Awareness about the tipping customs in foreign locales can come in handy, especially when traveling for an international deposition.  While it’s difficult to cover the tipping etiquette of all countries in a single post, here are some we think you’ll find useful when budgeting for your next international deposition.

AFRICA

MOROCCO

• At restaurants 10% is generous, but check to make sure the service isn’t included in the bill.
• At hotels $2 per bag to the porter and $5 per night to the housekeeper.
• For cab drivers, round up to the next 10-dirham note (10-dirham is a little less than $3).  Private drivers and guides should both get around $20 per day.

SOUTH AFRICA

• At restaurants 10–15% to the waiter.
• At hotels $1 per bag to the porter and $1 per night to the housekeeper.
• Taxi drivers get 10% and private drivers and tour guides get $25 per person per day.

ASIA & OCEANIA

AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND

• At restaurants 10–15% is customary.
• At hotels $1 per bag and $1–$5 per day to the housekeeper.
• $5 for cabdrivers and $25–$50 per day for a private driver.

CHINA

• Like many Asian countries, China comes from a no-tipping culture. At most restaurants and hotels you don’t leave a tip.
• Fine hotels and restaurants may add a service charge of 10-15%, so nothing is expected or even technically allowed beyond that.
• Tip quietly and out of sight if you do—not in front of employers.
• Porters usually receive 10 yuan per bag.

INDIA

• At restaurants tip 10%, although many upscale spots now include a 10% service charge.
• At hotels 50 rupees (about $1) per bag for the porter and 250 rupees a night for the housekeeper.
• 400 to 500 rupees a day for a car and driver. Taxi and rickshaw drivers you can tell to keep the change.

JAPAN

• Japan is a largely a non-tipping society, but providers of certain services may appreciate a tip (concierges, porters, and waiters will usually decline a tip).
• For a cab driver just round up. A private driver will usually expect you to buy his lunch.
• A room attendant at a ryokan (a type of traditional Japanese inn) usually gets 5,000 yen for one or two nights in an envelope.

SINGAPORE

• At restaurants a 10% tip is included in the bill.
• Bellboys get the standard $1 a bag and you can leave cleaning staff a few dollars a day in an envelope .
• With taxi drivers just round up the fare and leave the change.

SOUTH KOREA

• There’s really no tipping culture in South Korea. The exceptions include private drivers who get $10 per day per person.
• Hotel porters should get the usual $1 per bag.

TAIWAN

• About half of the restaurants include a 10% service fee. If it isn’t included leave 10-15%.
• At hotels tip the cleaning staff $2 per day (left in the room), porters $3–$5 for each bag, and doormen $1–$2 if they call a cab.
• For drivers tip 10%.

THAILAND

• At restaurants tip $1 per diner.
• At hotels $1–$2 per bag for the porter.  It isn’t necessary to tip the housekeeper or the concierge.
• $1 for taxis and $2 per day for private drivers.

EUROPE

FRANCE

• The words “service compris” on your restaurant bill means that no tip is required, but most people leave up to 10%. Tipping at bars is not expected.
• At hotels 2 euros per bag and 1-2 euros for a housekeeper.
• 10–20 euros for private airport transfers and 10–15% tip for taxi drivers.

GERMANY

• At restaurants 10–15% for the waiter or bartender.
• At hotels 1-2 euros per bag for the porter and 5 euros per night for the housekeeper.

ITALY

• At restaurants tip no more than 10%.
• At hotels give porters 5 euros and housekeepers 1–2 euros per night.

SCANDINAVIA

• Tipping is either included in the bill or isn’t done.
• Taxi drivers don’t expect tips.
• Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges.

SPAIN

• At restaurants tip anywhere from 7-13%.
• At hotels tip cleaning staff 5 euros per day  and bellboys  1 euro per bag.
• With taxi drivers round up the fare.

SWITZERLAND

• 5–10% percent is fair, but not expected at restaurants.
• At hotels a service charge is included in the bill.
• With taxi drivers tip 5–10% or round up the fare.

TURKEY

• At restaurants tip 10% or a bit more.
• Taxi drivers aren’t generally tipped, but rounding up works, and drivers will sometimes just take the initiative and keep the change. Private cars get $35–$50 per day, regardless of the size of the group.

UNITED KINGDOM

• At restaurants service is often included; if not, tip 10–15%. Tipping in pubs is not customary.
• At hotels give porters 1–2 pounds per bag and housekeepers 1–2 pounds.
• Tip the cab driver whatever small change you have.

THE MIDDLE EAST

DUBAI

• A 10% service charge is already added to all bills at hotels, restaurants, and bars. A few extra dirhams (each is worth about a quarter) on top of that is always appreciated.
• Parking valets and porters usually get 10 dirhams.
• Bag packers in markets might appreciate a few coins.
• Cabdrivers don’t expect anything, but rounding up to the 5-dirham note is the usual practice.

ISRAEL

• In restaurants the tip is usually included in the bill, but you may want to add a shekel per customer (they’re about four to the dollar).
• At hotels 6 shekels per bag for porters and 6 shekels per day for housekeepers.
• 10–15% for taxis.

SAUDI ARABIA

• Tips aren’t included at restaurants, so you will want to leave 10-15% of the bill.
• When staying at a hotel give porters $1 – $2 per bag and $2 a day in your room for housekeepers.
• Give drivers $5 per person per day.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

• At restaurants tip 15-20%.
• Tip porters $2 per bag, doormen $2-$3 to hail cabs, and maids $3 a day.
• Drivers are usually tipped $5 per person per day.

NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA

ARGENTINA

• At restaurants 10% is customary.
• At hotels 25-45 pesos for a porter.
• Round up for taxi drivers, give 10% for “remisses” (common local car services) and 10% for a full-day driver.

BRAZIL

• At restaurants no tip is required (10% is usually already included in the bill).
• At hotels $2 per bag for the porter and $2 a day for the housekeeper.
• Round up for cabdrivers and for a private driver give about $20–$50 for a full day.

CANADA

• At restaurants tip 15-20%.
• At hotels porters get $1 or $2 per bag and housekeepers get $5 per day.
• Taxi drivers get 10-15%.

COLOMBIA

• At restaurants check the bill to see if the tip is included. If it is, it’s usually 8–10%, and it’s still common to tip more, up to 15–20% total.
• In hotels tip about $1 to the doormen per bag and $1 per day to the cleaning staff.
• Tip $5 per person per day for drivers. You don’t need to tip taxi drivers unless they really go out of their way to help you.

MEXICO

• At restaurants 10–15%.
• At hotels about 10–20 pesos per bag for the porter and  20–50 pesos per night for the housekeeper.

Optima Juris

Optima Juris is the first and only U.S. based agency dedicated exclusively to depositions outside of the U.S.  We do not cover depos in the States, and never compete with our domestic agency partners.  With over 15 years of experience covering depositions in every country and city on the planet, we are the go-to source for information and tips on international depositions.
Contact us for information about international deposition services in every region and country in the world. We are always happy to help with any questions. You can also check out the Info Center page on our website for more news and information on traveling, conducting and organizing international depositions.