June 2023 – In the bustling world of travel, understanding the customs and norms of tipping abroad can be a daunting task, with rules differing dramatically around the world.
To alleviate traveller’s concerns and ensure a stress-free experience, award-winning airport parking specialist Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) has created a comprehensive tipping guide available to download from www.aph.com/tippingrules. Whether it’s dining at a restaurant, enjoying a drink at a bar, catching a taxi, or interacting with hotel staff and guides, this table will help savvy tourists avoid any awkward moments and navigate tipping customs like a seasoned traveller.
When it comes to dining in the US, it is customary to tip around 20% of the total bill at restaurants, bars and cafes and in Canada around 15 – 20% is expected. In comparison, in Asian countries such as Japan tipping is less common and even sometimes considered rude. The tipping culture in Europe is fairly consistent with countries such as France and Italy expecting tips of around 10 – 15% of a restaurant bill and a few euros when buying drinks in bars and cafes. But remember to watch out for a discretionary service charge which already includes the tip and is popping up more often than not in European restaurants.
For hotels, keep plenty of change handy as guests are expected to tip the staff, around £1 – £2 or its equivalent for services such as assisting with bags. In India, it is preferred to provide a collective tip to hotel staff at the end of your stay rather than tipping throughout. Additionally, many countries suggest that leaving a small tip of around £1 – £2 per night for housekeeping.
In most countries tipping taxis or tour guides is not a requirement, however offering 10% of the cost of a tour and rounding up a taxi fare is greatly appreciated. It is important to note that tipping a tour guide is the only acceptable time to tip in Japan but remember to offer the tip in an envelope to show respect to their customs.
Not only do tipping customs vary across countries, but travellers should also be aware of the rules when taking an all-inclusive holiday as some resorts encourage guests to tip staff such as tour guides and butlers, whereas some resorts such as Sandals and Beaches already include tips in the all-inclusive package. Most websites will provide a guide to tipping staff at the resort, so it always helps to check ahead.
Nick Caunter, Managing Director of Airport Parking and Hotels (APH.com) said, “Tipping can vary significantly from country to country and between hotel brands, making it an area of travel that often confuses people. There are a range of factors which can influence tipping etiquette including whether it’s an all-inclusive holiday or not. We hope our comprehensive tipping guide will help avoid tipping confusion and alleviate the stress of unfamiliar customs, ensuring travellers feel confident in their interactions abroad.”
For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit www.aph.com
or call 01342 859515.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- Image 1: APH.com has released a comprehensive guide on tipping rules abroad. Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik.
- Research carried out May 2023
About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Established in 1980, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award-winning airport parking operator and retailer, winning the ‘Best Airport Parking Company’ award at the British Travel Awards 2022 for the twelfth year running. In addition to APH’s own car parks serving Gatwick and Manchester Airports, APH also offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels, airport lounges and via trusted partners other extras such as car hire and travel insurance. APH has worked closely with the World Land Trust for many years to help support rainforest conservation by protecting threatened forest habitats.
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