Thread: Do I need to pay tips in Europe

I'm from Europe and I can tell you that basicly you don't need to pay tips here. If you take an organize excursion, the prices are quit high so their is no need for a tip. But sometimes if we take a tour bus and the driver just do the extra mile, we go around with a head and collect. Here it's not because the mony but more about the compliment you make to the driver. Well, how much the tip depending on how many people enjoy, for example if you go with about 20 people then 1 Euro p.p. should be enough but again you don't need to pay tips and no one will blame you. The same in restaurant's no tips needed. On board of the ship is another story, first of all you pay allready about $10 p.p. p.d. so it's included but here the salary of crewmembers are very low and a little tip will make them happy. You don't need to pay the whole day tips but just only in some moments if they do some extra for you or if you like some one.

Again, in Europe you don't need to pay tips !!!

You might not NEED to but as everywhere it is exspected to recived something for service rendered.
Its also a very polite way to say thank you

I think its a personal decision. In my experience the majority of people who work in the service industry are not well paid. Many of them rely on tips. If I receive good service I will leave a small tip. If I receive great service then I will pay more. If the service is bad I don't tip at all. I don't think the place or region is important - its about service.

Originally Posted by JulShut

I think its a personal decision. In my experience the majority of people who work in the service industry are not well paid. Many of them rely on tips. If I receive good service I will leave a small tip. If I receive great service then I will pay more. If the service is bad I don't tip at all. I don't think the place or region is important - its about service.

That's right, but yes it also depending the region.
In Europe the payments in the service industry is good they not rely on tips like in many other regions in the world. Of course to pay a tip for good service is a good thing but not realy necessary in Europe, very important is alway's be kindly. Pay tips on a cruise ship is another story because they rely more on tips.

Originally Posted by nedstar2

That's right, but yes it also depending the region.
In Europe the payments in the service industry is good they not rely on tips like in many other regions in the world. Of course to pay a tip for good service is a good thing but not realy necessary in Europe, very important is alway's be kindly. Pay tips on a cruise ship is another story because they rely more on tips.

From what little I have seen of Europe (not my choice, I love Europe) it depends on the country. In England tips are expected by cabbies and restaurants. don;t know if you consider England to be part of Europe, though!

Originally Posted by nedstar2

I'm from Europe and I can tell you that basicly you don't need to pay tips here. If you take an organize excursion, the prices are quit high so their is no need for a tip. But sometimes if we take a tour bus and the driver just do the extra mile, we go around with a head and collect. Here it's not because the mony but more about the compliment you make to the driver. Well, how much the tip depending on how many people enjoy, for example if you go with about 20 people then 1 Euro p.p. should be enough but again you don't need to pay tips and no one will blame you. The same in restaurant's no tips needed. On board of the ship is another story, first of all you pay allready about $10 p.p. p.d. so it's included but here the salary of crewmembers are very low and a little tip will make them happy. You don't need to pay the whole day tips but just only in some moments if they do some extra for you or if you like some one.

Again, in Europe you don't need to pay tips !!!

It appears that the OP is referring to a cruise line that has already including tips for the ships staff.

The times I've been to Europe, I always tip and no one has ever chased me down for leaving a tip

I always tip at restaurants, airports, taxis, etc. It would be more rare for me to not tip. When at home, here in the USA, 20% is the usual amount we tip for wait staff or the new politically correct name of servers

I've been to different countries in Europe and even organized land tour paperwork states that you should give a tip to the driver and guide. My understanding was that you tip in Europe; just not that 20% figure so I'm now confused?

Originally Posted by ziggysun

The times I've been to Europe, I always tip and no one has ever chased me down for leaving a tip

I always tip at restaurants, airports, taxis, etc. It would be more rare for me to not tip. When at home, here in the USA, 20% is the usual amount we tip for wait staff or the new politically correct name of servers

I've been to different countries in Europe and even organized land tour paperwork states that you should give a tip to the driver and guide. My understanding was that you tip in Europe; just not that 20% figure so I'm now confused?

In Europe there is no any duty for pay a tip, the salary's are not depending on tips.
In for example in USA it's a duty to pay tips because the salary of service depending for a part on tips. In Europe we just pay the bill we get and if you like, you can pay a small tip but it's not a duty and no one will blame you. The reason why most US citizen pay tips in all
parts of the world is because they belief it's a duty every where in the world to pay the same amount of tips as in USA, but that's a mistake. I am a European citizen so belief me I know how it works, but of course we also pay tips if the service is excellent but not allway's and not for everything (we not pay a tip for just drinking a coffee).

On cruise ships you have to pay already $12 per day per person on tips, here it's getting a bit tricky because should you pay double tips. How much on tips you willing to pay as a couple per day if you not pay this $12 p.d.p.p, because this $12 means its $24 p.d. you pay on tips allready per couple, although we then still pay tips to some crew members because we don't know where this $24 is gowing it's a little strange situation and can be also a point of discussion.

it's slightly different in the u.k. restaraunts 10% cab drivers the same. other than that only tip for exceptional service.

We just returned from Europe (Eastern) and once again, we were challenged by the question: To tip or not to tip"?

We always start out tipping. This time, we limited it to around 10%. Then I noticed that locals were not leaving tips. So, randomly, we tipped sometimes and didn't other times. When we didn't tip, we noticed that in some restaurants, it wasn't expected. However, in others it was and the waiters let us know!! So, we tipped!

There was one waiter we liked and we asked him the situation. He said it depended on the country the tipper( or non-tipper) came from.

It is difficult for North Americans, because we are accustomed to tipping. Unlike some of you, I feel silly tipping if it is not expected. On the other hand I feel silly not tipping if it is expected. So we wing it haphazardly!