tipping in Tunisia
A holiday in Tunisia is a cure for sun and beach abstinence and food for minds craving the exotic. Colours, aromas, sights and sounds swirl around in a methodical madness offering new perspectives in human culture to the open-minded. Wander the labyrinthine medinas and haggle for goods in the souk, explore the ancient capital of the mighty Carthaginian Empire and absorb the Byzantine and Ottoman architectural influences in the Kasbah. And then, laze on one of the famous white sand beaches after having dived in the clean, warm Mediterranean waters.
The official currency in Tunisia is the Dinar (TND), which is divided into 1,000 milim. Currency can be procured upon arrival at the exchange desks in the airport and you can expect to get around 2.5 Dinar per British Pound, 1.6 per US Dollar or 2.2 per Euro, leaving some margin for fluctuation and profit. Cash machines able to handle international transactions are easy to find, so you don’t need to, and shouldn’t in any case, carry lots of cash. When you do change your money, try to favour the smaller notes and coins as this will facilitate tipping.
tipping etiquette for hotels in Tunisia
In a Hotel Tip 5-20 dinars in Tunisia
Staff in the classier hotels do not expect you to tip, but it is appreciated nonetheless. As in any hotel, it is common practice to tip the porters, maids, waiters and bar staff. Porters should, of course, be given a modest tip when they carry your bags to and from the room, no more than 5 dinar is necessary here. Give the maid about 20 dinars per week. The same goes for the waiters if you want that extra pampering at the table, slip them a few dinar every day and you’ll be well looked-after. Finally, a bit of rounding up when you’re at the bar and you’ve got most of the people servicing you on-side.
should you tip your tour guide?
in Tunisia Don't Tip your your guide
Hotels and professional travel organisations arrange group tours for all tastes, and tipping tour guides is unnecessary. If, on the other hand, you’re the adventurous type and you want to hire your own driver come tour guide, then you’re going to have to negotiate prices directly. Your hotel is a good resource for estimates regarding what a particular trip might cost and, if all goes well, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t add an extra 20 to 50 dinar for the ride of your life.
should you tip your taxi driver?
In Tunisian taxis Round up the fare
Look for yellow or white taxis and check the meter is functioning. Alternatively, if you have an idea of what the trip should cost, negotiate an agreement before you get in the taxi. You may want to tip drivers who have been particularly helpful or courteous, or if they managed to refrain from scaring the life out of you during the trip. There is no set amount so just round up the fare or add 5%
tips at restaurants in Tunisia
in Tunisia Tip 5-10% at a restaurant
Waiting staff in Morocco may be on dismal wages so your tip will really mean a lot to them. Even so, you shouldn't feel obliged to tip. You should tip only if you receive good service and how much you tip is entirely up to you; Any tip will be appreciated. Use a 5-15% tip as a guideline or round up the bill to the nearest 10 dinar.
should you tip your taxi driver?
In Tunisia Don't Tip at a hairdresser
Hairdressing salons in Tunisia range from dubious shops with low prices and poor quality, to the more costly international chains with a somewhat higher degree of certainty. Tipping is not generally necessary but, as always, if you’re happy with the result, why not give them an extra five dinar for their trouble?