mrt

We will be traveling as American tourists. What is the norm for tipping in Barcelona and Pairs?

janisj

OMG! You didn't??

You'll regret asking

janisj

In case you are wondering why I posted that . . . Read this thread and then step away from your computer. And no matter what those actually living in Europe say/advise, there will be Americans who will argue . . . until it gets REALLY ugly.

janisj

oops - left off the link . . . http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...otel-maids.cfm

Michael

In Paris, the locals do not tip, at most leaving the change on the table, which is unlikely to be feasible if paying with a credit card.

kja

No tips, except perhaps to leave change or round up to the next even amount.

Thanks for asking! It is an important issue.

janisj

>>which is unlikely to be feasible if paying with a credit card.<<

I don't understand that . . . I do charge most meals, but never include a tip on the credit card slip. In the States or anywhere else that I might tip - I leave cash for the server.

I always have small bills (in the States) and €/cents or £/pence coins so no problem leaving a small change.

(nothing to do w/ <i>whether</i> to tip or not . . . )

kja

@ janisj -- the hand-held devices used for many chip-enabled credit cards in Spain, France. etc., do not allow adding a tip. As you say, that doesn't dictate whether to leave a tip or not....

janisj

>>the hand-held devices used for many chip-enabled credit cards in Spain, France. etc., do not allow adding a tip.<< I know -- my comment was more just in general re not being able to tip small change if one charges.

And to show the difference in the cultures -- in the States the charge slip has a dedicated line to enter a tip - it is expected/almost demanded.

kja

Yes, a tip IS expected in the U.S. It it NOT expected in Spain or France. PLEASE don't prolong this thread unnecessarily!

Michael

<i>I do charge most meals, but never include a tip on the credit card slip. In the States or anywhere else that I might tip - I leave cash for the server. </i>

Let's assume a 8.85€ bill paid with a credit card. You then leave .15€ on the table to round up?

kerouac

OMG, you should have written 0.15€ because I read that as 15€ at first and almost had an attack.

bilboburgler

thank goodness only sensible people so far, lets stop before someone starts talking about what they did in a cafe while at university in Hawaii

ribeirasacra

When dining in France one can often come across a service charge. Never tip/leave the change (what ever you want to call it) then.
Spain there is no service charge.

Blueeyedcod

Everyone is just talking about restaurants.

Don't tip maids in hotels either. Don't tip porters/bell staff (unless they have staggered up 15 flights of stairs with your Louis Vuitton trunks) or concierges. Don't tip hairdressers. Don't tip taxi drivers (unless they go out of their way to stop at a grocery store or the like). Don't tip tour guides, guides of any description at historic sites. Don't tip the limo driver/car service driver.

Robert2533

Catalans don't aways expect a tip on top of the service charge in restaurants, but would be grateful.

Spaniards use to tip, but things changed a few years into the crisis. Few tip now, but waiters, room maids, guides and taxi drivers, including limo drivers, are always grateful. We tend to leave a few euros for the service in restaurants, but never more then 5€ for the most expensive lunch or dinner. And yes, Spanish restaurants always include a service charge.

If you happen to be staying at a hotel with a doorman, 1€ will go a long way if you happen to need anything when staying more then one night.

Paris is no different, unless you happen to be cheap.

Sarastro

<i>Paris is no different, unless you happen to be cheap.</i>

Whether one is cheap or not has nothing to do with it. Tipping in Paris means nothing other than a lack of awareness.

Robert2533

What some French do in regards to tipping has noting to do with those from another country, where tipping is the norm. A lack of awareness doesn't come into play, except when overtipping, as some Americans are want to do.

I've been going to Paris for a long time, since the 70s, and have always left a small tip (loose change mostly) whenever standing at the bar having a coffee and croissant, or sitting at table. We always tip in restaurants and always leave something for the room maid, but have leave a note thanking them, otherwise the money will be there when we get back to the room. It's the same in Spain and Portugal.

Michael

<i> We always tip in restaurants and always leave something for the room maid, but have leave a note thanking them, otherwise the money will be there when we get back to the room.</i>

Since you decide to follow American customs in France, should a Frenchman follow French tipping customs in the States?

BigRuss

<<We will be traveling as American tourists. >>

Sounds like they're playing a role.

Basically, don't tip.