Tipping
 

I'm looking for information on how much to tip in countries around the world, but especially in Europe.

The Eyewitness travel book we had for Italy described tipping in various situations. I think that any decent guidebook you buy, for the country your travelling, will tell you.

Every guide book does have that info that I've seen; I'm pretty sure Fodors has that information right here on this web site for free, if you go to a country and ask for the "essentials" info or something like that in the miniguide section. Here is a URL that purports to do this, it's not great, but something: http://corporatetravelsafety.com/internatiping.html

In the UK, don't fret about tipping. <BR> <BR>Up to 10% to the waiter/waitress is appreciated, if service has been good, but we don't tend to worry about this to the same extent that Americans do. The only people who might complain if you don't tip are London taxi drivers. <BR> <BR>Come to the restaurant I work at, and you'll get the same good service, whether or not you leave a tip!

in Italy, where I was, the tip was added into your bill and therefore you wouldn't leave a tip because they would just charge you for a tip no matter. I think that's sort of the policy Italy has, although I'm not so sure about other countries. I think it was the same in Greece, though not sure. <BR> <BR>visit my column on travel: <BR>geocities.com/j_goyette/t.html

We don't have strict "rules" about tipping in Europe as you have in the USA. Service is always included in the price (with very few exceptions which will be made clear to you). A small tip is always appreciated when service has been good. As an example, in a restaurant (dinner for two) I tip about 2 US$ for normal (OK) service, 4 US$ for very good service and nothing if service was very slow or unfriendly. It doesn't matter if the restaurant is cheap or expensive. These are my "personal rules" which I believe are not too far from what most people do. For taxis I round to the nearest number. So in England I give 10 pounds for a 9 pound trip, and in the Netherlands 30 guilders for a 28 guilder trip, etc. <BR>I know that waiters in Amsterdam love American guests, as many are unaware about tipping "rules" and leave 15% to be safe! These waiters are probably not happy with this post!

Dennis <BR>be sure to remember that in Paris <BR>your final restaurant bill is always, by law, "service compris"--service included. If you are charging the tab to a credit card, don't fill in anything extra on the charge slip if there is a space for a gratuity; you've already paid it. <BR>Many people leave a little extra <BR>on the table if service was extra special--anything from 10FF to 10% of the bill, depending on whether you are in a cafe or a luxury restaurant. <BR>This is entirely optional. Don't leave centimes though just because you have some coins taking up space in your pocket. <BR>The following are other practices I follow in Paris <BR>Give movie and theatre ushers F3-5, this is customary. You can tip a coatcheck attendant 5-10 francs, depending on the level of the establishment. Some restrooms are attended; the tip is 2-5 francs and sometimes it is posted at 2F and is more of a fee than a tip. <BR>You can leave 10 francs per day for your hotel chambermaid at the end of your stay, more in a luxury hotel. You can give 5-10 francs to your hotel doorman if he carries a bag inside for you or gets you a taxi. Tip a bellman approximately 5 francs per bag, more in a luxury hotel. Porters in airports and train stations get a fixed amount I believe, although I have never used them nor even seen them. After a guided tour in a museum or by bus, tip the bus driver and/or the guide 10-20 francs, depending on how you feel about them. A tip, however, is customary. In a taxi, I tip around 5% all over Europe just because that's what I do at home and no one ever objects, so I'm sure it's on the high side. <BR>As mentioned earlier, tipping suggestions can be found in almost every guidebook <BR> <BR>

Elaine, do you really tip taxis 5% at home? I don't think a Chicago taxi driver would be too happy with a 5% tip.

I'm guessing Elaine meant to write 15%.

In Greece, waiters receive a percentage of the 'take', so there is no need to leave a tip. If you see something added to your bill, this is usually a local tax (6.5%). <BR> <BR>However, if service has been good, the waiters appreciate you rounding the bill up to the nearest 500 or 1000 drachmas. Alternatively, leave a few coins on the table for the lad/lass who brings your bread/tablecloth etc. They are usually the sons/daughters of the taverna owner, and get paid little or nothing.