Paris tipping hotel maids
Jul 29th, 2015, 09:52 AM
#142
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<i>This is a great idea! I have never seen it in the US.</i>
Most Starwood properties offer this as an option. It might only be available to SPG members, but it is definitely an option. We always go for the extra 500 points per night.
Most Starwood properties offer this as an option. It might only be available to SPG members, but it is definitely an option. We always go for the extra 500 points per night.
Jul 29th, 2015, 01:10 PM
#145
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I have never had a server in France hint to me that I should tip. But I don't doubt the people who say it has happened to them.
Why do I escape? Perhaps it is because I am obviously "cheap", as some here would put it. But I don't think that is the real explanation. I think it is because I don't sound like an American.
Why do I escape? Perhaps it is because I am obviously "cheap", as some here would put it. But I don't think that is the real explanation. I think it is because I don't sound like an American.
Jul 29th, 2015, 02:36 PM
#146
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My experience is like Padraig's - never any inkling of wanting a tip though it may happen to clueless Yanks who look wealthy.
But some tour companies do solicit tips anyway in spite of the European policy of no tipping - we had a vigorous discussion a few months ago about a Scottish tour company - if the drivers expected tips and the volley was NO NO NO - Never! But in the tour company's online brochure it said:
o our drivers like tips? Well we have to admit that they do (paraphrase of Rabbies tours brochure) - and I know with some bus tours they are right up front about how much to tip - the drivers may get paid little and depend on tips and in that case it would be obvious to you that you were expected to tip - at least the bus tours that do this say it right up front. Not sure how European laws handle that but on group tours with Amerians at least I've seen that in various tour brochures.
But some tour companies do solicit tips anyway in spite of the European policy of no tipping - we had a vigorous discussion a few months ago about a Scottish tour company - if the drivers expected tips and the volley was NO NO NO - Never! But in the tour company's online brochure it said:
o our drivers like tips? Well we have to admit that they do (paraphrase of Rabbies tours brochure) - and I know with some bus tours they are right up front about how much to tip - the drivers may get paid little and depend on tips and in that case it would be obvious to you that you were expected to tip - at least the bus tours that do this say it right up front. Not sure how European laws handle that but on group tours with Amerians at least I've seen that in various tour brochures.
Jul 29th, 2015, 02:51 PM
#148
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'<As Kerouac, Pariswat and others say, French people do not tip. >
Have you actually read this thread? Because a lot of people are saying that French people DO tip in France! '
Sure. A lot of people. Where do these 'lot of people' live ?
Where are you now ?
I'm in a hotel close to Ecole Militaire.
I open my window, I've a view on Eiffel tower. Brightly lit. Nice.
I just had dinner in 'latin quarter'. I didn't tip.
I took the bike, went along the Seine, then went through rue de l'université, turned under a full moon towards Invalide. Got my key. Discussed with the nightguy. Thanked him for his amiability (english ?). The guy thanked me back. Said no US citizen ever thanks him. Do you talk to the servants you tip ?
But you know better.
Good for you.
Tip if you like. Don't tell me Frenchs tip. They don't.
Where are you ? How often are you in France ?
Bonne nuit.
Have you actually read this thread? Because a lot of people are saying that French people DO tip in France! '
Sure. A lot of people. Where do these 'lot of people' live ?
Where are you now ?
I'm in a hotel close to Ecole Militaire.
I open my window, I've a view on Eiffel tower. Brightly lit. Nice.
I just had dinner in 'latin quarter'. I didn't tip.
I took the bike, went along the Seine, then went through rue de l'université, turned under a full moon towards Invalide. Got my key. Discussed with the nightguy. Thanked him for his amiability (english ?). The guy thanked me back. Said no US citizen ever thanks him. Do you talk to the servants you tip ?
But you know better.
Good for you.
Tip if you like. Don't tell me Frenchs tip. They don't.
Where are you ? How often are you in France ?
Bonne nuit.
Jul 29th, 2015, 06:54 PM
#149
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"I think part of the problem with these threads is that everyone seems to want a definitive answer and there is none. Individuality is alive and well when it comes to tipping."
Bingo, NeoPatrick.
The term 'cultural norm' is one of those conveniently vague terms that can mean pretty much whatever one insists. But the edict, "you should conform to the local culture" is a bit like the edict "only buy stocks that go up in value." Nobody disputes the general principle, but there's any amount of disagreement on the specifics.
Bingo, NeoPatrick.
The term 'cultural norm' is one of those conveniently vague terms that can mean pretty much whatever one insists. But the edict, "you should conform to the local culture" is a bit like the edict "only buy stocks that go up in value." Nobody disputes the general principle, but there's any amount of disagreement on the specifics.
Jul 29th, 2015, 06:56 PM
#150
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I have never had a server even hint at a tip when I have been in France.. I believe it happens however.. but I also know they would not pull that on a local, but only on an obvious tourist.. most likely a North American one.
Frankly.. if it was ever solicited from me ,would be sure to not even leave the change for the cheek.
I think when we say "French don't tip" we mean.. they don't tip much.. because some of my French relatives and friends do round up change.. but I am also pretty sure most North Americans would not consider .50 of a euro a tip.. lol
I do wonder why non locals feel they can lecture locals on what to tip .. fascinating.
Frankly.. if it was ever solicited from me ,would be sure to not even leave the change for the cheek.
I think when we say "French don't tip" we mean.. they don't tip much.. because some of my French relatives and friends do round up change.. but I am also pretty sure most North Americans would not consider .50 of a euro a tip.. lol
I do wonder why non locals feel they can lecture locals on what to tip .. fascinating.
Jul 29th, 2015, 08:55 PM
#153
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"I think when we say "French don't tip" we mean.. they don't tip much.. because some of my French relatives and friends do round up change.. but I am also pretty sure most North Americans would not consider .50 of a euro a tip.. lol "
This is the reason I tip in Europe. Leaving 0.50 euro to me would be insulting. No, I am not lecturing the locals about tipping. I am doing what I am comfortable doing.
This is the reason I tip in Europe. Leaving 0.50 euro to me would be insulting. No, I am not lecturing the locals about tipping. I am doing what I am comfortable doing.
Jul 29th, 2015, 09:49 PM
#154
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Actually , .50 euros ... 30 times a day or more.. is still an extra 15 euros.. which is not chicken feed. Of course to a server in America getting paid 3 dollars an hour that would be chump change.. but servers in most Europeon countries do get a higher hourly wage .. and they have medical, dental.. and in many countries post secondary education is FREE or very cheap. My nieces are German and enjoying those benefits right now, while American kids and their parents have to go into severe debt to finance their educations and pay their medical insurance. So things are different in different places.. not better. not worse.. different.. so different standards apply.
Jul 29th, 2015, 11:13 PM
#155
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Not a European but an Australian. When in Europe I do what I do at home in Australia - I round up and sometimes that might only be a couple of dollars and nobody appears to think that I am "cheap".
When in USA I tip at the expected rate - I don't feel comfortable doing it but I do because it is expected. It really seems to me that it all comes down to respect for local customs.
PS. I am aware that many Americans think that Australians are terrible tippers but many on this thread seem to say that people should tip according to the norms in their home country. If that is truly the case then we people from non or low topping countries should not be vilified.
When in USA I tip at the expected rate - I don't feel comfortable doing it but I do because it is expected. It really seems to me that it all comes down to respect for local customs.
PS. I am aware that many Americans think that Australians are terrible tippers but many on this thread seem to say that people should tip according to the norms in their home country. If that is truly the case then we people from non or low topping countries should not be vilified.
Jul 29th, 2015, 11:21 PM
#156
So, 200+ posts and we are still where we started.
1. The local custom is to NOT tip the maids.
2. Americans who know the custom tip anyway because:
- It makes them feel good to tip
- It makes them feel bad not to
In other words, it is all Me, Me, Me.
cafegoddess is a perfect example. She knows the custom, but she ignores it because tipping makes her "feel comfortable."
For heaven's sake, isn't travel about stepping OUT of your comfort zone? About new experiences? What about all those maudlin threads I read about "living like the locals"? If you want to be comfortable, STAY HOME. Heaven knows, the US is big enough. (And BTW, I am an American citizen.)
Enough people violating local norms changes those norms. That's why I read about waiters in touristy parts of Rome expecting tips, why my taxi driver in Amman complained that "all Americans tip" when I didn't tip on top of a negotiated fare, why locals in Beijing (where tipping is the "stupid foreigner tax") can't get a taxi at the station because the drivers only want to drive foreigners these days.
Leave your tipping habits at home, where they are the result of the local economic norms. They don't belong elsewhere.
