Tipping In Different Countries

Travelling means different cultures and customs. Slurping is okay in Japan when eating as it means you are enjoying your food while in Poland you have to clap when the plane lands. Each country has its own quirks, and even tipping is different in each one. With reports from MSN, here's how to properly tip in your next destination.

Japan

While tipping is normal in most parts of the world, it isn't in Japan. The practice of giving tips is not part of the Japanese cultures and workers usually get confused why they're receiving money. Some even consider the practice insulting and demeaning.

Service in Japan is praised for just being natural and relaxed as the workers are not trying so hard to earn the tip. Tourists say that this gives them a better overall customer experience.

If you really want to give a tip to thank the staff, however, there is another type of tipping called kokorodzuke. This kind of tip is where you give the money before you receive the service. It's as if to say 'thank you in advance for today.'

USA

While in other countries tipping may be based on your budget, in the USA it is customary and may get confusing. Whatever you do there will be someone waiting for a tip. It is usually in restaurants where tipping is a bit perplexing.

Tipping is considered compulsory as many restarant servers are paid well below minimum wage to as low as $7.25 per hour in some states. Service charge isn't usually applied in the bill (except for large parties or six people or more), so you're mostly expected to do the math when tipping. A tip between 15 percent and 25 percent is normal. Also, make sure to tip in cash as servers are expected to declare any tips they receive for the income tax.

Australia and New Zealand

Unlike in the USA where tipping is compulsory, it is unnecessary in Australia and New Zealand as workers are generally paid well in these two countries. Many employees are not familiar with the whole concept of tipping and most of the time confuses them. Some restaurants even forbid workers to accept tips although it is generally acceptable to round up your bill to the nearest dollar, or to ask the employee to 'keep the change.'