A tip abroad

A tip abroad

Knowing how much to tip in a café, restaurant, taxi or for another service can be difficult even before you add in the complication of how it works in other countries. That’s if tipping is even the norm in your destination, of course.

With this guide to tipping on holiday in selected destinations, you’ll know if and how much to tip when you’re there, so you can strike the perfect balance of generous and polite, without going overboard. If your destination isn’t covered here, a local guide book is always a handy companion and will usually cover tipping etiquette.
You can check currency exchange rates with the Post Office Money currency converter You can also easily convert local prices into pounds while you’re away with our free apps for iOS and Android.

Tipping in Europe
In most of Europe, tipping is very common. In many cases, it’s just built into part of the bill – very similar to the UK. Tip sizes vary from country to country, but if you get stuck or you’re strapped for cash – just add on 10%, or round the bill up to the nearest €5 or €10.
As in all countries, it’s polite to tip porters, taxi drivers and the people cleaning your hotel room – the expected tip is much smaller than the standard in bars and restaurants.
If the service has been poor, don’t hesitate to hold back on the tip. As in the UK, it’s meant to be a reward for good service.
1. Tipping in Spain
Tipping is common in Spain. It can be added to your bill and is normally between 5 and 10%. It is polite to add a small tip on top of this in change if you have it. If service charge isn’t included, it’s normal to tip 15%.
2. Tipping in Germany
Tipping is the done thing in Germany. At beer festivals, you will usually buy tokens which you exchange for beer and food. In these situations a cash tip is expected too. Similarly, in markets and festivals, you will normally have to put a deposit on the glass you take around with you, which you can either keep or return for your money back. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to have small change with you. 
Tipping in restaurants and bars is a standard 10%. Germany is one of the countries where, in the language, a tip is “drink money” (Trinkgeld), so leaving change is always appreciated.