Having to decide whether鈥攁nd how much鈥攖o slip someone a couple of extra bills for a job well done is always uncomfortable because there鈥檚 no set standard or guide. And it鈥檚 especially awkward when you鈥檙e on an adventure in some far-flung place, as you鈥檝e got guides, porters, and others to consider. But you might be surprised to know that Americans tip insanely high amounts by most overseas standards, and excessive generosity can sometimes be considered impolite.
The first rule of travel is that you should learn the basic customs of your destination country before you get there鈥攊ncluding how much to tip. It鈥檚 a simple matter of respect. You鈥檒l find a wealth of resources on the Web or through travel guidebooks like .
In the case of Nepal, tipping isn鈥檛 expected by service workers, so keep the amount low (around five to 10 percent, at best) unless someone has done something extraordinarily well. For porters and guides on a trekking expedition, I鈥檇 say about $15 a day for each and maybe $7 a day for cooks.
For my general advice on tipping during foreign travels, follow these basic rules:
WATCH WHAT LOCALS DO
Customs often vary from region to region in a country鈥攅specially when you鈥檙e traveling from cities into rural areas. Watch the locals. Are they leaving extra cash on the table at a tea house? Are they dropping a few coins for the bartender at the bar?
ASK AT THE HOTEL OR HOSTEL
The people who work at the front desk of your hostel or hotel are amazing鈥攁nd often under-utilized鈥攕ources of information on local customs, culture, food, and sights. They should be happy to provide advice on when and how much to tip.
CHECK THE BILL
In many instances, a service charge is added to restaurant checks overseas. The same goes for spa treatments. In other situations, you鈥檒l find a 鈥渟uggested tip鈥 provided to you by a business owner鈥攚hich makes life easier for everyone.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS, APPLY THE $1 RULE
Again, you really should know the customs of a place before you go there, but if you鈥檙e in a bind, apply the $1 rule. That鈥檚 $1 for a bellhop per bag (if you鈥檙e traveling in style), $1 a day for hotel cleaning staff, $1 for a local taxi ride, $1 for every $10 on your restaurant bill, and about $1 per hour for a group tour guide for a day (though more if the guide is a private one, taking you on an active adventure like fishing, skiing, hiking, or a safari).