Another tipping question: concierges
 

Do Europeans (and other non-Americans) normally tip for hotel concierge services, such as booking tickets or making reservations?

Let the food fight begin.

I suppose not if these people already make a "decent wage" according to the usual rationale for not doing so which we are continually lectured about.

OR, they don't because they don't want to "ruin the local economy as the Americans have done in Ireland" and that is a direct quote from a Fodorite, too.

It seems so much easier if individuals are allowed to decide, on their own, how much a service warrants but...

Guidelines help one make a personal decision, for example:

I ordered room service for the first time ever on my recent trip to Ireland. It was delivered in 20 minutes, and was exactly right.I thought it was worthy of a tip, but it was brushed off. No big deal, but if I had known it wasn't expected, I wouldn't have offered.

So, Elberko, you only tip when it "is expected" is that it?

That's fine if that is the "guideline" you follow; some folks have more need of tipping guidelines than others so. I don't and I never will. This is the same reason I never "watch to see what other people are doing" for tour guides and such. If someone wants to "brush off" a tip that is up to them; it has absolutely no bearing on whether or not I feel the service "deserves" a tip IMO.

OK, I still don't have an answer about concierges in Europe.

Never if you are like me.

I thank them, can go to a handshake.
I consider it part of their job and therefore don't tip.
And if they don't help I don't come back to that hotel.

BTW : is a concierge a clerk like the guy a reception desk in English ? In french a concierge is somebody with specific tasks like looking after the building but not doing a staff work.

I had a cognac recently with the receptionist at 1 am. He was nice and I didn't want to drink alone.
We chatted, it made him pass the time and I found it 'cool'.

That's my idea of tips. I also (sometimes) propose a waiter to have a glass of wine from the bottle we order.

>>BTW : is a concierge a clerk like the guy a reception desk in English ? In french a concierge is somebody with specific tasks like looking after the building but not doing a staff work.<<

I'm referring in general to the staff members at larger hotels who might make dinner reservations, secure tix for an event, etc.

Just as an example: I had a stopover in London, staying at the Intercontinental, and thought that I'd kill some time by doing touristy tour of Buckingham Palace, since I could easily walk to it. I asked the concierge about tix for the tour, and got them for me at a time that was convenient for me.

Sometimes on the US, you might give him a small gratuity for something like that, but I wasn't sure what the protocol was in London.

<In french a concierge is somebody with specific tasks like looking after the building>

In the US, a concierge is a staff member in a hotel who has he specific job of assisting guests with arrangements outside the hotel: theater tickets, restaurant reservations, tours, etc.

In the US I have tipped the concierge when he provided what seemed to me to be excellent service. I have no clue if Europeans do the same in Europe. In the example you provide, vincenzo, I probably wouldn't have tipped him, but that's what makes these discussion so hellish--it's a personal choice, with few guidelines.

I often wonder if the non-tipping Europeans so prominent on these Fodor's boards are representative of Europeans as a whole...

Wo: do the French tip their concierges, at the holidays, say? Just curious. In the US people give their doormen and supers tips at the holidays, but agonize over how much is appropriate. (We don't really have the French sort of concierges--doormen and supers are the nearest comparable positions.)

NewbE

By holidays, do you mean Christmas?

I mean the time of the year when there is more than one big holiday on the calendar in the space of a month: Christmas, New Year's, Hanukah, probably others of which I am unaware.

chartley,
Americans don't HAVE to say Christmas until next year. ;)

We tip the xoncierge for extraordinary service. Making a dinner reservation is expected. Above and beyond that, it is our policy to tip.

No you would not tip for a hotel concierge doing their job in Europe, unless they get us something very difficult (lunch with the queen maybe). We also do not tip out postmen or our dustmen.

I've been watching some terrible old films on youtube and there is an American one which talks about some sort of network of European concierges who can solve many problems, this might be a great example of cultural cross over.

Do Americans tip their dustmen and postmen at the major festival?

The term concierge is French and, in fact, the standards are set by a French organization (for hotel concierges, not building ones) to get the official certificate and gold key pins.

This nothing like a night desk clerk at any hotel. So no, in France, there is not just the one meaning for concierge as in an apt building, they have concierges in top hotels, also.

I rarely use them anywhere and when I have, it has been for trivial things (directions to bus stop, want to mail a letter, etc), so have never tipped one in any country, although I am rarely in a hotel that has one.

don't know what Europeans do re tipping

This is the international organization, it began in Cannes and its administrative offices are in Paris. They even have conventions.

http://www.lesclefsdor.org/

Their executive committee consists of the chief concierge at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris.

<Do Americans tip their dustmen and postmen at the major festival?>
First of all, a trophy for the term "the major festival", I am adopting it immediately. Who could possibly take offense? (Don't answer that.)

Postmen, yes. As government employees they can't accept cash, nor, I think, anything worth more than $20--is that right?

