Discuss Tipping in Europe here. KEEP IT NICE!!!

[Woodview]

On another point .... Tipping anywhere is NOT expected


If you wish to leave or give a Tip it will be appreciated

So no need to save money to pay for tips

Tipping is not a European culture

 

[sayhello]

On another point .... Tipping anywhere is NOT expected


If you wish to leave or give a Tip it will be appreciated

So no need to save money to pay for tips

Tipping is not a European culture

Well, except for the Adventure Guides! They *do* expect to be tipped. (And they TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY deserve it!!!) It's easiest for them if you tip them with cash.

Sayhello

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

On another point .... Tipping anywhere is NOT expected


If you wish to leave or give a Tip it will be appreciated

So no need to save money to pay for tips

Tipping is not a European culture

This is not quite correct, it depends on the country, as tipping is the norm and is expected in some countries, just usually not as much as in the US. In many countries, it is correct to "round up" when paying your bill at a restaurant or cab fare. Many restaurants include a "service" charge on the bill. You should tip porters at hotels and housekeeping. Public restrooms sometimes charge for use, and often have a tip basket. When my husband and I have taken guided tours, we always tip the tour guide; it had never been refused!

 

[lovetotravel]

.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Our Italian guides suggested rounding up our bills or leaving change such as €1-2.

Our German guides suggested 10% for good service.

The reasoning they gave us was that the restaurant servers are paid a full salary in Europe unlike in the US.

That is correct; service workers in Europe are actually paid a living wage.

 

[Woodview]

I repeat Tipping is NOT Required Yes Tour Guides say give Tips


BUT they then get " a Cut " of the Take.


As a European we expect TO PAY the AMOUNT on The BILL

Neither ROUND Up or ROUND Down the Bill.


I am in Northern Spain & France for the last 10 days AND NO TIPPING

in ANY 4 star Hotels. asked or Given.

 

[edinburghlass]

Have you been on an ABD tour?

Doesn't sound much like it as you suggest the tour guides get a cut of any tips.

As a European I am more than happy to tip good service in restaurants, 10 to 15% as a rule so please don't suggest that ALL Europeans follow your example.

 

[sayhello]

Woodview,

I agree with edinburghlass. First off, when I mentioned tipping the Adventure Guides, I'm talking about the ABD Adventure Guides, not tours that people arrange for time on their own. The Adventure Guides do NOT get a piece of "the take", and tipping them is customary and expected. What currency you tip them in is strictly up to you, but they *are* to be tipped.

And Spain and France are 2 countries out of MANY in Europe. Maybe it's not customary to tip where you are from, but to generalize that to all of Europe is a bit presumptuous. I agree that tipping does not seem to be as *expected* in the European countries I've been to, but I don't think I've ever offended a server or independent tour operator by offering them a bit extra at the end of the meal or tour, or rounding up when I paid for a taxi.

Sayhello

 

[Tozzie]

I just returned from Germany and many shops only accepted Visa and MasterCard.....refused my American Express...... We tipped at all our eateries as well as the bus driver and local tour guides. In my life it brightens up my day when something nice and unexpected happens and hopefully those who received the "extra" had an little joy in their working day. I don't understand why some spend thousands of dollars on a trip, buy bags full of goods and then get weak in the knees when they may part with a few dollars in the form of "tips". Our driver that picked us up at the airport and drove us to our hotel said it was the first tip he had received in ten years of driving for ABD.

Wow really, I thought ABD took care of the tips, either ABD doesn't, they follow woodview's line of thought or the company keeps the tips.

I personally don't care what other people do, I do what I feel comfortable with and with what my dad taught me to do. I regularly tip any position I would tip if I were in the states. There is often a discussion on some of these boards regarding tipping housekeeping at WDW and people will tell you that you dont HAVE to tip, well most things I don't have to do but I do them and it is also a job that I know I wouldn't want.

 

[carpenta]

I may have not written my post as well as I should. I agree with you Tozzie that we tip as we would back home in the states. Some traditions our parents taught us should carry on in my opinion. As far as ABD I believe (myself) that they do add the tips to the compensation of the independent contractors for everyone we met seemed to be quite happy to see us overall.

 

[sayhello]

I thought I'd add a post with an interesting perspective on the tipping issue, which I just saw on the DCL board. (DISer Kriisikka is from Finland):

No tip. Things like tours have a set price that includes taxes and peoples wages. Finns don't work for tips, require them or even expect them. They appreciate them of course, but won't go any extra mile to get them - their boss is already paying them for and expecting them to treat customers well. If you get poor service you make a reclamation to the tour provider and demand compensation.

General rule in Finland is no tipping. In table service cafés and restaurants people sometimes tend to leave some of their loose change they get after paying. Like if you pay with a 10 euro note something that cost between 8 and under 10 euros, you could leave the coins if you don't want them. Pubs and counter cafés might have a tip jar. Same thing, toss in loose change you don't want.

