A few tips on how not to give offence abroad

BRITISH tourists are offending locals because they are ignorant about how much they are expected to tip, a survey has found.

Holidaymakers’ lack of local knowledge means that over the course of a typical overseas break, the average family over-tips by £78, according to the poll of 3,000 holidaymakers.

Fewer than half of people questioned knew that a minimum tip of 15 per cent is expected in the United States, while only one in five was aware that they should round up a bar bill in Norway to the nearest 10.

More than one third admitted to lacking in confidence on how to tip abroad, with one quarter knowingly over-tipping, they told Comparethemarket.com, which conducted the survey. Nearly one in five said being in the dark over tipping etiquette had had a negative impact on their trip.

And one in 10 travellers confessed to being confronted by a local over a tipping faux-pas. Just 16 per cent of tourists knew a 10 per cent tip was expected for a taxi ride in South Africa, while one in five knew they were expected to show gratitude to a taxi driver in Argentina with a 10 per cent tip.

Fewer than three in 10 knew tour guides in China rely on tip income, with an equal number aware you must tip a concierge at the beginning of a stay in Morocco to get the best service.

Chris King, of Comparethemarket. com, said: “It seems millions of Brits are frequently getting themselves tied up in currency conundrums.”