As a dual British & American citizen,<\/strong> tipping is a controversial and often confusing topic that often comes up in conversation with both American and European friends.\u00a0 Let’s face it, it can be very intimidating being in a foreign country, where you don’t know what the local custom is with regard to leaving tips.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Having lived for many years in different parts of the States, as well as in England and Spain, I’ve been on both sides of the ‘aisle’ as it were, and it’s fascinating to see the huge cultural differences\u00a0between all these countries.\u00a0 Also,\u00a0having had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the world, I’ve learned a lot about what to do, as well as what not to do when it comes to tipping!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Origin and History of TIPS<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The word\u00a0tip has been used for many centuries,\u00a0and its original meaning is something that’s contested.\u00a0 \u00a0Some say it was an acronym of the phrase: “T<\/strong>o I<\/strong>nsure P<\/strong>rompt S<\/strong>ervice.”\u00a0 Those who\u00a0favor this explanation say a tip\u00a0was money paid by a wealthy person before<\/em>\u00a0any service was rendered, to insure\u00a0the\u00a0group was well taken care of.\u00a0 They say the\u00a0concept originated in parts of Europe in the middle ages, and was later ‘exported’ to the U.S. by\u00a0people who\u00a0felt like the practice of tipping upfront was associated with the upper class.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Others believe that the word tip originally simply meant ‘to give or to share.’<\/p>\n After\u00a0the U.S. Civil War,\u00a0people who were formerly enslaved\u00a0often found work\u00a0as wait staff\u00a0in restaurants.\u00a0 Many employers who hired these formerly enslaved folks wanted to keep their wages low, and so\u00a0they came up with the practice of\u00a0‘outsourcing’ some of the cost directly to the customer, via the practice of\u00a0asking for tips.<\/p>\n Interestingly, in 1915,\u00a0a number of states passed laws prohibiting<\/em> tipping, which by that time was\u00a0becoming widespread among business owners wishing to keep costs low.\u00a0 But those laws didn’t last long, and by 1926 all the bans had been overturned, and the practice was allowed to continue.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While the practice of paying something upfront<\/em> for good service is still occasionally seen today in certain wealthy circles, it’s rare.\u00a0 And over the years, the original meaning of tipping has morphed into a wide variety of customs around the world.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping, Gratuities, Service Charge, or Something Else?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Let’s look at the lingo<\/em>.\u00a0 The first mistake to avoid is thinking that the words listed above, such as ‘tipping,’ mean the same thing in different countries.\u00a0 They don’t.\u00a0 For example, the words tip or tipping are both commonly used in both\u00a0the United States and Europe, but the meaning and interpretation of the word is radically different in each place.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The word ‘gratuity’ is mostly used in the U.S. as an alternative to the word ‘tip.’\u00a0 Gratuity\u00a0sounds a bit more refined, and it tends to be\u00a0used on the bill at higher-class establishments, in preference to the word ‘tip.’<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another use of the word ‘gratuity’ is when some restaurants, notably in the U.S., include an automatic<\/em> service charge for groups of X or more (usually 6 or more).\u00a0 Since a group of that size inherently requires a lot of work, the restaurants reason that they want to insure the server gets rewarded for their work.\u00a0 Although it’s a service charge, it’s often indicated on the bill by the word ‘gratuity.’\u00a0 Some restaurants have taken to adding a 20% ‘gratuity’ automatically, regardless of the party size, like this example…<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Who, When, and How Much to Tip?<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping in Europe<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For Americans visiting Europe, they should be aware that tipping across the pond is viewed VERY differently from the States. \u00a0No matter where you go in Europe, tipping is never expected<\/u><\/i>, but a modest tip is appreciated for exceptional<\/i> service or an outstanding<\/i> experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The notable exception to the advice above is France, where service charges are now included automatically in the bill, so there’s no need to tip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In popular European tourist spots where lots of Americans visit, some restaurant staff, taxi drivers, and tour guides have admittedly become accustomed to Americans\u2019 generous tips, but that should not be interpreted that tipping culture is the same in Europe as in the States, because it\u2019s not. \u00a0The good news is, in Europe, no one will be offended if you happen to tip generously, unlike in Asia, where it\u2019s often misconstrued as an insult!