What's a dustman?

>>Do Americans tip their dustmen and postmen at the major festival?<<

It's not uncommon to give a letter carrier a small gift -- homemade cookies, etc., thought I don't think they expect it. I think cash is considered bad form, and might get the person in trouble for taking it.

Dustmen = trash collectors? If so, I never tip them, but I have heard of people giving them a case of beer, or something like that, if they've done a good job and not dented up the waste cans.

We give Christmas boxes (of money) to our dustmen and postmen, just as we do to our other domestic servants.

Downton Abbey lives!

I wonder if I am representative of fellow Europeans.

So actually my advice is meaningless unless there come hundreds of Europeans backing me.

However being well raised I'd say that 40 years ago my parents would tip the dustmen. I also tipped the firemen (well bought a calendar) until they asked for a crazy amount.

Now I don't buy any calendar don't tip anybody and don't allow Mormons or Jehovah witnesses in my house.
I don't even tip the cleaning lady anymore.

But again you just have my post - you don't have to believe me or you can think I am a scrounge.

I have not met a stupid candle for quite a long time.

I tip concierges when they do things I could not do myself because they have knowledge and connections I don't have. I tip them knowing that they are likely tipping the person who provides the service I need or want.

Here are three purely hypothetical items I would tip well for in Paris:

Tickets to a sold out opera or concert.

Reservations for tomorrow night at any number of restaurants.

Finding a private guide for a specialist tour of a district or museum, or getting me a rush fitting with an expert, or any fitting with a well-known, tailor.

What would I tip? 10-15% of the cost of the service, more if the tickets are really special, say front of house, center, to hear Natalie Dessay or Netrebko.

What would you tip for tickets to "Hamilton" next Saturday in New York?

If the concierge does a minor task - gives you a map or directions a thank you is enough. If they sign you up for a tour they get a cut from the tour company so you don;t have to tip.

If they spend time getting you a reservation at a difficult restaurant or tickets to a sold out show or concert - then yes, one tips them. The amount is determine by the difficulty of the task and the cost of what they got you (if they got your $1000 tickets to a concert by the 3 tenors you do NOT give them $20).

And granted I am american. But I have discussed tipping with colleagues from several of our european offices and they all agree that concierges are tipped for special efforts (which we often have to ask for due to entertaining clients).

I have no idea what a dustman is.

I never tipped the postman in the USA - I thought it was illegal to do so, though I've invited one or two in for a coffee when it was snowing or terrible weather, and they always appreciated it.

I don't normally stay in hotels where there are concierges anywhere in the world, but the very, very few times I have and they managed to get me tickets to something it would have been hard to procure on my own, or a reservation at a restaurant I might not have had a chance of getting a table at, yes, I've tipped.

<<I tip them knowing that they are likely tipping the person who provides the service I need or want.>>

I don't know about that. I'm not sure money exchanges hands between concierges and service providers.

"dustman", is the man who empties the bins (if other countries use bins) also called the "bin-men" in the UK

No problem with Jehovah' witnesses, though tipping feels wrong.

Jehovah's are called balls here.
They come in pairs and stay outside.
On topic ?

The trouble with this kind of question (and certain American travel forums) is an assumption that "Europe" is one place and "Europeans" are a homogeneous group of people.

I'm British. I stay at mid-price hotels. The only two places I've ever encountered a concierge are Vegas & Amsterdam. In each case I asked simple questions (like nearest hotel good restaurant or public transport routes) and it would never occur to me to tip.

If I was staying at a posh hotel in London & the concierge scored me tix to a sold-out play, then I would tip.

France, Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Austria etc - who knows. Lots of different countries with different traditions of tipping. Or not.

I have no idea what other Europeans do, but this European rarely stays in hotels, and would probably not use the services of a concierge if I did.
I don't tip in hotels. Nothing for room service, or anything else. I pay enough for the room to cover such things - they should all be part of the normal service offered by the establishment. I don't have 15 bags so have no need of someone to carry them for me either.

I often tip in a restaurants if we have a big meal, but not if we are just having a small lunch, or a drink in a bar/pub. The amount depends on the restaurant and the service. No fixed percentage, but certainly more than a couple of euros.

40 years ago we would give the dustmen a Christmas box (tip). Same with others who offered a regular service. Now I don't even tip my hairdresser.

British are not Europeans.
Never have been. Like the Swiss they live in an island.
One with water around the other with mountains.
And since brexit they are even less in Europe.

When I go to :
France : no tip
Poland : no tip
Germany : no tip
Slovenia : no tip
Romania : no tip
Spain : no tip
Belgium : no tip
Netherlands : no tip
Portugal : no tip
Italy : no tip
My wife went to Denmark : no tip.
UK : I ask.

I only listed the countries in which I have been the last 2 years.
Nobody was ever furious that I didn't tip. Nobody said I should have. Nobody bat an eye actually.

