12 money etiquette tips you need to know for your next holiday
Because nobody likes a rude tourist
By Kelsey KlossAh, money: The conversation topic that spans 'round the globe. When you're traveling, it can be easy to find yourself in doing the same exact thing you would at home, but while money is universal, money etiquette is not.
Luckily, the money pros over at Lottoland (a lottery company) created this incredibly handy infographic on how to handle splitting the bill, tipping and paying on dates in regions throughout the world.
Who knew that in some parts of Asia, it can be rude to offer to help pay for a group dinner? Or that in rural parts of Africa, you shouldn't order your own drink? Take a look at a few highlights from the infographic below, then head over to Lottoland to learn more about keeping money etiquette straight as you travel.
Because, remember, money can't buy you manners. But good manners can buy you refuge from a very embarrassing moment.
Europe
How to split the bill: If one person has ordered significantly more than others, then the bill should be split according to what each person ordered. If everyone orders about the same amount, though, splitting the bill can come off as petty.
How much to tip: Most European countries expect between 10 to 15 percent tip, but sometimes this is already factored into the bill. It's best to pay in cash, otherwise the server may not get the full amount.
Asia
How to split the bill: It's considered prestigious to pay for the meal in Asia, and preventing the individual who extended the invitation from paying is considered very rude.
How to tip: This depends on what part of Asia you're in. In India, a tip of 5 to 10 percent is considered mandatory. In other areas, like Japan, tipping is not necessary and can sometimes even be noted as rude.
North America
How to split the bill: Calculating individual spending in a group setting can sometimes be considered tacky in North America, but it's not uncommon, even though it may be frowned upon by the restaurant staff. Most often, however, the bill will be split evenly.
How to tip: Expect to pay between 15 to 20 percent in tip when eating out, without exceptions.
South America
How to split the bill: Typically, whoever extended the invitation is expected to make an offer to pay, and it can be considered impolite to divvy up a restaurant check.
How to tip: Though it's not always mandatory, in South America, patrons are expected to pay a tip between 8 to 12 percent.
Africa
How to split the bill: In most of Africa, it's customary to split the bill based on what each person ordered. Is some rural areas, though, it's expected for the entire table to contribute to a bottle of alcohol rather than individual drinks.
How to tip: Like Asia, this depends on where you are. In South Africa, you're expected to give the server 10 to 15 percent in cash as a tip. In Morocco, however, just 10 percent is considered plenty generous and is often already included in the bill.
Oceania
How to split the bill: No matter what you ordered, in Oceania countries like Australia, a group is expected to split the bill evenly. In other occasions, the person with the highest salary may be expected to pay.
How to tip: It's not mandatory in most of Oceania, but it can be a nice gesture if the service was extraordinary — but typically, 10 percent at most will do.
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