How should I prepare for tipping when first arriving in another country?

February 6, 2026 — 5:00am

This might seem a dumb question but can you please give some advice on how to prepare for tipping porters etc on arrival in a foreign country. I have found it isn’t easy to obtain foreign currency in small notes. Any tips please?
P. McMahon, Paddington NSW

Not a dumb question at all. This is exactly the sort of conundrum that causes awkward moments when you’re jet-lagged and juggling bags. Unless it’s a European or North American country, obtaining small notes in the currency of the country you’re visiting is usually not possible before you depart. You can do that at the currency exchange booths when you arrive at your destination airport but at the end of a long trip I’m never in the headspace to deal with currency conversions.

The two currencies that are almost universally accepted and valued as tips are euros and US dollars. While you can order and pay for foreign currencies online from providers such as Travelex or the Commonwealth Bank, you can’t specify small denominations, you’ll get a mix. The best way to get your hands on small denomination notes is from an exchange bureau, found in major metropolitan areas. As a last resort, try the exchange bureau at your departure airport.

My wife and I and perhaps some friends want to do a small-group tour that takes in all the sights of Turkey including Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy and Cappadocia ideally with a seven-night gulet trip in September and October. We are also including an island-hopping trip in Greece and are keen to explore lesser-known islands.
J. Paterson, Mudgee NSW

Wendy Wu Tours has a 17-day “Fully Inclusive Classic Group Tour of Turkey” that includes all the places on your wish list and more. You could combine that with Wendy Wu’s seven-day gulet cruise, a great way to experience Turkey’s coastline starting from Marmaris. For your Greek islands adventure, you might want to stick to the Cyclades Islands, and the Western Cyclades has some beauties.

Serifos is an escapist’s paradise, with 40 quiet beaches, and reminders of how the Greek Islands used to be. Centrepiece of Livadi, the port town, is the Yacht Club, in reality a simple old-school waterfront bar popular for those with time on their hands. Just south of Serifos, Sifnos is a tiny gem with its blue-domed churches, the soft-sand beaches of Cheronissos and Vathi, and narrow, stepped village streets. Sifnos has some of the best hiking trails in the Cyclades as well and a reputation for excellent food. Kimolos and Milos are a short cruise to the south.

We are planning a short visit to Uzbekistan in late June. We want to spend a few days in Samarkand with a day trip to Shakhrisabz then two to three nights in Bukhara and then travel to Tashkent to fly home. Is there a company you could recommend that would organise the land travel for us? What temperatures can we expect? Any advice you can offer? J. Fordham, Richmond VIC

The easiest way to do this is with a full package that includes hotel accommodation, guides, transport and airport transfers. UK-based Wild Frontiers is one operator that offers tailor-made tours in Uzbekistan and they have many years’ experience in the region. Australia’s own World Expeditions also offers private trips. In June you can expect temperatures in the range 19-34°C. Humidity is low, but you might want to avoid outdoor activities in the middle of the day. Uzbekistan is the most user-friendly of all the Central Asian countries. It’s safe and tourism infrastructure is well-developed. There’s even a high-speed train linking Tashkent and Bokhara.

The national dish is plov, rice with carrots and lamb. Langman, noodle soup, and Manti, dumplings, are also popular. Bread is baked flat on the sides of clay ovens, and if you can get your hands on butter and local honey it’s a real treat. Tea culture is strong, usually centred around a samovar. Cash is still king, US dollars are the most widely accepted foreign currency, and clean, newer notes are preferred. Uzbekistan is secular but culturally conservative. Headscarves are only required for women when visiting some shrines, but shoulders and legs should be covered. The tradition of hospitality to strangers is very much alive, you’ll be warmly welcomed.

We have two kids in Canada with teenagers and our other son based in Melbourne along with us. Where is a good holiday meeting point in July or August with heat, interesting locations and minimal flying time?
P. Ross, Hawthorn VIC

Hawaii. Warmth is guaranteed, you’ve got plenty of diversity from live volcanoes and swims with manta rays to mega malls, and it’s almost mid-point for yourselves and the Canadians. After a few days on Oahu, you might strike out for one of the less populated islands. One place that might appeal to the teenagers is Hanalei, the laid-back, biking, hiking, snorkelling and diving capital of Kauai. Hanalei is close to the Na Pali coast, the fluted green volcanic peaks that rise 1000 metres almost sheer from the sea. From Hanalei, the highway continues west for another 10 kilometres through a dreamscape of green tunnels, one-lane bridges, silver streams and tiny, ramshackle general stores.

The highway ends at Ke’e Beach, where the Kalalau Trail takes up the journey around the Na Pali Coast. Rated by many as the premier walk in the Hawaiian Islands, this is a remnant of the trail that was carved out by the Hawaiians to reach their taro fields in the coastal valleys, protected by the natural fortress of the cliffs. For a total escape, Lanai is the smallest of Hawaii’s inhabited islands, and unlike any other Hawaiian island. There are no shopping malls, no boutiques, no fast food joints, no outlet stores and no traffic lights. Deer are prolific. For every kilometre of paved road, Lanai has 10 of unpaved track.

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Travel advice is general; readers should consider their personal circumstances