Middle East
- Iran - If you are an American you will not be able to travel independently in Iran as you must be with a government approved tour, which means that most service charges are included and tipping isn't necessary. However, if restaurant service is really good, leave a few more dollars. As for hotels, if you are really want to express appreciation give a small gift from the United States (a T-shirt or hat bearing the name of an American city or sports team). If you are going to tip, dollars are accepted.
- Lebanon - Restaurants: tip 10 percent of the bill. If there are musicians playng tip them $5 or so. Hotels: If you are part of a group your tips are usually included. If not, tip $2 a bag for porters, $2 for doormen who hail a cab or give directions, and a few bucks a day for maids. Giving $20 to $25 to the concierge up front will secure you good service throughout your day. Dollars are accepted and euros.
- Qatar - Restaurants: Leave 15 to 20 percent. Hotels: Very similar to American cities, tip $2 to $3 for doormen when they hail you a cab, $2 to $5 a day for housekeepers and $2 a bag for porters. Guides and Drivers: $10 per person per day for drivers and $5 per person per day for guides. Dollars are accepted.
The Americas
- Canada - Restaurants: Gratuity is not included, you will need to tip the standard 15 to 20 percent as we do hear in the states (depending on the service). Hotels: A good concierges should get $10 to $20 per favor; porters should get $1 or $2 per bag; housekeepers $2 a day or $5 in a luxury hotel. You should tip daily with housekeepers since you may not have the same maid each day. Guides and Drivers: taxi drivers receive 10 to 15 percent. Dollars are accepted as long as you use paper money and not coins.
- Chile - Restaurants: a 10% tip is included in the bill but you can put down another 5 percent. Nicer restaurants may also charge a 5 6o 7 percent cubierto, basically a sit-down charge. Hotels: If there is a concierge and you want extra service then consider tipping $20 up front. Porters get $1 per bag, doormen a few dollars if they grab you a cab, and housekeepers receive $2 a day at the end of your stay (place in an envelope). Guides and Drivers: guides receive $10 to $25 per person per day. For a cab just round up the fare. Dollars are accepted, however; it maybe harder for the recipient to spend than the Chilean peso.
- Columbia - Restaurants: Sometimes the tip is included in the bill so you will need to check it and it usually is 8 to 10 percent. However, the norm is to tip more, up to 15 to 18 percent total. Hotels: If you are staying in a rural hacienda you will be tipping a family staff (cooks, cleans, and tends to gardens) as they should receive $5 to $10 per person per night at the end of your stay. Usual tipping rules apply for other hotels: $1 to doormen and cleaning staff per bag or daily cleanup. Guides and Drivers: for guides you will need to tip $10 per person per day and for drivers $5 per person per day. Taxi drivers don't need to be tipped unless they really go out of their way to help you. Dollars are accepted but it is better to tip with Colombian pesos.
- Equador - Restaurant: the tip is usually included within the bill (10%) but if it is a nicer restaurant you might want to leave an extra 5 to 10 percent. Hotels: At the end of your stay give porters about 50 cents a bag, doormen $1 to $2 if they hail you a taxi and $1 for the cleaning staff. You can do this directly or leave in an envelope at the front desk. Guides and Drivers: A guide will get about $10 per person per day and drivers will receive half of that. Taxi drivers don't expect a tip, however; if they have been chatty or helpful it is good to tip 10 percent. Dollars are accepted as they are the currency of Ecuador.
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