some loose change on you, feel free to give them around 5-10% (there may be a tip jar) but it’s not customary.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Taxi drivers won’t expect a tip, especially if you’re paying by card.
If you’re paying your fare in cash, you might want to round up but that’s more to do with preventing the need for change rather than tipping.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s considered polite to tip hotel porters around €0.50-€1 per bag but since porters are relatively uncommon in Finnish hotels, you might not even run into this scenario.
Tipping Housekeeping
Housekeepers here won’t expect a tip. However, if you’ve left the room in a bit of a mess, tipping €2-5 (depending on the state of your room) would be considered polite.
Instead of a monetary tip, you can help them out by keeping your room relatively tidy.
Tipping Tour Guides
Finnish tour guides won’t expect a tip. If your guide has been friendly, entertaining and informative, a simple thank you (“Kiitos”) is more than enough.
Tipping At Finnish Cottages
If you’re renting a cottage or “mökki” you don’t need to leave a tip when you check out.
However, if you’ve left the place in a bit of a mess it’s considerate to leave some cash to cover the cost of cleaning.
Summer cottages are a big part of Finnish culture. Some Finns will spend weeks or months out by the lakes, reading, “saunoa” (going into the sauna), swimming.
Which Currency To Use
Use the official currency of Finland, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR). Don’t try to pay or tip with any other currency as it won’t be accepted.
Whilst tipping has never really been part of the culture here, it’s actually become less common as card payments have grown in popularity.
Hyvää matkaa! - Safe travels! 🇫🇮🌲☕
Tipping In Andorra - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Not Expected - Optional 5-10%
🍹 Pub/Bar - Optional 5-10% If Table Service
☕️ Café - Optional 5-10% If Table Service
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected - Optional 5-10%
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €1-2/Bag Polite
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected - Optional €1-2/Day
📸 Tour Guide - Not Expected - Optional €5-10PP
⛷️ Ski Instructor - Not Expected - Optional €5-10PP
Andorra doesn’t have much of a tipping culture. Whilst tips are always appreciated, they’re usually optional even in the case of good service.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Andorra using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Andorra Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Andorra
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Even if you’re satisfied with the service, tipping is entirely optional in Andorran restaurants. If you want to leave a tip, 5-10% is a good rule of thumb.
A service charge of around 10% may be added to your bill (more likely if you’re dining in a large group). If that’s the case, there’s no need to tip extra.
However, don’t confuse tax with a service charge. If you see “IGI” on your bill, that means “Impost General Indirect”, the Andorran equivalent of Value Added Tax (VAT).
Tipping has actually become less common over time in Andorra, driven largely by the growth in card over cash payments.
If tipping cash, just leave change on the table. Tipping by card? Just tell your waiter the total you’d like to pay, including tip.
Tipping In Pubs, Bars & Cafés
Bartenders, baristas and table servers won’t expect to be tipped in Andorra, even for good service.
Those that do tip would only really do so for good table service, in which case an optional 5-10% would be fine.
Tipping Taxi & Rideshare Drivers
Taxi and rideshare drivers won’t expect a tip here so it’s entirely optional. If you’d like to tip a friendly and courteous driver, 5-10% is perfectly fine.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s considered polite to tip a hotel porter around €1-2 per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Your housekeeper won’t expect a tip but if their service has been particular good, feel free to tip them around €1-2 per day.
Tipping Tour Guides & Ski Instructors
Tipping your tour guide or ski instructor is completely optional.
They won’t expect a tip but if you’d like to leave them one as a show of appreciation for good service, you could use €5-€10 per person as a rule of thumb (depending on the tour/lesson length and quality).
On a side note, if you’re booking ski lessons, remember that most charge extra for equipment rental.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to the official currency of Andorra, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR) when paying or tipping.
Despite what some people say, foreign currency payments (e.g. US dollars) aren’t really permitted in most situations.
Even if the retailer or restaurant does accept foreign currency, it’s inconvenient for them as they’ll have to exchange it which will involve time, effort, fees etc.
