Holidaymakers 'to save money by tipping less'

Rather than cutting back on the number of trips they take, holidaymakers plan to save money by tipping less, according to research.

A Post Office survey of UK tourists found that more than a third (36 per cent) admit that they will not be tipping on holidays in the near future unless they receive exceptional service.

More than one in ten (13 per cent) said they will not be coughing up any bonuses for waiters, taxi drivers or anyone else, regardless of the service they get.

The east of England appears to produce the most generous tourists, with 55 per cent of people from this area saying they will tip waiters and waitresses, followed by Scots (54 per cent) and people from northern England (54 per cent).

Helen Warburton, head of travel services at the Post Office, said: "When researching your holiday destination, do read up on the tipping etiquette for that country so that you can factor this into your spending budget. In some places, like the USA, giving a little extra is considered really important, for example.

"Familiarising yourself with the tipping culture will lessen your chance of causing offence and stop you spending money unnecessarily."

According to Post Office statistics, sales of the lira of Turkey and the pound of Egypt increased by 28 per cent and 31 per cent respectively this year.

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