I am sure this will generate numerous answers. But is there a standard for tipping in Amsterdam/London/Barcelona in general. 15% more/less. The reason I ask is that I was told (be careful who you listen to!) that tipping is not standard in Europe. Just want to do the right thing while on vacation.

Good question!!! We just returned from Italy, and were wondering the same thing (though we had some idea from guide books, the information didn't seem fit all of our situations...)

We were wondering about these situations:

Having a desk clerk or concierge make reservations for dining and or gallery reservations - any idea on what is "right" for something like this? (we figured on 5 euro...)

Tipping a "good" waiter at a nicer "ristorante" Understood that the items on the menu all included tax and service, if you want to show your appreciation what "rule of thumb percentage" might one use in this situation?

Ordering from a "menu touristica" which includes all courses and cafe, but does not include service - is 10% the standard rate?

What about the cabbie - what kind of percentage should one tip beyound the rate displayed (understanding that the rate also includes the "baggage fee&quot?

Sampling wine at an enoteca (which charges for the sampling). This one stumped us because we ordered at the counter, then sat and had the wine and snacks delivered to the table. (We then purchased wine and olive oil, charged it all together, and forgot to ask if the service was included.)

Any thoughts out there for these and other special circumstances?

Don't forget to tip the Airline Pilot.

A formal restaurant where there is table service, a porter, a concierge and a taxi driver will expect a tip.

I cannot think of anyone else that really needs tipping other than tour guides.

You won't go wrong if you apply the 10% rule.

Give a little more if you are truly pleased, and nothing if your not at all pleased.. after all.. tipping is an expression of how well you feel you have been treated.

Go to fodors.com's tipping guide:

http://www.fodors.com/features/nfdis...124_stt_tg_toc

I would say it is broadly true that tipping in not standard in Europe, but that doesn't help a lot as it depends where you are going. Mainly, I think it depends on whether a service charge is by law included in a restaurant bill or not. As I recall, a service charge is NOT included in London, so you should tip. I don't know about the others.

I don't think you can say "Euope" when it comes to tipping. It varies country by country and you just need to do the research before you go.

Generally, you must tip bellmen, maids, cab drivers and concierges who do more than just book a tour for you (they get a commission for that). Whether/how much to tip in a restaurant differs by country - and even by restaurant - the menu will almost alwasy note if service is included.

What is generally true is that tips are less than in the US - in my expeience cabbies and waiters are overjoyed with 15% - which would get a lot of complaints here. (We decided on this after watching some locals in a restaurant in London. Even though they were well dressed and obviously well to do they only left about a 10% tip. Having waited tables in college I couldn't be that cheap so we compromised on 15%.)

Does it really make a difference whether or not tipping is "common practice" or not? If YOU feel the service rendered deserves a tip then you should do so and despite all the supposed "guides" it is ultimately up to you how much the tip should be.
And the entire notion that someone you tip will think you are stupid because you did so, or because you "tipped too much" is absurd. They will be appreciative regardless and what they might "think" of you will never be known anyway. Those who have to ask whether or not to tip have obviously never had to work for one.

The only person who could ever think that tipping too much would offend a server is a person who is a cheapskate and is looking for a good excuse not to tip. End of story.

What I've said about a million times, but I'll make that a million and one:

No country includes a tip in the bill!!

Many include service -- that is not the same thing as a tip. If you don't know the difference, you need to think about it.

I was living in Germany for a while, and I am going to assume that the tipping across western Europe is somewhat the same. I was told that, if your restaurant tab was 20 euro or so....you just round it up to the next "dollar". If your bill is 18.53....and you gave them a 20....you would ask for a one euro back and let them keep the .47
It made me feel like a cheapskate....but I guess that was standard. The weird thing is that, at least in Germany, the waiter will tell you the amount (or show you the figure in writing) and stand there with his "pocketbook" open, waiting for you to settle up. So you have to do your mental calculation real quick so you can ask for the correct amount of change, so that you are leaving him the correct tip. Feels a bit like you are under pressure, cause he is just standing there.

Now, I've been told....if your bill would be over 20.00 you would figure it differently. For instance, if the bill was, say, 36.75...you would probably give him 40 euro and have him keep the change.
It will be interesting to see how others answer, as these were just some quick rules that coworkers gave me as basic guidelines.
EK

I'm not sure how true this is, but we were told in Austria by an Austrian couple we were having lunch with, that you NEVER leave the tip on the table. It's considered demeaning -- like leaving "scaps" for the workers. So when they stand there and wait for you, you really need to be adding the extra in so that you don't have to "leave" extra on the table later.

Somehow I think 2X or 3X per cent on the table would not be seen as more demeaning by a waiter than X per cent in the hand.

Sue, that's exactly my thought. These people rounded up very little but made a big deal about handing it to the server. I tend to leave more. I sometimes wonder how true these customs things are, really, which is why I said "I'm not sure how true this is. . ." For all I know maybe they once left a couple of "pennies" on the table as a tip and got yelled at by an insulted waiter. Who knows?

Indeed, who knows. People have insisted that I should never write the tip in on a CC slip (when this is possible) because otherwise 'the waiter will never get it.' But if there is that much mistrust rampant among restaurant staff, then I probably shouldn't trust the waiter to share his tip with the bus boy/girl, not to mention I probably shouldn't trust the establishment to feed me in the first place.

Tipping is an emotional thing. Nothing wrong with that, but the heart has its reasons the head knows not of (or something like that.) So so much for guidelines, alas.

Good question. My good freind who is French has told me that in France, a small tip of 5% or less is fine but not expected. Left on the table.

I have seen my Spanish hosts (one from Barcelona area the other from Santiago) tip about 10% at very nice places. They handed the tip to the server personally, along with a pat on the back.

My German freind, also suggested a small tip of no more than 5% and handed to the server (of course alot of places in Germany the server makes change at the table for you).

All four of these people laugh when I asked about tipping and every one said "well in Europe we love Americans because they give too much money as tips" Which makes me think that we are most likely expected to pay more.

Lily

I have always believed that bit about not putting a tip on the credit card receipt. