Tipping traditions are not the same in different countries. In some countries you are supposed to leave significant tips, in some tips are not appropriate. But what about Russia? Answering the main question, you are supposed to leave tips, but only if you are satisfied with the service. Tipping here is optional but always greatly appreciated. Let’s find out in today’s article who you are supposed to tip in Russia.
Waiters
When we talk about tipping, first we should mention waiters. In Russia, tips are usually not included in checks, but at the same time tips form a significant part of waiters’ salaries. So if you like the service, it will be a good idea to leave gratuities. Russians tend to leave 5-15% off their check; on average tips for waiters are 10%. However, no waiter will ask you for tips or extort some. It is always up to you.
Hotel staff
If you are travelling to Russia, you are likely to deal with hotel staff. Talking about those, there are no strict tipping habits in Russia. You can tip counter service staff, especially if you order some drinks or meals. It is fine to tip porters, especially if they help you with some big luggage. Also, you can tip cleaning ladies if you like their service and would like to express your gratitude.
Taxi drivers and delivery staff
Both services in Russia are now extremely popular, more and more people are using them on a regular basis, so tipping for this type of service becomes less common each year. Moreover, Russians are using mobile apps for ordering both taxis and delivery and are mostly paying online, which doesn’t really encourage them to tip. However, you are welcome to leave some tips if your meal arrived on time or your taxi driver had excellent driving skills. It certainly will be appreciated.
Beauty service
Russia is quite famous for its developed beauty industry. If you’d like to put some shellac on your nails or get your hair done, you will find a lot of beauty salons here that will be happy to accommodate you. But the tips are once again up to you. You can tip if you are happy with the service and the amount is not regulated. If you ask Russians whether they tip their hairdresser or not, most of them probably will answer “no”. Not on a regular basis, at least.
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