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Which countries is tipping seen as offensive?

Here we've outlined eight countries where not tipping is the norm.
  • Spain.
  • Japan.
  • China.
  • Denmark.
  • Brazil.
  • Belgium.
  • Australia.
  • New Zealand.




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Whilst in much of Asia tipping is not expected, tipping is actually considered rude in the following countries: Japan. China. South Korea.

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In Greece it's considered bad form to leave a single euro, even for a small total — if service isn't already included in the bill and it's for, say, €10, leave a €2 tip. Iceland is an emphatically no-tipping country.

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Tipping is not considered etiquette by French people in French restaurants, but if you enjoyed your meal, it's nice to leave 5 - 10%. If you really enjoyed the meal, or plan on returning to the restaurant and want the wait staff to like you, 15% is a generous tip.

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At table-service restaurants, the tipping etiquette and procedure vary slightly from country to country. But in general, European servers are well paid, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number.

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Iceland is an emphatically no-tipping country. A side effect of the tipless culture is that waiters in Icelandic restaurants are usually happy to split the bill for groups.

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Just like in cafes and coffee shops, tipping in bars is not expected in Italy, but leaving change for your server is not uncommon. Many locals tend to simply round off the bill, and leave the remainder for wait staff if they are satisfied with the service provided.

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Tipping in France is not mandatory. Even though it is always appreciated, it's up to the customers to decide if they want to tip or not. Unlike other countries, the price of the service is included in the total cost of the bill. You will never be asked to tip, but it's common to leave one if the service was good.

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It's common practice to tip taxi drivers in France. Although not mandatory, locals usually round up to the nearest euro or leave a gratuity of up to 5 percent. If the taxi driver helps you with your luggage, especially if you have large bags, it's customary to tip €1-2 per bag.

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Restaurants. Tipping is not considered etiquette by French people in French restaurants, but if you enjoyed your meal, it's nice to leave 5 - 10%. If you really enjoyed the meal, or plan on returning to the restaurant and want the wait staff to like you, 15% is a generous tip.

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Tips are not expected but are greatly appreciated. The most commonly tipped employees are the porters and chambermaids, although in anything less than a 4-star hotel it is rarely common. If a porter helps to carry your bag(s) to your room the customary tip is £1 or £2 per bag, usually no more than £5 total.

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Tipping isn't mandatory in Germany. Instead, it's seen as a gesture of appreciation for a good experience. A tip is always welcome, but in Germany, it's usually based directly on the quality of service. If you're satisfied, leaving a tip is a way to show it.

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Similar to the rest of western Europe, Portugal does not have a strong “tipping culture,” and there are really no standards or rules regarding tipping. Throughout the country itself, the tipping practice may vary, depending on the region where you are traveling.

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If you ask locals “Do you tip in Italy?”, they'll explain that while they sometimes leave a small tip, it's generally not necessary. In Italy, gratuity (or una mancia, pronounced oo-nah MAN-chah) is considered a bonus for exceptional service. And it's not often that you'll find a tip jar at a register.

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Tipping in Spain works differently: The customer actually has the option to not leave any tip at all. However, restaurants expect a 10% tip on each bill—although it's not a formal rule, and that percentage is much lower than tipping practices in other countries.

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Locals may just round up to the nearest 5 0r 10 euro note – and if you feel comfortable doing this, by all means do exactly that. Nobody will be insulted if you leave a small tip – but if you prefer to tip to international standards, and feel you enjoyed good value for money, feel free to tip as you see fit.

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In Switzerland, the guest is not obliged to tip. In many restaurants, however, it is customary to pay a tip. This amounts to approximately 10 percent or it is rounded up to a round amount.

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