\u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping in the U.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n To help Europeans who are visiting the U.S, I explain that although Americans use the term \u2019tipping\u2019, it should really be considered a\u00a0<\/span>service charge<\/strong>, because it\u2019s universally\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span>expected<\/em><\/strong>,<\/em><\/strong> even though the percentage that’s given is a personal matter, and usually ranges from 10 to 20 percent, although it could be more.\u00a0 For a meal at a table-service restaurant (not fast food outlets), the customary tip is 18% or more for good service.\u00a0 If the service was very poor, some may choose to leave 15% as a statement to the waiter or waitress.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping in Asia<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In Asia, not only is tipping not expected, it’s seen as offensive.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Asians are proud to serve you to a high standard, and offering a tip is seen as disrespectful.\u00a0 For Americans that’s a hard concept to swallow because tipping is so ingrained in their culture, but that’s why it’s important to know, before you go.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n A similar view of tipping is also held in much of the Middle-east, in countries such as Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the other Emirates.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Interestingly, although it’s considered illegal officially, tipping is not uncommon in restaurants.\u00a0 It’s one of those situations where the law has never been updated to come in line with the common cultural practice of modern society.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Common Modern Tipping Practices<\/strong><\/div>\n In some parts of the world, high-end hotels and restaurants\u00a0have increasingly\u00a0been seen to\u00a0include a service charge\u00a0as well as<\/em> an invitation to leave a tip.\u00a0 Frankly, some establishments do this simply because they know they can get away with it.\u00a0 Worse, a few places include a 20% tip and then add another line for a tip.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 Many guests inadvertently add an extra<\/em> tip, either\u00a0in their rush to sign the bill, or sometimes simply because they don’t understand the local language.\u00a0 I’m not impressed with places that do this, it’s an unscrupulous practice in my opinion.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This is becoming increasingly common – service charge included, plus a space for an additional tip\u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If You’re Not Sure Whether To Tip…<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If in doubt, you can simply ask\u00a0your hotel concierge or receptionist, or even a local, \u201cwhat\u2019s the tipping policy here,\u201d and they\u2019ll be glad to give you some direction. \u00a0Traveling Internationally definitely requires an adjustment in thinking, because adding the customary 18% is so ingrained in our culture, but the vast majority of other countries don\u2019t follow the same practice.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping Often Makes No Logical Sense<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Interestingly, a study done by Cornell University found that the quality of service received by an individual did not\u00a0equate\u00a0to the amount of the tip.\u00a0 Rather, a stronger correlation\u00a0could be found based on how attractive the server was, and\/or how much the total of the bill was.\u00a0 So it’s actually more of a \u201cself-imposed wealth tax\u201d in that someone who can afford to pay for more expensive meals will generally pay a larger tip, regardless of service.<\/em>\u00a0 Two other similar studies showed that minorities receive significantly lower tips than white people, regardless of\u00a0the total amount of the bill, even when the people leaving the tip were also minorities.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n * Disclosure: We may be compensated when you make a purchase from one of the vendors we recommend, however, our endorsements are always genuine and based on our own experience with the company.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>If you have a bad experience with any vendor we recommend, please contact us so we can try to help resolve the situation.\u00a0<\/sub><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n READY FOR MORE?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/h4>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com\/kajabi-storefronts-production\/blogs\/32909\/images\/sLY1FDQPQlSeYM5VM3TC_tipping_in_france.jpg\"\/)
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Tour Guides<\/strong>
Valet Attendants<\/strong>
Beauty Treatment Providers<\/strong>
Barbers
Luggage Handlers
Housekeepers
Food Delivery Drivers<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com\/kajabi-storefronts-production\/blogs\/32909\/images\/j8fCoKDoR6eaqVGygOjQ_japan-tipping-custom.png\")
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