Thread: Tipping in Europe

Dreaming of Europe this summer or fall?

If you do go, here are some tips for tipping in some popular European ports of call:

England . Some restaurants automatically add a 10-15% service charge to the bill and no extra tip is necessary. If no charge is included, add this percentage.

France . Restaurants and bars include a 15% service charge. It also is customary to round out your bill with small change.

Germany . It is customary to leave a 10% tip for restaurant service. Pay the waiter directly, rather than leave it on the table.

Greece . A 13% service charge is added to the price of each meal. It is customary to add an additional 8-10% tip for good service. During holiday periods, restaurants add a healthy 18% bonus for the waiters.

Italy . A service charge of 10-15% is usually included in the check; no additional tip is necessary. If service is not included, a tip of up to 10% is customary.

Portugal . Service is included in the bill, but waiters are poorly paid so any tip will be very much appreciated; 5-10% of total bill is acceptable. Tips for bar food and service are noticeably smaller.

Scandinavia . Nobody really expects a tip. Service charges, found on most restaurant bills, reward good service.

Spain . Restaurant checks do not list a service charge, but you should consider the tip included. If you want to leave additional money, do not tip more than 10% of the bill.

Now, the question is what to give to cabbies? I hear that the ones in London make a small fortune as it is but other books suggest 10% .

I have also heard that it is customary to tip in hotels the same way you do in the states. A couple of bills per day for service.

Thanks for the Tip Info!

Scandinavia is actually over a range in tipping, less in Sweden and more in, say Finland.
Russia used to include service on bills but that practice has faded so tips are now expected if the service is good.
As globalization becomes increasingly dominate local customs fade, just as salaries for service industry workers for regions most will rely on tips as the missing part of their salary. One of the sad results of global companies and products is the trend for service sector jobs to pay at the lowest common denominator which means going down in developed countries like Sweden the US and rising in less developed such as India or China.

Good comment Stan
In the US many establishments EXPECT that a significant portion of a person's wages will come from tips. What is disappointing is when you have a large group that doesn't consider this.

WE have had this discussion on other threads, mostly regarding tipping on cruise ships. Let me just say that everyone should have to work in a service sector job for a year to get a real feel for things!

Back to your post. I have found a large range of tipping in the US, too. CA is better for tipping as is NY. The deep south is far less generous overall. Now these are just personal observations.

Originally Posted by nealberk

Now, the question is what to give to cabbies? I hear that the ones in London make a small fortune as it is but other books suggest 10% .

There is not the NEED to tip in the UK that seems to apply in the US.

Taxi drivers: I tip if they've been civil and helpful. Otherwise not, I'm afraid. 10% is fine. Some will advise 15% in London.

Waiters: I tip if I've had good service. Not otherwise. Again roughly 10%. I would no more tip if the service charge has already been added on than fly to the moon.

Hotels: If the room has been serviced properly, I'll tip at the end of the stay. Possibly. If I'm in a good mood

In other words, there are many people we don't tip and a few we do, but only if the service is good. And many of us don't tip even for that. And nothing terrible is going to happen to you if you don't. We won't hold you hostage or confiscate your frubals or anything serious like that

Mary

I need to start learning the Tipping customs for Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Greece for our Med trip next summer.

We spent 3 weeks in Greece last year. At first, we tipped in restaurants. Then we were advised by locals that they don't tip, so we stopped.

Wow, you learn something new everyday! Why are they so different on tipping beliefs ??? Is it that they feel they are already being paid for great service in the price ??? Just curious