(If you are wondering about the absence of tipping, it's mainly because of our tax practices. The Finnish equivalent of IRS does not recognize tipping as an income the same way as in the US. People have a set sum wage their employer reports to the tax office and it's taxed each month automatically. Every cent over that sum "on the side" a worker gets via tips or other means is something he should report to the tax office himself, which people usually don't want to do if its a couple of euros now and then. So every tip accepted is for most people a small act of tax evasion each time.)

Sayhello

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I repeat Tipping is NOT Required Yes Tour Guides say give Tips


BUT they then get " a Cut " of the Take.


As a European we expect TO PAY the AMOUNT on The BILL

Neither ROUND Up or ROUND Down the Bill.


I am in Northern Spain & France for the last 10 days AND NO TIPPING

in ANY 4 star Hotels. asked or Given.

This may have been your experience, but it is common in France at least, as I and others have posted, to "round up" when paying a restaurant bill or a taxi fare. It is also common to give a hotel concierge a tip for special service. I have traveled all over Europe and no one has ever refused a tip. By the way, a waiter in Paris was once furious when my husband did not tip him (a service charge had already been added to the bill). He was quite insistent that tipping was required!

 

[Tozzie]

I used to have a sheet with a guide to tipping around the world, i will look for it but the only place i remember that thought of tping as an insult was cab drivers in Japan, I attributed that to the culture.

 

[Woodview]

To Lost in Cyber Space ,

I am an European & I traveled around Europe , on family holidays ,most of my

life. We went on school trips to UK. & then to Mainland Europe.
For 20 years we took the 4 children to visit The Netherlands , travelling for 3 weeks .
We traveled with our car ( Right hand drive ... Stick Shift ) & trailer tent

onto Car ferries & landed in France & drove up through Belgium & onto The Netherlands. We have taken them up to Denmark ( Billund ... Legoland )

& Sweden & back through Germany & Luxenburg.

Now we fly 2 to 4 times from Ireland to Europe ... Austria , Italy ,The Netherlands & Germany.& France , Croatia.

At this moment I am in Andorra between Spain & France.

We also fly to Orlando twice a year ( Yes we do own a 5 Bed Villa )

& have travelled to New York , Seattle , Spokane .

We have been to Vancouver .... & over the North Cascades back into USA .

We have been in Australia as well

All these trips have been in Hired cars & driven by me. ( Sole driver )

In ALL these NON USA trips I have NEVER been pressured into Tipping

The only place Pressure is put on one " To Tip " is U.S.A.

Of Course when an " American " ( Yank ) is seen to enter a Hotel

or whatever ... in Europe the word gets out & A BIG tip IS Expected.

AND Tour Guides DO play there part in this.

This I hope should give you an inside on this topic from a young 65 +

old age pension person .... and loving it.

 

[Tozzie]

To Lost in Cyber Space ,

I am an European & I traveled around Europe , on family holidays ,most of my

life. We went on school trips to UK. & then to Mainland Europe.
For 20 years we took the 4 children to visit The Netherlands , travelling for 3 weeks .
We traveled with our car ( Right hand drive ... Stick Shift ) & trailer tent

onto Car ferries & landed in France & drove up through Belgium & onto The Netherlands. We have taken them up to Denmark ( Billund ... Legoland )

& Sweden & back through Germany & Luxenburg.

Now we fly 2 to 4 times from Ireland to Europe ... Austria , Italy ,The Netherlands & Germany.& France , Croatia.

At this moment I am in Andorra between Spain & France.

We also fly to Orlando twice a year ( Yes we do own a 5 Bed Villa )

& have travelled to New York , Seattle , Spokane .

We have been to Vancouver .... & over the North Cascades back into USA .

We have been in Australia as well

All these trips have been in Hired cars & driven by me. ( Sole driver )

In ALL these NON USA trips I have NEVER been pressured into Tipping

The only place Pressure is put on one " To Tip " is U.S.A.

Of Course when an " American " ( Yank ) is seen to enter a Hotel

or whatever ... in Europe the word gets out & A BIG tip IS Expected.

AND Tour Guides DO play there part in this.

This I hope should give you an inside on this topic from a young 65 +

old age pension person .... and loving it.

Wow the USA you felt pressured to tip, I live here and I never feel pessured to tip. How did you feel pressured, cause it doesn't make sense.

Also you have a problem grasping the fact that others experiences are not the same as yours and you keep reinterating the same point, which is only your expeience, others, some whom are European, seem to have a different experience. I take exception to your posts, I am not cheap and I tip for great service, regardless of what country I am in.

As for feeling pressured to tip in the USA, I doubt it, there are some overbearing people but they are not every where and I think the pressure was really you own conscience talking to you.

 

[alagille]

Wow the USA you felt pressured to tip, I live here and I never feel pessured to tip. How did you feel pressured, cause it doesn't make sense. Also you have a problem grasping the fact that others experiences are not the same as yours and you keep reinterating the same point, which is only your expeience, others, some whom are European, seem to have a different experience. I take exception to your posts, I am not cheap and I tip for great service, regardless of what country I am in. As for feeling pressured to tip in the USA, I doubt it, there are some overbearing people but they are not every where and I think the pressure was really you own conscience talking to you.

