Are we in the middle of a tipping crisis? Many consumers feel that the pressure to hand over a gratuity, on top of the price that they have just paid for a service, has gotten out of control. Sometimes it seems that whenever a payment terminal is thrust in front of us, we are prompted for a tip. None of us want to appear ungrateful and we all want to avoid etiquette mistakes that make you look rude but where will this end?
What started as a practice in restaurants and cabs has spread to many other areas of commerce. Grocery stores, stadiums, and plumbers across the U.S. now expect a tip. It has left consumers feeling confused about where they should and should not tip. We don’t want to be the only person who does not tip but we don’t want to feel that we have been taken advantage of either! Just think how refreshing it would be to visit a place where tipping was not expected.
24/7 Tempo reviewed numerous travel websites and other online sources offering advice for travelers to compile a list of 17 countries where tipping is not expected – or at least is not traditionally customary. Note that some high-end establishments or tourist areas even in these countries may have adapted to tipping due to Western influence. (In the U.S., these are the states where people leave the best tips.)
Australia
- Population: 26.5 million
- Largest city: Melbourne
- Tipping: Higher minimum wages means servers are not so reliant on tips.
Cambodia
- Population: 16.9 million
- Largest city: Phnom Penh
- Tipping: Not expected but more common in larger hotels and tourist areas
China
- Population: 1.4 billion
- Largest city: Shanghai
- Tipping: Not part of Chinese culture but happens in some tourist areas
Costa Rica
- Population: 5.3 million
- Largest city: San José
- Tipping: Not obligatory but 10% is acceptable in hotels, restaurants and tours
Denmark
- Population: 5.9 million
- Largest city: Copenhagen
- Denmark: Fair wages mean that servers don’t rely on tips but 5% is appreciated
Djibouti
- Population: 976,000
- Largest city: Djibouti City
- Tipping: Servers and taxi drivers receive regular wages or negotiated fees
Fiji
- Population: 948,000
- Largest city: Suva
- Tipping: Culture is of genuine kindness to guests but tipping may happen in tourist areas
Kosovo
- Population: 2 million
- Largest city: Prishtina
- Tipping: Service charges generally included in the bill
Laos
- Population: 7.9 million
- Largest city: Vientiane
- Tipping: Becoming increasingly common in tourist areas
Moldova
Above Chisinau at sunset. Chisinau is the capital city of Republic of Moldova
- Population: 3.3 million
- Largest city: Chisinau
- Tipping: Service charges are typically included in restaurant bills
New Zealand
- Population: 5.1 million
- Largest city: Auckland
- Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated
Samoa
- Population: 208,000
- Largest city: Apia
- Tipping: Good service is seen as part of the job
Singapore
- Population: 6 million
- Largest city: Singapore
- Tipping: Country has a no-tipping culture
South Korea
Seou, South Korea city skyline at twilight.
- Population: 52 million
- Largest city: Seoul
- Tipping: In some cases, tipping may even be considered disrespectful
Taiwan
- Population: 23.6 million
- Largest city: Taipei
- Tipping: Often not even accepted
Tajikistan
- Population: 9.2 million
- Largest city: Dushanbe
- Tipping: Small tips acceptable in upscale hotels
Vanuatu
- Population: 313,000
- Largest city: Port-Vila
- Tipping: Good service is seen as part of the overall experience
In Vanuatu, tipping is not a traditional practice. Good service is seen as part of the overall experience. While some high-end resorts and tourist-oriented establishments may have adopted a tipping culture, it is not common in most places throughout the country. (Tipping in those circumstances aside, these are some etiquette mistakes that make you look rude.)