Bon viatge! - Have a good trip! 🇦🇩🏔️⛷️🚡
Tipping In Estonia - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Optional 5-10%
🍔 Fast Food - Not Expected
🏍️ Delivery Drivers - Not Expected
🍹 Bar - Not Expected
☕️ Café - Not Expected
🚕 Taxi - Optional 5-10%
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - Optional €1-2 Total
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected
📸 Tour Guide - Optional 5-10%
Tipping is either not expected at all or completely optional in Estonia, even for good service.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Estonia using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Estonia Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Estonia
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Tipping your waiter is completely optional in Estonia since they’re paid a base level salary and they’re not reliant on tips to supplement their income.
A lot of Estonians don’t tip and when they do it tends to be around 5-10% for exceptional service in moderate/high-end restaurants in the more touristy areas (even then it’s optional).
Don’t confuse Estonian Value Added Tax or VAT (sometimes written as “käibemaks” on your bill) with a service charge. Service charges are extremely rare here.
You usually have the option to tip by card or mobile payment (e.g. Apple Pay) but a cash tip is always an option.
There’s no need to tip for fast food, takeaway food or food from self-service counters.
Tipping In Bars & Cafés
You don’t need to worry about tipping bartenders or baristas even if you’re getting table service.
Feel free to leave something in the “tip jar” if there is one but it’s completely optional and should be reserved for good service.
Tipping Taxi & Rideshare Drivers
It’s uncommon to tip taxi and rideshare drivers in Estonia. Tipping 5-10% (or rounding up your fare to the next €5 or €10) is always an option for great service but it’s not mandatory.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Porters in Estonian hotels don’t expect tips but if you want to show your appreciation, feel free to give them around €1-2.
Tipping Housekeeping
Like porters, housekeepers won’t expect tips either so you should receive great service whether you tip or not.
If you want to help them out, just make their job a bit easier by making sure your room isn’t too messy.
Tipping Tour Guides
Even tour guides and drivers won’t expect a tip. If your tour was exceptional, informative and entertaining, feel free to tip 5-10% but there’s no requirement.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to the official currency of Estonia, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR) when you’re paying or tipping.
Cash, card and mobile payments are all widely accepted and since tipping is less common, there’s no real need to keep cash on hand.
Head reisi! - Have a good trip! 🇪🇪
Tipping In Slovenia - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Optional 7-15%
🍹 Bar - Optional 10-15%
☕️ Café - Optional 10-15%
🚕 Taxi - Optional Round Up To Next €1-2
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €2 Total Polite
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional €2/Day
📸 Tour Guide - Optional 10-15%
Most tips are optional since Slovenia doesn’t have a big tipping culture. This is because most employees are paid a fair, living wage.
Tips are still welcome but since a lot of Slovenes worry about the import of a US-style tipping culture, reserve tips for great service only.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Slovenia using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Slovenia Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Slovenia
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Tipping is completely optional in Slovenia and should be reserved for great service in any case.
This is because most waiters are paid a good, living wage so they’re not as reliant on tips to supplement their income. A lot of Slovenes would like to keep it that way.
Some tip nothing, others tip €2-5 no matter the bill, others round up by about 7-15% to a whole number.
You can tip in cash or by card. If paying by card, you may see a tip screen depending on the establishment. If that’s the case, feel free to tip nothing or around 7-15%. Always tip based on service, never out of guilt.
This is where cash can come in handy. Pay in cash, no tip screen, less awkwardness.
Bear in mind that you might have to flag down a waiter if you want your bill as you’ll usually be left alone.
Tipping In Bars & Cafés
Like in restaurants, tipping the bartender or barista is completely optional. If you’ve had great service, feel free to round up the bill by around 10-15%.
Don’t feel pressured by the presence of a tip screen. Feel free to tip nothing.
Pay in cash and you’ll avoid the tip screen altogether as that’s reserved for card payments.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Slovenian taxi drivers won’t expect a tip but if you’re impressed with the service, you can always round up the fare to the next €1-2.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
It’s considered polite to tip porters around €2 total. There’s no need to tip per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
Hotel housekeeping staff won’t expect a tip. If you’re impressed with the service, feel free to leave them €2 per day but it’s by no means mandatory.
Tipping Tour Guides
Tour guides are rarely tipped. If you do want to tip them, they would appreciate a tip of around 10-15% based on the length and quality of the tour.
Which Currency To Use
Always use the official currency of Slovenia, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR) when paying or tipping.
Most establishments accept card and cash payments but it’s always good to have some cash on hand when venturing out into the countryside.
