Tipping around the world
One of the most commonly asked questions when travelling is whom to tip and how much should I tip my guide and porters. Tipping should always be discretionary and outside of North America should be a reward for good service. Here are the tipping practices in the most travelled countries around the world.
If you have a tour leader, please verify with him/her if tips for auxiliary staff such as bellhops and cleaning staff are taken care of by him/her.
We give prices in US$ as this is normally a more stable currency than local money. Tips are however normally given in local currency (unless there is a very disadvantageous exchange rate and a thriving black market). You can convert the amounts below using a currency converter like this one.
Antarctica & Arctic cruises
Tipping on-board depends on the ship you are on. Some include on board gratuities in the cost of the trip - double check your pre-departure information. If tips are not included add it to your on board account to be paid at the end of your trip. We recommended US$10 per guest per day.
Argentina
Simple restaurants: no tip is expected
Nicer restaurants: tip the waiter 10 percent of the bill
Hotels: small change for bellhops and room attendants
Bars & cafes: 10% for table service. Bar keepers will appreciate a tip but do not expect it.
Bag handlers: your smallest bill
Tour Guides: 10% of the cost of a day trip. On Multi-day trips, $2-$4 per passenger per day.
Private Guides: $10 per passenger per day
Tour drivers:$1-2 per passenger perday
Taxi drivers: round up to the nearest peso
Australia
Tipping is still a widely discussed subject in Australia and tips are not always accepted. If you wish to tip, use the following as a guideline:
Restaurants & cafes: no more than 10%
Bars: round up the bill Hotels: $1-5 per day for room attendants; 10% for room service Bag handlers: $1 per bag Tour Guides: $2-5 per passenger per day Private Guides: $5-15 per passenger per day
Tour drivers: $1-3 per passenger per day
Taxi drivers: small change up to 10% of the fare
Belize
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up the bill
Nicer restaurants: 10-15% of the bill
Hotels: small change for porters and room attendants
Bag handlers: small change
Tour Guides: $2-4 per passenger per day
Private Guides: $5-10 per passenger per day
Tour drivers: $1-2 per passenger per day
Taxi drivers: none
Botswana
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up the bill
Nicer restaurants: if no service charge has been added, please add 10%
Bars & cafes: small change
Bag handlers: small change
Basic Camping Safari guides: US$1 per guest per day for guides/porters, $2-3 per guest per day for camping crew
Private Game Reserves: Ranger/Guide $10 per guest per day; Tracker $8 per guest per day; Butler $8 per guest per day; Camp staff $8 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: 10% of the fare
Bhutan
Restaurants: small change
Hotels: small change for staff
Bars & cafes: small change
Bag handlers: 50 cents per bag
Guides: US$4-8 per guest per day
Tour drivers: US$2-5 per guest per day
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: 5-10% of the bill, depending on the level of service
Nicer restaurants: 5-10% of the bill, depending on the level of service
Hotels: bills are often rounded up but you can add $0.50 per day for room attendants
Tour Guides: 10% for exceptional service
Tour drivers: $1 per guest
Taxi drivers: round up the fare
Bulgaria Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: $1-2 Nicer restaurants: tip 10% Hotels: porters: $1 per bag, house keeping $1 per day Bag handlers: tipping is not expected Tour Guides: $2-4 per guest per day Private Guides: $5-7 per guest per day Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day Taxi drivers: 10% of the fare
Cambodia
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up to the nearest dollar
Nicer restaurants: $1 per diner
Hotels: $1 per bag for porters
Tour Guides: $2-4 per guest per day
Private Guides: $10-20 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day for a group tour, $5 per guest per day for a private tour
Taxi drivers: $1
Canada
Restaurants, bars & cafes: 15% of the bill
Hotels: $1-2 per bag for porters, bell hops; $5 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: posted rate or $1-2 per bag
Tour Guides: $10-15 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $5-10 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: 10-15% of the fare
Chile
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up
Nicer restaurants: if 10% is already added, add 5%; otherwise 10-15%
Hotels: $1 per bag for porters, $2 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: $1 per bag
Tour Guides: $2-4 per guest per day
Private Guides: $10-25 per day depending on group size
Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: round up the fare
Expedition staff (i.e. trek in Patagonia): $10-20 per guest per day
China
Traditionally tipping is not required. However, It has become an expectation to tip the tour guide and driver. At more upscale hotels and restaurants catering to Westerners, staff have become used to receiving small tips in recognition of their good service.
