Imagine that you’re seated at a nice restaurant finishing up your meal. As you reach into your pocket to pull out your wallet, the dread of calculating the tip hits you. Thankfully, the following countries stay one step ahead by taking the guesswork and math out of their customers’ hands.
1. China
As the largest exporter of goods in the world, this country has streamlined everything to near perfection – including its service industry. Visitors can enjoy delicious food and excellent service without the hassle of tipping. Most parts of China still view tipping as condescension towards the worker to be offered additional money when unnecessary. Tipping in taxis, airports, and other public establishments may also be illegal in some areas and should generally be avoided.
2. Japan
From a society built on formal traditions and proper etiquette, tipping is not generally acceptable in Japan. Furthermore, you could find your tip rejected as the gesture is considered culturally rude. It’s understandable to want to express gratitude for a job well done. However, their widely held belief that an expression of money is not a dignified response for receiving good service stems from the idea that courtesy is already a commonplace expectation that most people should be accustomed to when visiting any establishment.
3. South Korea
Just like in China and Japan, the seemingly harmless gesture of tipping can leave workers in Korea feeling inadequate or embarrassed due to some key points, like trying to stay away from the appearance of hierarchy, so don’t be surprised if service staff members refuse your tip. A better way to express gratitude would be to thank your hosts and servers for the extra effort that they’ve dedicated to providing you with a great experience.
4. Taiwan
Although tipping in Taiwan isn’t viewed unfavorably as in China, Japan, and South Korea, its occurrence is still not prevalent. Most places don’t even allow customers the opportunity to add a gratuity to the check. With the rise of online food delivery services like Foodpanda and Uber Eats, there is an option for tipping the driver during the ordering process, but it’s not a commonly used feature.
5. Singapore
There was always an understanding that little to no tipping culture exists in most Asian countries, and Singapore is no exception. Tipping in airports is prohibited, but it wouldn’t be a crime to give porters at hotels a meager amount for their help or round up the taxi fare to the nearest dollar for convenience. Otherwise, a 10% service fee is usually automatically added to the bill, so there’s no need to dish out more money unless you feel the inclination.
6. Denmark
Currently, there’s a Danish law in place that requires restaurants to calculate service charges into the price of their food. High wages for service industry workers and fantastic benefits like childcare, paid time off, and parental leave also ensure that customers don’t have to tip since everything’s already been negotiated and settled between businesses and their employees.
7. Switzerland
The “Land of Milk and Honey” is already expensive to visit without worrying about the extra money for tips. Since service workers in Switzerland are among the highest paid in the world, visitors shouldn’t feel guilty about not tipping. Plus, the service fee is generally already calculated into the total amount.
8. Australia
Aussies know how to have fun and adequately pay their workforce as well. Not even a relaxing stay at a 5-star hotel would have porters expecting additional compensation for their hospitality. This mindset is understandable since the federal minimum wage is more than twice that of the United States. Even so, you can always drop some change into their tip jar as a token of gratitude; they’d be more than happy to accept it.
9. New Zealand
Like Australia, tipping is not the norm since New Zealanders are paid just as well as Aussies and do not need further subsidization to account for living costs. The idea of avoiding tipping culture is to ensure that the same level of excellence is something that service industry workers can uphold without discriminating based on which customers provide better tips. Though giving a tip is not an expectation, the service staff certainly wouldn’t mind a boost for going above and beyond.
10. Brazil
In Brazil, tipping is rare but greatly appreciated due to their lower wages. Also, the employees typically don’t receive any of the 10% service charge added to bar and restaurant checks. So, while tipping isn’t necessary per se, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to give something extra to the staff for a hard day’s work.
11. Belgium
As evident in many European countries, tipping isn’t a standard thing to do in Belgium either. Most restaurants already factor in a generous 10-15% fee for service so that the customers don’t have to worry about it themselves. If you would still like to tip someone who deserves the extra coin, I’m sure that that employee would be more than grateful for your generosity.
Eat Well, Spend Less: 10 Countries Where Healthy Dining Is a Steal
Are you tired of spending a fortune on healthy food? Do you dream of eating like a king or queen without breaking the bank? What if we told you there are places in this vast world where you can feast on delicious, nourishing meals without watching your bank account dwindle?
Eat Well, Spend Less: 10 Countries Where Healthy Dining Is a Steal
15 Must-Eat German Dishes While Traveling in Germany
If you travel to Germany and want a truly authentic experience, you will want to try some of the country's delicious food. The cuisine varies from region to region, but many recipes rely on a mixture of meat, potatoes, and bread, especially pork, featuring greens like kale and cabbage. Beer, coffee, and cake are other famous elements of the cuisine.
15 Must-Eat German Dishes While Traveling in Germany
Austrian Food: 16 Must-Try Traditional Austrian Dishes and Desserts
This country's food is the ultimate comfort, influenced by its neighbors Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. Once the core of an empire, Vienna became a city where different cultures met and shared their fantastic food. This article will walk you through the best Austrian foods – a blend of flavors and traditions that make up the unique Austrian food and drink scene.
Austrian Food: 16 Must-Try Traditional Austrian Dishes and Desserts
Portugal’s Best Foods – 12 Must-Eats for Every Traveler
If you're passionate about discovering the top dishes from different countries and are particularly interested in Portugal, then you're in luck. Our team at Frugal Expert shares that passion and specializes in identifying the best food each country has to offer. Each team member has visited Portugal, with one of us spending as much as six months living there. During that time, we became involved with the unique Portuguese food culture.
Portugal’s Best Foods – 12 Must-Eats for Every Traveler