Uživaj na potovanju! - Enjoy your trip! 🇸🇮🚲🏔️
Tipping In Albania - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Satisfied
🍹 Bar - Not Expected
☕️ Café - Not Expected
🚕 Taxi - 10% If Friendly/Helpful
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - L100/Bag Polite
🛏️ Housekeeping - L100-L200/Day Polite
📸 Tour Guide - 10% If Satisfied
Tipping is common and polite in some scenarios here.
Bear in mind that wages are low compared to other European nations and goods/services are typically cheaper so a percentage-based tip won't break the bank in most cases.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Albania using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Albania Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Albania
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
In Albania, it’s common to tip around 10% of the bill for good service. You can usually tip by card but it’s good to keep cash on hand in case that’s not possible.
Some restaurants may add on a service charge but don’t confuse it with VAT (usually written as “TVSH”, the Albanian acronym, on your bill).
Bear in mind that Albanian waiters aren’t paid very well so they tend to rely on tips. Whilst usually friendly, service can be slow. Don’t reduce the tip based on speed alone as that is just part of the dining culture here.
Obviously, if your service is painfully slow or unfriendly, you can skip the tip. However, it’s usually best to just reduce the tip and tell the owners what can be done to improve.
Tipping In Bars & Cafés
You won’t be expected to tip bartenders or baristas but if you’re paying in cash and there’s a tip jar, feel free to leave some change. Only tip for good service.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
If your taxi driver is friendly or they go out of their way to help you, it’s customary to tip around 10% or simply round up your fare by a similar amount to the nearest whole number.
It’s not always possible to tip taxi drivers by card so keep cash on hand for this situation.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Whilst not mandatory, it is considered polite to tip porters around L100 per bag.
Albanian hotel staff are some of the lowest paid in Europe so any tip you give will usually be appreciated.
Tipping Housekeeping
Like tipping porters, it’s polite but not mandatory to tip housekeeping. L100-L200/day is perfectly acceptable and can help to supplement their typically low wage.
Tipping Tour Guides
10% is the standard tip for a tour guide in Albania. A cash tip is best in this situation.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to the official currency of Albania, the Lek (Symbol: L, Code: ALL, Plural: Lekë).
Some establishments may accept Euros (€) but the exchange rate is usually poor so use Lek if you can.
It’s best to keep some small notes on hand for tipping. Cash can also be useful when travelling throughout rural Albania.
U bëftë mirë udhëtimi! - Have a nice trip! 🇦🇱🏰🏞️
Tipping In Norway - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Nothing or 5-10% If Exceptional
🍔 Fast Food - Not Expected
🍹 Bar - Not Expected
☕️ Café - Not Expected
🚕 Taxi - 0-15% Acceptable
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - Not Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected
📸 Paid Tour Guide - Not Expected
🚶 Free Walking Tour Guide - Check Tour Website
Tipping isn’t customary in Norway since most staff in the highly unionised service industry are paid a good wage. Given Norway is one of the most expensive countries in Europe, you’ll probably appreciate the lack of tipping culture.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Norway using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Norway Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Norway
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Norwegian wait staff don’t expect tips since they tend to be paid a good wage and aren’t as reliant on the supplementary income. That being said, you won’t risk insult if you do tip. Instead of a tip, a simple “Takk” (Thank You) is perfectly acceptable.
Some establishments, particularly on the higher-end, may add a service charge and it’s customary to pay it unless you’re dissatisfied (you can ask for its removal in that case).
Feel free to tip 5-10% (service charge or not) but reserve that for absolutely outstanding service (even then it’s completely optional). Bear in mind most restaurants pool tips, split them between all staff and add them to wages.
Card-based payments are the norm here. You’ll be in the minority if you use cash and some places don’t even accept it.
So, if you are tipping, tell the waiter your total with tip before they hand you the card machine.
Tipping In Bars, Pubs & Cafés
Bartenders, café baristas and wait staff won’t expect tips.
If you’ve ordered a lot of drinks, feel free to round up to the nearest kr10 but that’s completely optional. Tips, like in restaurants, are usually pooled and split between all staff.
Again, you’ll usually need to pay (and tip) by card since a lot of establishments won’t take cash.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Tipping your taxi driver is completely optional. If your service was great, feel free to tip 0-15%. Alternatively, just round up your fare to the nearest whole number.
Bear in mind that taxis tend to be expensive in Norway so opt for public transport if possible to save a lot during your trip.
