Do you hate tipping? Nine countries that don't expect you to leave a tip – including three where tipping is an INSULT

Tipping is a sign of decency, an indication that you appreciate the effort your waiter, taxi driver or doorman has put into caring for you.

However, it can be a etiquette minefield when traveling abroad, not to mention a costly gesture.

For those who hate the mental gymnastics that come with adding 15 percent to a bill at the end of a wine-soaked meal, or who are tired of knowing when and where to tip, you can you are considering a trip to one of these countries.

That's because they are countries where it is considered bad form to leave a tip – and in some cases, leaving a tip is downright insulting.

Australia

You can leave a little something when you pick up your flat white without causing offense in Australia. However, no one will be mad if you don't. Pictured is a barista making coffee in Perth

Downstairs, tipping is not expected, but it is not sniffed either. In larger cities, a 10 percent service charge is often included in the bill, and you won't raise any eyebrows if you leave a tip if you order a flat white.

Switzerland

It is not customary to tip in Switzerland, where service charges are included in prices in most places under federal law. That said, if you are happy with your service, a tip is welcome.

It is not customary to tip in Switzerland, where service charges are included in prices in most places under federal law. Pictured is the famous cosmopolitan Swiss city of Geneva

But don't worry about ensuring that waiters are adequately compensated: the country has one of the highest minimum wages in the world.

Argentina

A curious one. A 2004 labor law makes it illegal to tip people who work in hotels or restaurants. That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, nor that it isn't welcome.

However, the law is not regularly enforced: tips account for about 40 percent of the average Argentine waiter's income, so it's kind to leave something.

Belgium

Wages are nice in Belgium, so tips are not expected. However, you won't be chased out of the restaurant if you offer 10 percent.

French Polynesia

No one expects a tip in French Polynesia. If you are overwhelmed by the great service and offer a tip, the recipient may decline. Some restaurants add notes to the bill to indicate whether or not tips are welcome, to avoid tripping up customers.

Singapore

Tipping is somewhat controversial in Singapore. A small offering will not offend while dining or taking a taxi. But it is officially discouraged: the government website states that 'tipping is not a way of life' on the island.

COUNTRIES WHERE Tipping is an insult

Japan

It's a slap in the face to tip in Japan, where it's the cultural norm to take great pride in your work. Employees set a very high standard when providing a service: no tip is necessary to feel appreciated.

When you give a tip, you indicate that you think the employer does not see the value of it and therefore does not pay him enough.

China

Leaving a tip in China is virtually forbidden. In the photo: a waiter in Shanghai

Here it is virtually forbidden. Tipping used to be prohibited in China; For decades, tipping was considered bribery. To this day, in much of the country, it is considered a personal insult to restaurant workers or hoteliers to tip them.

The exception to this is tour guides or tour bus drivers; you can give them some money for their problems without causing offence.

South Korea

As in Japan and China, tipping is considered downright rude in South Korea. An attempt to leave a tip may very well be rejected.