If you've ever worked as a server in the USA, you've heard the jokes: "Tipping is not a city in China." "What's the difference between canoes and (name a nationality)? Canoes tip." And so on. Tipping is, unfortunately or not, an expected process for Americans, and tip jars are springing up in places you mightn't expect them: not just Starbuck's, but convenience stores where the clerk might have to make you food (more on that below). And Americans are willing to pay. We thus can get discombobulated in other countries where everyone does not only *not* need a tip to make a living wage, nor expect one, but might be insulted or confused by our pushing money at them.
About.com's Guide to Culinary Travel, Alison Stein Wellner, has solved some of the question for traveling trepid tippers with a definitive guide to tipping in restaurants abroad: how much should you tip in ___ ? Who gets tipped what, where and when?
Read it to learn that tipping in Japan is considered rude, the tip's been added to your bill in France, tips create confusion in China, and more about how much to tip around the world. Got your own experience to share on tipping abroad? Give us that below, too!
More Interesting Stuff on Tipping
How Much Do You Tip?
How much do you tip in the USA and around the world? And what do you think about tip jars? Tell us how much you tip:
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