Tipping In Hotels
It’s neither customary nor expected to tip porters, doormen, housekeepers or the concierge in Norway, even in high-end hotels.
Tipping Tour Guides
Since Norwegian tour guides and drivers tend to be well compensated, tips aren’t really common or expected.
“Free” walking tour guides are another story. They’re reliant on tips for their income. In fact, a lot of them pay a fee to their tour company so they’ll actually lose money on you if you don’t tip.
Customary tipping rates vary for “free” walking tours so it’s best to check the company’s website (or your booking details).
Which Currency To Use
Only pay or tip using the official currency of Norway, the Norwegian krone (Symbol: kr, Code: NOK, Plural: kroner).
Cash is not king in Norway. Most establishments prefer debit and credit card payments and it’ll be the only option in some places.
Ha en fin tur! - Have a nice trip! 🇳🇴🏔️🌲🎻
Tipping In Belgium - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - Optional Round Up To Next €1-2
🍹 Bar - Optional Round Up To Next €1-2
☕️ Café - Optional Round Up To Next €1-2
🚕 Taxi - Optional Round Up To Next €1-2
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - €1/Bag Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Not Expected
📸 Tour Guide - Not Expected
🚽 Bathroom Attendant - €0.50 Expected
Belgium doesn’t have a big tipping culture. It’s not expected in most scenarios and employees in the service industry are paid relatively well.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Belgium using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Belgium Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Belgium
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Most Belgians will just round up the bill to the nearest €1 or €2 as long as the service is good but even that’s not mandatory. The minimum wage is liveable and service is already included in the price.
If you want to tip, you can either tell the waiter to round up your bill when paying by card or just leave €1-2 on the table when you leave. There’s no tip line on the bill.
If you’ve got a large party, an event or you’ve received exceptional service feel free to tip more but 10% would be the absolute maximum (that’s very rare).
Wondering what the “BTW” on your bill is? It stands for “Belasting over de Toegevoegde Waarde”, meaning “Value Added Tax” (VAT).
Tipping In Bars & Cafés
Bartenders and baristas don’t expect tips in Belgium.
If you’re getting food, multiple drinks or table service and you’re satisfied feel free to round up to the nearest €1-2 but that’s completely optional.
Tipping Taxi Drivers
Taxi drivers also don’t expect tips since the rates displayed usually include service.
If your driver goes above and beyond feel free to round up to the nearest €1-2 but don’t feel obligated. It’s perfectly acceptable to just pay the exact fare.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Most porters will expect a tip of around €1 per bag.
Tipping Housekeeping
There’s no need to tip your housekeeper. If you’d like to do something nice for them, just keep your room relatively tidy and make their job that little bit easier.
Tipping Tour Guides
Most tours include service in the price so tips aren’t required.
If you’ve really enjoyed your experience, give them a great review instead.
Which Currency To Use
You’ll only have one option in Belgium and that’s the official currency, the Euro (Symbol: €, Code: EUR). Other currencies aren’t accepted.
Most establishments accept card payments but it’s best to check before you order in case you can’t cover the bill in cash.
Geniet van je verblijf! - Enjoy your stay! 🇧🇪🍻🍫🚲🏞️
Tipping In Uruguay - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Good + No Service Charge
🍹 Bar - Optional Round Up To Next 10 Pesos
☕️ Café - Optional Round Up To Next 10 Pesos
🚕 Taxi - Round Up To Next 5/10 Pesos Customary
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - 20 Pesos Total Expected
🛏️ Housekeeping - Optional 20 Pesos/Night
🅿️ Parking Attendant - 10 Pesos (Day), 20 (Night)
🚗 Windscreen Cleaner - 1-2 Pesos
📸 Tour Guide - 10-20% If Good (5% Minimum)
⛽️ Petrol Attendant - 5-10 Pesos If Extra Service
🏍️ Delivery Driver - Optional 5-10 Pesos
In Uruguay, it isn’t mandatory to leave a tip (“propina”) but it is a customary way to reward good service in certain scenarios.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Uruguay using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Uruguay Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Uruguay
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
It’s customary to tip your server 10% for good service. It’s not mandatory but it is standard practice. Never tip poor service.
Pay the main bill with an international card if you can and usually you’ll get the VAT (“IVA”) auto-deducted or auto-reimbursed. Leave the tip in cash and base the tip percentage off the non-VAT inclusive total.
If you tip by card when you pay the bill, the tip percentage will be based on the VAT-inclusive price.
Service charges aren’t that common but they might be added to your bill if you dine in a touristy area. If there is a service charge, don’t tip.
See “Cubierto” on your bill? That’s a cover charge. It’s a fee that’s paid directly to the restaurant for the provision of bread, water, cutlery and other small accompaniments. Since it covers cutlery, they’ll usually still charge it if you refuse the bread.
Tipping In Bars & Cafés
If you’re just ordering a drink, feel free to tip nothing or just round up the bill to the nearest 10 Pesos. Only tip good service.
If you’re getting food, stick to the 10% restaurant rule but check that a service charge hasn’t been added (more common in tourist hotspots).
Tipping Taxi Drivers
It’s customary to round up your taxi fare to the nearest 5 or 10 Pesos for a safe drive with a friendly driver. That’s the case whether it’s a short or long drive.
Usually they won’t have change or they’ll just assume you’re rounding up but feel free to wait for your change if you don’t want to tip them.
Bear in mind that due to the lack of taxi tipping culture, it’s rare for drivers to go above and beyond. For example, sometimes you’ll have to ask if you want them to load or unload your luggage.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Hotel porters usually expect a tip of around 20 Pesos, total.
Airport porters, who make a living off of tips, usually expect the same, 20 Pesos. If you don't want help with your luggage in the airport, just ignore them, don’t engage in conversation.
If you’re taking a long-distance bus journey, it’s common to tip the baggage handler who loads your luggage into the hold. Give them 5-20 Pesos or just see what other people are giving them (sometimes, they don’t expect a tip).
Tipping Housekeeping
Most housekeepers don’t expect a tip. If they’ve cleaned the room to a high standard, feel free to leave them a tip of around 20 Pesos per night but that’s completely optional.
Tipping Parking Attendants/Cuidacoches
If you’re trying to park your car on a city street, you might run into “Cuidacoches” (unofficial parking attendants).
Usually middle aged men, they’ll guide you in and out of your parking space. They’re also supposed to watch your car whilst you’re away but that rarely happens.
It’s customary to pay them around 10 Pesos during the day for a longer wait (20 Pesos at night) or 1-2 Pesos if you’re away for around 10 minutes or less.
Tipping Car Windscreen Cleaners
When you stop at traffic lights, a guy might come up to your car and offer to clean your windows.
If you accept, give them 1-2 Pesos.
If you neither want nor need your windows cleaned, look straight ahead, avoid eye contact and shake your head.
Tipping Tour Guides
Uruguayan tour guides are accustomed to getting a 10-20% tip. If you’re unsatisfied, try to leave a minimum of 5% and give them honest feedback.
Which Currency To Use
Stick to the official currency, Uruguayan Pesos (Symbol: $U, Code: UYU) if you can since they’re accepted everywhere.
US dollars (USD), Argentine Pesos (ARS) and Brazilian Real (BRL) may be accepted in some cities like Colonia del Sacramento, across the water from Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Larger supermarkets, hotels and highway tolls may also accept USD, although you’ll likely get your change in Pesos.
You may notice that ATMs can dispense Pesos or US dollars. This is because a lot of Uruguayans save in dollars so have separate UYU and USD bank accounts. Stick to Pesos when withdrawing.
If you pay with an international card, you can usually claim the VAT (“IVA”) back. This may happen automatically when you use the card. If not, keep your receipt and you can try to claim it back at the airport.
¡Buen viaje! - Safe travels! 🇺🇾🍷🌅🏖️
Tipping In Chile - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Good + No Service Charge
🍹 Bar - No Tip Expected
☕️ Café - No Tip Expected
🚕 Taxi - Round Up To Next 500 Pesos
👨✈️ Private Driver - 10,000 Pesos/Day
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - 1,000-2,000 Pesos Total
🛏️ Maid - Optional 3,000-5,000 Pesos/Day
📸 Shared Tour Guide - 3,000-5,000 Pesos PP/Day
📸 Private/Trek Guide - 10,000-15,000 Pesos/Day
🚎 Tour Driver - Equal To ½ Of Guide’s Tip
⛺️ Trek Assistants - Equal To ½ Of Guide’s Tip
🛍️ Bag Boy/Girl - 500-1,000 Pesos
🅿️ Parking Attendant - 100-200 Pesos
In Chile, tips are generally expected and a lot of workers rely on them but most of the time they’re still an optional reward for good service.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Chile using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Chile Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Chile
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Check your bill as most restaurants add on a 10% service charge. Sometimes they’ll ask if you’d like to include this tip (“propina”). Unless you’re dissatisfied, it’s customary to say yes.
