To Tip or Not to Tip—Whom and How Much?

Even on your home turf it can sometimes be confusing—am I supposed to tip this person, and if so, how much? When you’re traveling, however, the confusion can be compounded.

For example, in the US 15 % of the bill is considered the least we should leave in a restaurant, but in many other countries the gratuity is automatically added to your total, so no additional tip is required. And if it isn’t added, 10 to 15 % is generally what’s expected—except in countries like Japan where tipping is considered an insult.

But what about all those other people we depend on when we travel—the housekeeper, the concierge, the bell hop, the doorman, taxi drivers, and airport sky caps? In most countries it’s customary to tip them all when they perform a service for you. But again, how much?

Here’s a guide to use as a general rule of thumb, although none of this is written in stone.

Housekeeper: $2 to $5 per day, paid daily since the person taking care of your room may change from one day to the next.

Concierge: $5 for getting you tickets or a restaurant reservation–$10 if they’re hard to get. No tip is necessary for answering questions (and the concierge might be a good person to ask about tipping customs in the place you’re visiting).

Doorman: $1 to $2 for hailing a cab

Bell hop: $1 to $2 per bag

Taxi drivers: round up the fare to the next even number or add a small gratuity. Extra if the driver carries your luggage

Sky caps: $1 to $2 per bag

If you’re in doubt, try to find out what the locals do. You could, as I’ve said, ask the concierge at your hotel or perhaps the person behind the check-in desk. What you want to try to avoid is tipping in a place where it’s considered demeaning, or either under- or over-tipping out of ignorance. And do remember that at gratuity is considered a sign of your gratitude for good service.