Forgot
Czech Republic : no tip
Latvia : no tip


At my level I see a pattern.

>> The amount depends on the restaurant and the service. No fixed percentage, but certainly more than a couple of euros.

You're certainly generous hetismij2.

About tipping, I think the answer is simple: you don't tip if they were already paid for the service they give you. So, in America if the waiter is not paid by salary but by your tip, then do it. In Europe and Asia, no need to. If you're asking them for a favor, i.e. ticket for a sold-out event, haircut after working time, etc. then you may tip.

I won't tip even if I have 15 bags - as long as it's in their working time they were paid for it. Ok, 15 bags might be a little too much for them. I don't have 15 bags, problems solved.

>>The trouble with this kind of question (and certain American travel forums) is an assumption that "Europe" is one place and "Europeans" are a homogeneous group of people.<<

Maybe you're taking my OP a bit too literally. Do I think that someone here knows the tipping habits of every European? Uh, no. I'm asking for individual responses from Europeans. But thanks for the juvenile analysis.

>> British are not Europeans. <<

LOL. I remember one Brit smugly telling me "Of course we are" when I asked if Brits considered themselves Europeans.

Most Britons regard themselves as Europeans.
I am at least as European as Wo, in that I hold a British passport but I live in the Netherlands and regard myself as European first, British second. My passport says I am a European.
That a few lunatics in Britain think otherwise and conned a lot of people into voting to leave the EU with a bunch of false claims does not make me, or them, less European.
My DH is now Dutch - is he now a European by your definition Wo? Of course not because you hate the Dutch even more than the British.

<Nobody was ever furious that I didn't tip. Nobody said I should have. Nobody bat an eye actually.>
That doesn't say anything about whether you should or should not have tipped.

>>Most Britons regard themselves as Europeans.<<

I'll let you two fight it out. Besides, I'm confused.

Woinparis; we give the cleaning lady and gardeners an extra tip for Christmas. It's what my parents always did as well. We also tip the newspaper delivery people - they actually leave a card with their account nr in the mail box. I'll tip them if delivery has been good, which isn't allways the case.
But I couldn't say if this is the norm here in Belgium. I'm Dutch, and Dutch people, contrary to what the Belgians think, are usually more generous with tips.

As for the original question: no, except in special circumstances. Not for simple restaurant reservations.

There is some confusion about the term Europeans.

Europe is a Geographical area.
The people who live in Europe are called Europeans, unless you have a whole bunch of "race" issues or when when you want to refer to some cultural concept (with all the usual confusion about what that means)

There are some very complex trade and rights structures within the political elements of the area which includes the EU. (but there are others and they cross link, like Schengen)

So the EU is not Europe but it is European.
Britain is in Europe and will not be in the EU

Belgium is in Europe and will stay in the EU

Turkey is a bit in Europe and a bit out of Europe and is having some troubles right now.

That people get confused about this is just one of those things, all kinds of people get confused about stuff including the future President of the USA :-)

BTW I checked my passport and while it is headed "European Union" it does not say I am a citizen of the EU. I suspect that it is very hard to be a citizen of the EU as it is not a nation, however, I look forward to hearing other views. See also signage at airports "EU citizens this way"?

Some clarifications :

1. I don't hate anybody. I just don't. I dislike many people, I can despise some but I don't hate.

2. I love UK people. Can't meet a Brit without finding him great - my biggest ratio people met / Friends made is there. Maybe together with canadians.
Seems UK people who had been away for more then xx years couldn't even vote about Brexit so they are all absolved ;-)

3. The dutch : I like to say I dislike them. However I realize you cannot dislike a global group of people. So I took out people from Zeeland, Brabat, etc - I met some great guys there. I still have problems with people from Holland. It usually starts when they answer me in English, then I revert to French. They come back to Dutch and me to Flemish. As for commercial relation, I simply think that the less Dutch partners one has, the less problems.

Tipping cleaning lady : I abandoned this custom last year actually. We now pay the cleaning lady via 'service checks' given via the government, it is all-included. Plus the last cleaning lady retired in feb, without giving me any notice and just after I gave her a tip - bad timing...

So no more tip to anyone. People like NewbE should continue to tip, it is too complicated for them to realize what is the local custom and they will always find one local who tips, thus reassuring them in their conviction that one must tip. so be it. Tip if you like, feel copelled to it or feel superior when tipping.

Bon,
Since I wrote one normal post, let me revert to my true self.

First I feel superior because I master the tipping custom. Like now, I have 2 people installing my new heater and I gave them coffee and access to my fridge for sodas. (what a good man I am).

Second, nobody seemed to pay attention that con cierges are stupid candles, so why tip candles ???

Third, You may tip candles in camaret, the girls like it.

(Paillardes means naughty, bawdy. )

http://www.chansons-paillardes.net/c...e_Camaret.html