本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛Canadians confused by local customs
nicole.feenstra - May 17th, 2011
Many Canadians are baffled by tipping etiquette and local customs when travelling abroad, according to a TD First Class Travel international etiquette poll.
Roughly 57% of the 1,000 Canadians surveyed said they felt unsure when tipping outside Canada, with 16% saying they were downright confused about leaving gratuities.
“Leaving a gratuity in an unfamiliar currency can be confusing and frustrating, because every country has a different standard. For example, it’s customary to tip wait staff 15-20% in the U.S., but in Europe service charges are often included in the bill and in Australia you’re not expected to tip at all,” said Stacie Pearson, associate vice president of TD Credit Cards, in a press release. “Before you travel overseas, you should always check to see what is customary. Under tipping can be embarrassing, but over tipping can really impact your budget.”
Erring on the side of caution, 40% of Canadians say they stick with what they know by tipping as they would at home: between 10 and 15%.
When it comes to learning about cultures in new destinations, 66% of Canadians said they liked exploring new things, as long as they didn’t have to give up too many comforts, while 14% enjoy immersing themselves completely in a new culture. Twenty per cent of surveyed Canadians would rather relax at a resort.
“Local customs vary widely from country to country, so it’s important to learn the social etiquette before you go,” said Pearson. “In countries like Mexico, it’s common to barter with merchants when shopping at local markets, but in some places, like Paris, discussing money is considered unsophisticated.”
The minority of Canadians – 45% – knew it was unacceptable to split a bill in Paris, though the majority were aware that it is prohibited to bring chewing gum into Singapore (73%) and that it is considered offensive to smile at some historic sites in Vietnam (86%).更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net