Tipping in Europe

Good evening. Does anyone know the appropiate amounts to tip at resturants, for private tours and for transportation to and from the airport? Thanks for your help in advance.

it would be helpful to know what country you are flying in/out of. There are different customs. Generally, however, it is the same as in NA.

Some restaurants will add the tip (service fee, VAT) on the bill so check before you double tip

a good article from Rick Steeves site

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tipping.htm

This topic has been discussed several times. You might do a search for previous threads.

Besides some country related differences the baseline from European view is: Tipping is not necessary in Europe.

In restaurants you might round up to the next Euro or so. There is no need to tip for tours. You might leave a small amout as token of appreciation.

Tipping for every move and every smile and that is regions of 15% or more is a very American concept that does not apply to Europe.

There are different customs. Generally, however, it is the same as in NA.

However, I have never yet met service personnel who aren't pleased to have wads of money unnnecessarily thrown at them by North Americans. After all, who doesn't like free extra money?

Do a search on this board using tipping the the search function as there is a huge thread on this this with all kinds of replies...it always get a huge thread going...this subject!!!:o

In the UK you would leave about 10% for good service, however, it is more usual to round up the bill (check) by a couple of pounds. You may find in London that a service charge will be added and this may also apply to other European cities. Taxi drivers in London expect a tip. It is not standard practice to automatically add a gratuity to any restaurant charges as we have experienced in the US. Europeans have a different take on tipping and the wait staff have a salary and do not expect the customer to make up their wages. However, it is always nice to show appreciation where it is deserved.

I will try searching for tipping under this board. I tried yesterday but could not find anything. I will just try putting in tipping. Thanks again.

By the way, the countries we are visiting are Italy, France, Croatia and Spain.

A suggestion: In the full search screen, try the word "tipping" in keywords. Select to "Search Titles Only". In the forum selection box, highlight Europe, then check the box for "Search Child Forums" (which will search all three of the daughter forums - Med, British Isles and Baltics). Then search.

In the UK you would leave about 10% for good service, however, it is more usual to round up the bill (check) by a couple of pounds. You may find in London that a service charge will be added and this may also apply to other European cities. Taxi drivers in London expect a tip. It is not standard practice to automatically add a gratuity to any restaurant charges as we have experienced in the US. Europeans have a different take on tipping and the wait staff have a salary and do not expect the customer to make up their wages. However, it is always nice to show appreciation where it is deserved.

The UK and Europe are not different places - the UK is part of Europe.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying in respect of restaurant charges - a service charge is normally from 10-15%. If one is added there is no need to tip further. Waiting staff have a salary in the United Kingdom, and the law states that tips paid on credit cards can be used towards that salary, but those in cash cannot.

Certainly there is not the same neurotic need to tip anything that moves that afflicts Americans.

Written from a UK perspective. And people have different ideas here anyway - some tip more than others. For example, some tip hairdressers, and I never do.

Matthew

Taxi drivers in London expect a tip.

I'm not quite sure what you are saying in respect of restaurant charges - a service charge is normally from 10-15%. If one is added there is no need to tip further.

The only thing to add is this: Since the introduction of chip/PIN technology for credit card acceptance, more restaurants than before have gone over to automatically adding a service charge. This makes the credit card process much simpler for the customer. Where there is a service charge, there is no need to tip any more.

Some restaurants will add the tip (service fee, VAT) on the bill so check before you double tip

a good article from Rick Steeves site

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tipping.htm

Personally I think Rick Steves is notoriously cheap and prides himself on that.

I'd try another resource - also one that breaks it out by country - because every country is not the same.

http://www.fodors.com/features/nfdisplay1.cfm?name=stt/010124_stt_tg_europe_toc.cfm

The infamous tipping question! Here's a link to a thread that discusses tipping: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=577127

In it, you will find a post by me that includes links to two other threads. I realize that the search function does not always work as it should, making it difficult to find the information you seek. I hope these links help answer some of your questions.

The UK and Europe are not different places - the UK is part of Europe.

 

I'm not quite sure what you are saying in respect of restaurant charges - a service charge is normally from 10-15%. If one is added there is no need to tip further. Waiting staff have a salary in the United Kingdom, and the law states that tips paid on credit cards can be used towards that salary, but those in cash cannot.

 

Certainly there is not the same neurotic need to tip anything that moves that afflicts Americans.

 

Written from a UK perspective. And people have different ideas here anyway - some tip more than others. For example, some tip hairdressers, and I never do.

 

Matthew

Personally I think Rick Steves is notoriously cheap and prides himself on that.

from my perspective of living in europe (not the UK) i never tip. wages in europe in the service industries are generally good and in my experience there is never a need or expectation to tip. it doesnt make me cheap as the food is generally a lot dearer in this part of the world (to cover the wages!). i am sure if you are used to tipping and you want to continue to do so then it will be gladly received. but i have never felt uncomfortable for not doing so.

It's unpolite not to tip - if you got a good service!!!

In Germany you round up to a full or sometimes 0.50 EUR amount but min. 5-10% (depending to the quality of service).

In France and most other countries you just leave some change on the table.

Same in the taxi.

Bell Boy: 1-2 EUR per bag - max. 5 EUR.

Housekeeping: same.

The only country I know where tipping is not appreciated is Japan. It could happen that the waitress will run on the street to let you know that you forgot your change...

Regards,

HeinBloed

It is refreshing to see all these posts against over tipping. The Royal Caribbean board is full of people who have to tip an extra $20 at the specialty restaurant where the gratuity is included in the price.

The Rick Steves link http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/tipping.htm has a further link http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/eurotips.htm with info from people living in Europe. I particularly enjoyed the following quote:

"I realize that Americans, or anyone, doing things according to their own custom without bothering to ask what's appropriate, are really quite offensive, or they think we are "mugs" (easily taken advantage of)."