The basics
- Tipping norms differ significantly by country — research local expectations before traveling, since over-tipping and under-tipping are both possible faux pas abroad.
- Delivery and service workers in tip-dependent industries often rely on tips as a substantial part of their income, not a bonus.
- Cash tips typically reach the worker faster and more reliably than tips added to a card, in some payment systems.
The playbook
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The mistakes — what people get wrong
- Assuming your home country's tipping norms apply everywhere — this causes real offense or real underpayment abroad.
- Skipping tips for housekeeping or other workers you don't interact with directly.
- Under-tipping for a difficult job (stairs, bad weather, heavy items) just because the baseline percentage feels sufficient.
Ask yourself
- Do I actually know the tipping norm here, or am I guessing from home?
- Am I tipping the people I don't see as consistently as the ones I do?
Go deeper
- Guide
A country-by-country tipping norms reference
Worth five minutes before any international trip.
General educational information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Rules vary by country and change over time — verify with a qualified professional before acting.