If there’s no service charge, tip around 10% for good food/service or 5% if it was just OK.
Cash tips are preferred since your server will get them directly and will be able to use them immediately. Card tips are generally pooled and split between all staff.
Bear in mind that most Chilean waiters are very poorly paid and do rely on tips. However, due to the low cost of living, even a small tip can go a long way.
Hotel breakfast wait staff don’t expect a restaurant-level tip but they might appreciate a tip of around 1,000 Pesos per person each day.
Tipping Bartenders & Baristas
It’s not customary to tip bartenders and baristas in Chile. Most don’t expect them.
Sometimes, bars and cafés will add a 10% service charge to your bill, or they’ll ask if you’d like to add it on. If asked, say yes unless you’re really dissatisfied with the service.
Tipping Taxi & Private Drivers
It’s standard practice to round up your taxi fare to the nearest 500 Pesos. If you’re handing them a bill and you’d like them to “keep the change”, just say “quédese con el vuelto”.
Sometimes, they’ll already assume you’re rounding up and won’t ask. Feel free to ask for your change in this case but I’d only do this if the driver was unfriendly, unsafe or if they were tipping themselves too generously.
Private drivers, on the other hand, expect tips of around 10,000 Pesos per day.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Hotel and airport porters do expect tips. Usually 1,000-2,000 Pesos total is perfectly acceptable whether you’re in a small or large hotel, basic or luxury.
Tipping Housekeeping
Housekeepers don’t tend to expect tips but they do appreciate them.
If you’re happy with the service, tipping them 3,000-5,000 Pesos per day is a good rule of thumb.
Tipping Tour & Trek Guides
For a shared tour, tip your guide 3,000-5,000 Pesos per person, per day as long as you’re satisfied with the experience.
Private tour guides and trek guides should be tipped around 10,000-15,000 Pesos total per day.
Tour drivers, trek cooks and trek assistant guides should also be tipped. Give each of them half of whatever you gave the main guide.
Which Currency To Use
You should always tip with Chilean Pesos (Symbol: CL$, Code: CLP).
If you’re stuck with US dollars or Euros, only give unmarked/untorn bills with no graffiti or the person you give them too will find it difficult to exchange them. They’ll also find it impossible to exchange international coins.
“Que tengas una buena estadía” - Have a good stay! 🇨🇱🏔️🍷🌊
Tipping In Argentina - A Complete Guide
Quick Guide
🍽️ Restaurant - 10% If Satisfied
🥐 Hotel Breakfast - $1-2 USD PP in Pesos
🍹 Bar - Optional Loose Change (Tip Jar/Directly)
☕️ Café - 10% If Table Service + Satisfied
🏍️ Delivery Driver - Tip 5% If Prompt
🚕 Taxi - Not Expected - Can Round Up
🚙 Private Driver - Tip 10% If Prompt + Safe
🛎️ Porter/Bellhop - $1-2 USD/Bag in Pesos
🚪 Doorman - One Tip of $3-5 USD in Pesos
🛏️ Maid - Optional $2-3 USD/Day in Pesos
🅿️ Trapito/Car Attendant - What They Request
📸 Tour/Trek Guide - Tip 10-15%
⛺️ Trek Assistant/Cook - Equal To ½ of Guide’s Tip
🚶♂️Free Walking Tour - $2-3 USD/Hour PP in Pesos
Tipping is a big part of Argentine culture but tips or “propinas” should be reserved for good service in most cases.
Calculate a culturally appropriate tip for Argentina using the calculator below and read on for more detail on tipping in Restaurants, Bars, Taxis, Hotels etc.
Argentina Tip Calculator
Good Tip For Argentina
Tip
$0.00
Total With Tip
$0.00
Split Bill By
0 Each
Tipping in Restaurants
Standard practice is to tip 10% as long as the you’re satisfied. Excellent service is rare here but if you’re really impressed, feel free to tip 15-20%. Anything over 10% is considered very generous and always optional.