I live in the US and EVERYday feel pressure to tip. It used to be 15%, now nearly always 18% expected and 20% in some restaurants. If were to tip less than 10% for slow or poor service on the SOLE part of the server (messed up order) I would feel bad or guilty. Well, that isn't right that I should feel guilty. My experience is that 15-18% is EXPECTED for just bringing my order and merely refiling a drink and checking on condiments. I don't begrudge the servers themselves this money. If I chose to go to a restaurant, I know the social expectations which have evolved IMO significantly over the past several decades. If a server shows up, brings their "C" game, there is an expectation of a base tip- 15%. I would be making a significant negative commentary regarding a server if I left change or rounded up like in Europe.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I can't resist adding to the off-thread topic. I just came back from a very upmarket cruise in the British Isles. It was all inclusive--truly all inclusive, I didn't pay for a thing all week--and tipping was actively discouraged. There was a line in the cruise documentation that was great. It said something along the lines of "tipping is embarrassing for everyone." YES!!! Exactly. Trust the Brits to have such a civilized approach, LOL! I will add that it was the best service I've ever had on a cruise.

I personally wish Disney would pay their employees (build it into my cost) and discourage tipping. Not going to happen, but it would be nice

 

[Tozzie]

I live in the US and EVERYday feel pressure to tip. It used to be 15%, now nearly always 18% expected and 20% in some restaurants. If were to tip less than 10% for slow or poor service on the SOLE part of the server (messed up order) I would feel bad or guilty. Well, that isn't right that I should feel guilty. My experience is that 15-18% is EXPECTED for just bringing my order and merely refiling a drink and checking on condiments. I don't begrudge the servers themselves this money. If I chose to go to a restaurant, I know the social expectations which have evolved IMO significantly over the past several decades. If a server shows up, brings their "C" game, there is an expectation of a base tip- 15%. I would be making a significant negative commentary regarding a server if I left change or rounded up like in Europe.

Tipping has always been 15 or 20 percent with the emphasis put on 20 and I have never felt pressured to tip. Again my dad taught me to tip 20 percent for good service and he also taught me to leave 2 pennies for awful service so the server didn't think I forgot the tip. Again I don't think it is pressure, I think it is more ...............

 

[mgsquared]

To Lost in Cyber Space ,

I am an European & I traveled around Europe , on family holidays ,most of my

life. We went on school trips to UK. & then to Mainland Europe.
For 20 years we took the 4 children to visit The Netherlands , travelling for 3 weeks .
We traveled with our car ( Right hand drive ... Stick Shift ) & trailer tent

onto Car ferries & landed in France & drove up through Belgium & onto The Netherlands. We have taken them up to Denmark ( Billund ... Legoland )

& Sweden & back through Germany & Luxenburg.

Now we fly 2 to 4 times from Ireland to Europe ... Austria , Italy ,The Netherlands & Germany.& France , Croatia.

At this moment I am in Andorra between Spain & France.

We also fly to Orlando twice a year ( Yes we do own a 5 Bed Villa )

& have travelled to New York , Seattle , Spokane .

We have been to Vancouver .... & over the North Cascades back into USA .

We have been in Australia as well

All these trips have been in Hired cars & driven by me. ( Sole driver )

In ALL these NON USA trips I have NEVER been pressured into Tipping

The only place Pressure is put on one " To Tip " is U.S.A.

Of Course when an " American " ( Yank ) is seen to enter a Hotel

or whatever ... in Europe the word gets out & A BIG tip IS Expected.

AND Tour Guides DO play there part in this.

This I hope should give you an inside on this topic from a young 65 +

old age pension person .... and loving it.

Ooook I am going to jump in here as a fellow European who also travels a lot all over Europe and say that not tipping at all is rude and considered rude.
Will anyone pressure you to tip or say something if you don't? No. Austrians especially are non confrontational like that. They are paid a living wage (not a super high one mind you) and really appreciate tips.
Finnland seems to be an exception. Ok. But when I was with my Swedish friend in Sweden- tipping was the norm.

Usually you just round up. So if your bill is 15.50, you tell the waiter 16. If it is 15.80, you say 16.30-50. 50 cents or a euro are fine unless it is a big bill.

This is customary in Austria/Germany/UK/France, etc. Pay attention to those around you (I speak 3 languages, that helps) and you will see. You will also see the same written in international tipping guides.

Is tipping mandatory? No.
Are you rude if you don't tip anything at all? Absolutely.

Please everyone don't go around not tipping and making an awful impression of whatever country you are representing. The locals here all tip. If only a little bit. It is about the gesture. Europeans are big on principle.

 

[carpenta]

This tipping rant brings back a funny memory......years ago on our first trip to Europe we ate at a nice restaurant and paid the bill and left a 20% tip.......OH Boy!!!!! .....The waiter became our best friend and kept asking about what else he could get for us....It was only after someone told me about the tipping policy. But we still tip as if we are from the U.S. Seems like we have a lot of "friends" that work in restaurants around Europe.