The Better Traveler's Guide to Tipping Abroad

Plus: Chicago Summer Top 10, Hot Dog Knowledge, and Reader Questions

Hi there, 

How is your summer going? I’m just back from a wedding in Greece, which was magical. More on Greece soon.

Some housekeeping:

• Welcome to the many new subscribers! I’m so excited to have you along for the ride. You can find out more about me and this newsletter here.

• I mentioned on Instagram that I’m starting a travel Q&A series. You can send me your questions, and I’ll answer them in the next newsletter, or if I don’t have answers I’ll find an expert on that place who does. Let’s start this week with Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and San Sebastián, Spain. Send me any and all questions about these locations and I’ll answer them next time. Just reply to this email or post them in the comments. And if there are locations you want considered in the future, add those too. 

Now let’s talk about tipping. 

Be a Better Traveler - Tipping Guide

A lot of people have some anxiety around tipping in a foreign environment. How much, how to hand it off, etc. Tipping varies from country to country. We tip 20% and up in restaurants in the U.S., while in much of the world throwing a few euros/pesos/dinars on the table will do. In some places, tipping can even be considered offensive. I realized while eating lunch in Greece that I had no idea what tip was considered appropriate there. Turns out it’s 10-15%, but is often added to your bill. So let’s deep dive. 

General Tipping Rules 

• Carry cash. In the U.S. we can add tips to almost any payment digitally. Not so elsewhere. In Greece last week I would say only about 50% of credit card machines had that capability. And there are many services, especially at hotels, where you don’t have a bill but still need to tip. Yes, you can ask people for their Venmo and I’ve seen that done more and more, but it’s a longer, potentially awkward process. I would much rather have small bills or coins on me and hand someone a tip in person. (This article has more on tipping digitally abroad.)

• Err on the side of generosity. If you’re not sure how much to tip, round up. It never hurts to be nicer. Someone told me once they’re afraid to do this because they’ll look like a dumb American who overtips. I always think there’s enough ill thought toward Americans lately that it can’t hurt to at least come off as generous. 

• Don’t travel if you can’t tip. This is harsh, but tipping is how millions of people around the world make money, and it needs to be factored into your overall trip budget. They shouldn’t be screwed because you want to travel more cheaply. Stay somewhere less expensive or order a few fewer drinks in order to tip. Etiquette columnist Karen Cleveland said it well: “My approach in life is if you can afford a service, you can afford the gratuity.”

Tipping At Hotels

Hotel tipping rules are generally the same around the world. 

Housekeeping: Most experts agree that you should tip housekeeping $3 to $10 per day, at the end of every day, not all at once at the end. The amount depends on the length of your stay, rate of your room, and level of service. If you have more than two people staying in the room, tip more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the average housekeeper in the U.S. makes $25,000 per year. In many countries it’s less. Tips should be left in an obvious place with a note saying they’re for the housekeeper. 

Luggage attendants: $1 per bag, maybe $2 if they’re extremely heavy.  

Valet: $2-3 every time they retrieve your car. Give them the first tip when you first hand over your keys. 

Concierge: I don’t know many people who use concierges anymore, but they’re a great resource for getting reservations or theater tickets. If they help you score something you couldn’t get on your own, tip around $5-10, depending on what it is. No need to tip for a map, directions, or other simple question. 

Room service: Tips are generally included in your room service bill. If not, follow local restaurant tipping guidelines. 

Airbnb

Tipping is not necessary. That’s what the cleaning fee is for. 

All-Inclusive Resorts & Cruises

Gratuity is typically included in the resort fee. Check your original booking and contract. 

Tipping at Restaurants

This is where it gets tricky. Tips for cafes, restaurants, and bars vary more from country to country than hotels. 

Most readers are American but for those who aren’t, we generally tip 20% or more for dine-in restaurant service. There are places that pay their workers a living wage and don’t require tips, but those are few and far between and they’ll usually tell you on the menu. At a bar you can tip $1 per beer or glass of wine, $2-$3 per cocktail depending on how involved it is. At coffee shops, you can tip $1-2 per drink. We also tip for to-go orders, delivery, counter service—pretty much anything involving food. I always tip 20% because I worked in the service industry for a decade and have the resources to do so, but I know some people think tipping 20% on a to-go order is too high. Use your judgment, but try to remember that most restaurant workers and delivery drivers are making minimum wage or less, and tips are their livelihood. 

For other countries, I try to ask a friend what’s appropriate if I know someone who lives there. If not, google it or ask at your hotel. I’ve found in most of Europe around 10% is normal, though in a few places tips aren’t expected at all. Travel + Leisure has a comprehensive Europe tip guide. TripSavvy has a guide to tipping across Asia, where it seems 10% is appreciated in most countries, but not always necessary, and in some cases considered rude. It varies in the Middle East. Tipping in Dubai is very similar to the U.S. Restaurants either add gratuity or about 15% is expected. In Turkey or Jordan or elsewhere, it’s nice to add at least 10%, but not as expected. I haven’t been to South America or most African countries, but a quick search found that 10% is customary in Argentina, for example, as well as Kenya. Basically: google is your friend. Or, ask your hotel concierge or Airbnb host on arrival. The Points Guy has a basic guide to tipping around the world. 

Taxis

It’s customary to tip taxi and Uber drivers in the U.S., but not as much elsewhere. Adding an extra couple of dollars (or whatever currency) is fine. 

Walking tours

Tip $5 per person for an average walking tour, a bit more if you have a private guide.