If you’re dissatisfied by the service (not that uncommon in Argentina), feel free to skip the tip.
You may see “cubierto” or “servicio de la mesa” on the bill. This isn’t a tip but a cover charge that goes straight to the restaurant to pay for bread, butter, pre-appetisers, water etc.
Cash tips in Pesos are preferable but if you want to tip by card, you’ll need to tell the server to add it on before you pay. You can’t tip by card after the fact.
Bear in mind that if you hand over cash to pay the bill and say thank you (“Gracias”), they’ll probably take that as “keep the change”. If you’d like them to do that, just say “está bien así, gracias” (“that’s fine, thank you”).
Never leave tips on the table, especially if you’re outside. It’s best to hand them the tip directly.
For a hotel breakfast, tip the wait staff around $1-2 USD per person in Pesos using the current exchange rate (if satisfied with the service).
Tipping In Bars
Most bartenders don’t expect a tip but many Argentines do leave loose change for great service, attentive waiters and complex drinks.
Put it in the tip jar if there is one. If there isn’t, you can hand it to them directly. Your tip might get stolen if you just leave it on the bar.
Tipping In Cafés
If you have table service (common in Argentina), it’s customary to tip around 10% for good service. It’s uncommon to tip baristas for to-go drinks.
Tipping Delivery Drivers
Whether you’re getting take out or a grocery delivery, tip the driver around 5% in cash if prompt. Some restaurants and apps may charge delivery fees but that 5% should be on top of that.
Tipping Taxi & Private Drivers
Taxi drivers, most of whom are unionised and relatively well-paid, don’t expect tips unless they help you load/unload your luggage (5% in Pesos fine in that case).
However, for simplicity’s sake, it is common to round up your fare. A lot of them won’t have change anyway.
Some questionable taxi drivers may mention “baggage fees” if you hand them a large bill. In this situation most Argentines would be adamant about receiving their change.
Private drivers, like the “Remis” you’ll fine in Buenos Aires that charge a set, pre-paid fare, should be tipped around 10% in Pesos as long as the driver offers a clean, safe and prompt ride.
Tipping The Porter/Bellhop
Hotel, airport, bus terminal and long distance bus porters will expect tips of around $1-2 USD per bag in Pesos (at the current exchange rate).
In the case of airport and bus terminal porters, it’s more of a payment than a tip.
Tipping Housekeeping
Most housekeepers won’t expect to tipped but if you want to tip them for good service, $2-3 USD per day in Pesos (at the currency exchange rate) would be appreciated.
Just make sure to leave your tip with a note so they know it’s for them.
Tipping Trapitos/Car Attendants
Trapitos (Ragmen/Car Attendants) are basically extortionists who may appear when you go to park your car on busy, city streets. They can be young or old.
If they get to you before you finish parking, they’ll “help” guide you to a space, they might wipe off your headlights and/or promise to look after your car whilst you’re away (whether you want their help or not).
In this situation, it’s best to pay what they request, either all up-front, all on exit or (preferably) half-now and half-later. Usually, no matter what you pay, they’ll be gone when you return.
If you’re rude to them or you don’t pay them anything, you may find your car has fresh dents/ scratches or it might not even be there when you get back.
Tipping Paid & Free Tour Guides
It’s customary to tip tour and trek guides around 10% of the total tour cost as long as you’re satisfied. For more expensive private tours, like private fishing or hunting trips, tip closer to 15% if good.
Feel free to tip tour guides in Pesos (preferred) or US dollars.
A good tour guide will be friendly, engaging, they’ll demonstrate in-depth knowledge and will have a good command of your language.
Trek cooks and assistant guides should be tipped separately. Give them an amount equal to half of what the tour guide gets.
Free tour guides should always be tipped around $2-3 USD per person, per hour in Pesos (at the current exchange rate).
Which Currency To Use
For everyday tips, stick to Argentine Pesos (Symbol: ARG$, Code: ARS). I might tip in US dollars if it was a large tip for a tour guide but Pesos are good in any situation.
Most service providers prefer to be tipped in Pesos so they can go out and immediately use it (US dollars may need exchanged).
Try to keep some small notes and loose change set aside for tipping as a lot of people won’t have change. Cash tips are preferable but you can tip by card in some restaurants (as long as you say that before you pay the bill).
¡Buen viaje! - Have a nice trip! 🇦🇷 🍷