Tipping Around the World – Nice Gesture or Pushing the Limits
Are you thinking about trying to tip on your next holiday? You might be thinking about gratitude a little more as people being speaking about against the hospitality world. Long hours, being underappreciated…it’s enough to make you rethink marking out that gratuity line on your credit card slip.
Or is there more to the satyr than this? You have to consider that tipping is very different depending on where you’re traveling to. Just because tipping is something wise to do in your home country doesn’t mean that it’ll be welcomed where you travel next. Here’s what you really need to know about the practice of tipping.
Did you know that there’s a mandatory 10% gratuity added everywhere in Dubai? Even though this is the case, you still want to put a few dirhams in the hands of the people that help you pack your bags and get your luggage moved. 10 dirhams here and there can make a big difference in showing how much you appreciate people.
If you’re going to somewhere like Morocco, you’ll want to be more subtle about your tipping. It can be seen as rude if you’re going to outwardly give money to someone. The people that make up Morocco have their pride, you know. You want to definitely make sure that you’re asking other travelers and seeing what they do as well.
The cleanliness of your currency makes a big difference too. Don’t try to pawn off those worn and dirty bills to service workers. It doesn’t look good and it can really make things difficult for someone that’s really trying to spend that money later on. It will draw suspicion towards them, which is the last thing that you want.
Going to Brazil? Make sure that you stay discreet here as well. Tip people quietly and with respect — don’t draw attention the money, whatever you do. If you’re going to use the services of a guide or a drive during your stay, you definitely want to make sure that you’re going to be leaving a good tip for them. Many of these guides depend on those tips to survive, so it’s important to keep things in perspective. That’s really all there is to it.
Heading to the Caribbean? Tipping is definitely something that you want to do, especially when it’s time to get a once in a lifetime experience. Hotels generally include a bit gratuity, but your guides will appreciate the tips.
If you’re enjoying Asia, you will want to make sure that you keep your tipping subtle. Many Asian countries like China are stringently against tipping. It can actually get your employee of choice in trouble, so it’s better not to draw attention to it if you can help it.
Be aware that you will fare a lot better if you start sending your money in the currency of the place that you’re traveling around. It’s easier for the locals to spend, and it shows that you’re really willing to be as accommodating as possible. What could be better than that? Good luck!