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: no tipping is required
Nicer restaurants: if you are happy with the service, leave small change up to US$1-2
Tourist class hotels: no tipping is required
Better hotels: $1 per day for room attendants, $1 per bag for bag handlers
Group Tour Guides: no tipping is required
Private Tour Guides: $10-20 per day
Private Tour drivers: $5-10 per day, given directly to the driver
Taxi drivers: no tipping is required; leave small change up to US$1-2 for exceptional service.
Colombia
Please don't tip with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes. This is regarded culturally as an insult
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: leave the change
Nicer restaurants: 10% unless this has already been added
Hotels: hacienda staff $5 to $10 per person per night; hotels $1 per bag for porters and $1 per night for room attendants
Bag handlers: $1 per bag
Tour Guides: $2-3 per guest per day
Private Guides: $10 per guest per day
Tour drivers: for group tours, $1-2 per guest per day; private drivers $5 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: small change if the driver was helpful; do tip around Christmas and New Year
Costa Rica
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: leave the change
Nicer restaurants: 10-15% , unless it has been included
Hotels: $0.5-1 per bag for porters and bellhops; $2 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: $0.5-1 per bag
Tour Guides: $2-4 per guest per day
Private Guides: $5-10 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $2-4 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: small change
Croatia
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: leave the change
Nicer restaurants: 10-15%
Hotels: $1 per bag for porters, $1-2 per day for room attendants, $1-2 for breakfast staff
Bag handlers: $1 per bag
Tour Guides: $3-4 per guest per day
Private Guides: $5-10 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: leave the change
Czech Republic
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up to the nearest $
Nicer restaurants: 10-15%
Hotels: $1 per bag for porters, $3-5 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: $1 per bag
Tour Guides: $5-10 per guest per day
Private Guides: $10-20 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $2-3 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: Round up the fare if the driver was particularly helpful
Cuba
Clothing and toiletries are highly appreciated.
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up to the nearest $
Nicer restaurants: 10-15%
Hotels: $1 for porters, $1 per day for room attendants, $1-2 per day in total for Casa Particular staff
Bag handlers: $1
Tour Guides: $2-3 per guest per day
Private Guides: $5-7 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: $2-3
Ecuador & Galapagos
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up to the nearest $
Nicer restaurants: 10% unless it has already been included
Hotels: $1 for porters, bell hops; $1 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: $1
Tour Guides: US$3-4 per guest per day
Private Guides: US$8-10 per guest per day
Tour drivers: $1-2 per guest per day
Taxi drivers: round up the fare to the nearest dollar
Galapagos cruises: US$12-14 per guest day for the crew and US$8-10 per guest per day for your guide
Andean Treks: cook $5 per guest per day, porters $1-2 per guest per day, burro drivers $2-3 per guest per day
Egypt
The practice of bakshees (tipping) is not merely reserved for foreigners and Egyptians have to constantly hand out 'Baksheesh' as well - to park their cars, ensure fresh produce and pick up their mail. It is not compulsory but always welcome, though never enough (according to the recipient).
Simple restaurants, bars & cafes: round up to the nearest $
Nicer restaurants: any service charge added goes to the restaurant; be sure to tip the waiter 5-10%
Hotels: $1 per bag for porters, bell hops; $2 per day for room attendants
Bag handlers: $1 per bag