We always tip in cabs, somewhere around 10% is OK. For a longer journey, you might want to add a little more, but around towns 10% is enough.

It's uncommon in Spain to tip taxi drivers, but we usually round up to the nearest Euro. When going to and from the airport we usually add an extra Euro or two, but nothing more.

Hi TD,

Tipping is an American thing.

Good advice from Robert. Applies to Italy.

Yes, but there is no need to tip 20% as you would in the US. We usually tip more like 10% - although I know locals may give less. Also if the driver has hauled around 4 giant suitcases for you take that into consideration.

It is certainly not customary to tip (and certainly as Robert) Extra only for outstanding service above and beyond. This applies to all services and situations.

Partly perhaps because of a national shortage of coins in Italy, there don't seem to be all that many occasions when taxi fares aren't counted in whole Euro?

Unless the circumstances are unusual, we add just one or two Euro to the agreed or metered fare... which (in my mind at least) averages out to giving the drivers the price of a quick coffee!

No tip is the reward I save for absolute stinkers...

Peter

>No tip is the reward I save for absolute stinkers...<

I give poor service 1 cent. That way they know I'm not walking away without leaving a tip.

Well, I´m the opposite of Robert. I don´t usually tip the taxi drivers, and if I tip is inside Madrid. There have been lately a few nice taxi drivers who have stopped the meters and behave perfectly polite who have deserved the "rounding up to the next euro" tip.

I never tip when coming and going to the airport (and I tend if possible to get the metro or the bus there), because being spanish is the one ride where I am more likely to be submitted to various political rantings and diatribes ... and it is the last thing I want to hear near midnight.

Bye, Cova

tipping in restaurants and hotels in Italy ?

Amygirl1, you might want to start a new topic.

Just bak from Rome and did not tip cab drivers, in fact one made sure tongive us the .20€ difference on one trip. Occasionally, the drivers would not have enough change, so they would end up with a .10-.30€ tip but not because we were tipping, it just wasn't worth worrying about.