Tipping is very much a cultural issue and tourists often ask where they should be tipping. So here's a basic guide:
Restaurants: This is the most common place for tipping; standard tips are 10-20% of the tab and generally cannot be paid by credit card. However, before you tip, check with your waiter what actually happens to the tips. Sometimes the tips go into a kitty for all the waiters, sometimes the tips go to the owner of the restaurant who uses them to pay the waiter's salary. In these cases, you may want to reconsider the tip.
Spa treatments: It is generally accepted to tip the massage therapist, provided you were happy with the treatment.
Taxis: It is unnecessary to tip taxi drivers, unless the driver is especially helpful or carries your bags.
Buses: No tipping on public transportation, but a bus driver who spends a few days with you is generally tipped.
Gas station attendants: No tipping necessary or expected.
Hotel attendants: No tipping necessary, unless any exceptional or unusual service is requested or provided.
Tour guides: In general, a guide who is with a group for a few days is tipped. In addition, it is generally expected to tip the guide on any free tour. In other cases, tipping your guide is not necessary unless the guide has provided any special or exceptional service.
