Travel tips on how to avoid being a 'cultural pillock'

Published on Stuff.co.nz and in the Waikato Times

Kiwis hate tipping more than anything else when they travel, a new survey reveals.

We loathe greasing the hands of our servers more than paying to use the dunny or not speaking the lingo and, worse still, post-holiday chores like laundry and returning to work.

Travel website Wotif surveyed more than 1500 New Zealanders and discovered what most of us already know - tipping is our main frustration when travelling.

Experts say tipping replaces reciprocity. Usually, when we are invited to someone's house, the guest will return the favour by inviting the host to their home.

Senior lecturer of hospitality management at AUT, Lindsay Neill said tipping inspires entrepreneurship and creativity and should be encouraged.

"In commercial hospitality you don't reciprocate, so you tip to recognise the hospitality given to you.

"I know it's a shock. New Zealanders don't like to give away money - it reflects our Scottish heritage."

Neill said the amount you tip depends on the country you are in and whether hospitality workers gather the majority of their income from tips. "When in Rome, do what the Romans do or else you're just a cultural pillock. Part of going overseas is to experience the culture of that country. You can't pick out the parts you don't want."

But while the tipper does not need to worry about giving a certain percentage of the bill, be careful about leaving an amount that could be perceived as insulting. "It's about what an individual can afford. If you had a really good experience, you leave a tip relative to your income."

Someone who is completely comfortable with tipping is Dallas Fisher, director of Montana Catering in Hamilton.

As long as customers are not feeling pressured to tip their host, Fisher sees no downsides to the practice.

"I guess the positive is it may encourage an extra bit of service, to go the extra mile. I find that, especially off shore where they've got more coins, it's quite useful to get rid of them out of your pocket."

Fisher visited three continents last year and has plans to spend part of 2015 in Japan, Europe and America.

"I do tip. Actually, I even tip in New Zealand at restaurants. If I've had a great meal experience, I'll tip 10 per cent. A bit more if it's outstanding."

Even though he is a fan of tipping, Fisher does not think it should be mandatory. "I think it's a personal choice. You see the bowl on the counter, and electronic cards have a place to put a tip. Give them the opportunity but don't force it on people."

Fisher likes to tip in countries like South Africa or China where staff they do not make a lot of money but says it is not a reason to stress out.

"There is so much travel, so many foreign people who aren't used to tipping, so it's a lot more relaxed. I think when people travel, they should read guides to understand the nature and what level of tips are expected."

Jason Scott, co-owner of Scotts Epicurean, knows the importance of tipping. "When I worked overseas we'd make about £250 in tips per month. I think New Zealanders should start giving tips if the service is really good."

He said Kiwis hardly tip and are considered tight overseas because of it, but they do not get much more luck with visitors either.

"Foreigners are being told by New Zealanders that it's not part of our culture to tip, so they are not giving us tips."

In the Wotif survey, tipping was higher on the travel annoyance radar (20 per cent) than unpacking and doing the laundry (19 per cent), rude locals (12 per cent), paying to use toilets (10 per cent) and language barriers (4 per cent), said Wotif spokesperson, Kirsty La Bruniy.