Airlines

Airline employees are generally not allowed to accept tips, though they can accept small gifts like chocolates. Some people swear this helps you get upgraded. I don’t buy it. 

The bottom line: Carry cash and be thoughtful and generous. 

Chicago Summer Top 10 

It’s the best time of year in Chicago! We’re in peak summer. Hot, sunny days, summer Friday work hours, the beaches are packed, the patios are bursting, and we only have one more month until it’s gone! If you’re like me and panic around August 1 about all the Chicago summer things you want to do before the best season ends, you’re not alone. My Chicago summer list this year is very, very (too?) long, but these are a few things on it year after year. Yes, they are predictable! Popular activities are popular for a reason.

1. Patios, Patios, Patios, and rooftops. Sure you can try to hit all the hottest spots (and if you’re visiting you really should check out a rooftop for skyline views), but the truth is every neighborhood has dozens of options, and the real joy is in drinking outdoors without a coat. My favorite patio bar is decidedly not on a best-of list. It’s the Clock Tower Cafe, mostly because it’s across the street from my house, has views of the lake, and cheap beers. Convenience is key. 

2. Navy Pier fireworks. You don’t actually have to go to Navy Pier. Grab a friend, some canned cocktails, and watch from the curve on the Lakeshore path near Oak Street Beach. Every Wednesday and Saturday night through Labor Day. 

3. Spend some time on the river. The Riverwalk is great, but I prefer to be on the water. You can rent kayaks, or a cute vintage boat from Chicago Electric Boat Company.

4. Start your weekend with a jump in the lake. The Friday Morning Swim Club meets at Montrose Beach every friday at sunrise for a jump in the water, followed by coffee. 

5. As many beach days as possible. There are 24 beaches in Chicago! I love them all, from sandy beaches with full facilities to the cement beach at Oak Street. 

6. Bike the Lakefront trail. Spend a day biking the trail end-to-end. It’s 18.5 miles each way, and takes you past the aforementioned beaches, Museum Campus, acres of preserved prairie, hundreds of sailboats, tucked away parks, and more. Stop at stands along the way for hot dogs and ice cream. Visiting or don’t have a bike? You can rent Divvy bikes through Lyft. 

7. Classical music in the Park. I love the Grant Park summer music series, where you can hear free classical music while picnicking in the park. 

8. Make boat friends. There’s nowhere better to be in Chicago than on Lake Michigan. If you succeed in making boat friends, please invite me! 

9. Attend a street festival. Almost every neighborhood has one, and there’s one happening almost every weekend. 

10. Get outside the city. Go camping in Wisconsin or Michigan, or explore Illinois outside of Chicago. I wrote an article for the Travel + Leisure June print issue on outdoor activities around the state. It was recently published online here.

What are your favorite Chicago summer activities? Let me know in the comments. 

Travel for the Food

It’s not Chicago summer without a Chicago hot dog, and plenty of places now offer veggie versions, too. 

Last summer, I wrote ‘Everything You Need to Know About Chicago-Style Hot Dogs’ for Forbes. From the history (thank the Germans), to the ingredients (strict guidelines), to the sides (Merkts cheddar sauce from Wisconsin forever), plus of course where to find the best Chicago dogs in the city, you’ll find it all in the piece. 

Fun fact: Chicago and New Orleans consume more sport peppers than any other U.S. city. New Orleans for the muffalata, Chicago for hot dogs and giardiniera. 

The New York Times recently did a big Chicago dog spread. I love Eric Kim’s writing and if anyone at the NYT was going to do this piece well, it’s him. Still, this is one of those times where I do not understand why they wouldn’t contract one of the dozens of food writers who live here. 

Wine of the Week 

Actually going to do beer this week. I love how seemingly every craft brewery is now making a Mexican-style lager. Basically, a lager with some citrus. I think my favorite so far in Chicago is the Brewer’s Kitchen Tolo Tolo, but there are genuinely SO MANY out right now I’m sure I haven’t tried them all. Of course, you could always just have a Modelo. 

N/A option of the week: I think I’ve written about Ghia before, the non-alcoholic aperitif company. I like the original mixed with soda water, but they have new portable cans, and the Lime & Salt flavor is perfect for hot summer days. 

Weekend Reading

The Hotel Spirit

In Praise of Eggs

Travel Writer Decarbonizes Her Life

Istria Is Croatia’s Hidden Gem – And the Melting Pot of the Adriatic

Chile Is Updating Its Constitution for the 21st Century - The US Should Follow Suit

The Case for Travel Journals

Are You Making Homemade Butter?

Other Things

Watch: The Bear. I know you know already, but if you haven’t started it yet, do. I’m only on episode four and already excited for the next season. But at the same time: there is too much yelling! Even for a kitchen show. And River North is not gritty no matter how hard they try to make it look that way. 

Read: I pulled about 30 books off my shelf that I haven’t read yet and am hoping to get through by the end of summer. Wish me luck. I’ll send a full list at the end of the month, but in the meantime what are you reading this summer? Let me know in the comments. 

Run: The My Block, My Hood, My City 5K with me! I’m not good at running, but it should be fun. Let me know if you sign up!  

Next time: Is it ethical to visit the South right now? The question travel writers are debating. Plus, Puerto Vallarta and San Sebastian questions answered. And Michigan fall road trips. 

If you liked the newsletter today, please pass it to someone you know who’d enjoy it, and tap the heart icon above, which helps me reach more readers. I’m off to a Chicago beach! Back in your inbox in two weeks.

–Rebecca 💛