1. The local custom is to NOT tip the maids.
2. Americans who know the custom tip anyway because:
- It makes them feel good to tip
- It makes them feel bad not to
In other words, it is all Me, Me, Me.
cafegoddess is a perfect example. She knows the custom, but she ignores it because tipping makes her "feel comfortable."
For heaven's sake, isn't travel about stepping OUT of your comfort zone? About new experiences? What about all those maudlin threads I read about "living like the locals"? If you want to be comfortable, STAY HOME. Heaven knows, the US is big enough. (And BTW, I am an American citizen.)
Enough people violating local norms changes those norms. That's why I read about waiters in touristy parts of Rome expecting tips, why my taxi driver in Amman complained that "all Americans tip" when I didn't tip on top of a negotiated fare, why locals in Beijing (where tipping is the "stupid foreigner tax") can't get a taxi at the station because the drivers only want to drive foreigners these days.
Leave your tipping habits at home, where they are the result of the local economic norms. They don't belong elsewhere.
Jul 29th, 2015, 11:39 PM
#157
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The confusion comes from the definition of the word "tip".
In America a tip at a restaurant is 20% of the bill. In France, it is small change. In other words, if your bill amounts to €30, an American will tip €6. In France, the customer will tip €1 or €2 if he feels so inclined or nothing if he doesn't. If the bill is €34, he might leave €35 but definitely not €6.80 or more. But once again, he is not obliged to leave anything.
In France, what you have to pay is what you see. Restaurants are required by law to post their menu price outside so that the customer knows before entering what he should expect. Shops must display the price of goods in their windows. The only authorized exception is when they haven't finished their display, in which case there will be a note saying "vitrine en cours" (display in process).
So please, Americans, don't tell us what to do. Do what's the custom in your own country and do what's the custom in ours.
In America a tip at a restaurant is 20% of the bill. In France, it is small change. In other words, if your bill amounts to €30, an American will tip €6. In France, the customer will tip €1 or €2 if he feels so inclined or nothing if he doesn't. If the bill is €34, he might leave €35 but definitely not €6.80 or more. But once again, he is not obliged to leave anything.
In France, what you have to pay is what you see. Restaurants are required by law to post their menu price outside so that the customer knows before entering what he should expect. Shops must display the price of goods in their windows. The only authorized exception is when they haven't finished their display, in which case there will be a note saying "vitrine en cours" (display in process).
So please, Americans, don't tell us what to do. Do what's the custom in your own country and do what's the custom in ours.
Jul 30th, 2015, 12:25 AM
#158
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"If your bill amounts to €30, an American will tip €6. In France, the customer will tip €1 or €2 if he feels so inclined or nothing if he doesn't."
That is not true, not by a long shot. Most of the Americans I know traveling in Europe do tip, but at a much lower rate, 10% or less. On your 30 euro bill, they might leave 2 to 3 euros. That's only 1 euro more than what you just said a French customer might leave -- Hardly worth this "STAY HOME" ALL CAPS ranting and condescending, shrill, contemptuous screeds against Americans. Also hardly a case of Me, Me, Me.
That is not true, not by a long shot. Most of the Americans I know traveling in Europe do tip, but at a much lower rate, 10% or less. On your 30 euro bill, they might leave 2 to 3 euros. That's only 1 euro more than what you just said a French customer might leave -- Hardly worth this "STAY HOME" ALL CAPS ranting and condescending, shrill, contemptuous screeds against Americans. Also hardly a case of Me, Me, Me.
Jul 30th, 2015, 12:46 AM
#160
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Why don't you read your own posts carefully. You wrote:
"In other words, if your bill amounts to €30, an American will tip €6. In France, the customer will tip €1 or €2 if he feels so inclined or nothing if he doesn't."
Last time I checked, Americans IN AMERICA were not paying their bills in euros. And as this thread is about tipping in France, one can safely assume that if Americans were leaving 6 euro tips on 30 euro tabs, those Americans were in France and not at home in the U.S.
"In other words, if your bill amounts to €30, an American will tip €6. In France, the customer will tip €1 or €2 if he feels so inclined or nothing if he doesn't."
Last time I checked, Americans IN AMERICA were not paying their bills in euros. And as this thread is about tipping in France, one can safely assume that if Americans were leaving 6 euro tips on 30 euro tabs, those Americans were in France and not at home in the U.S.
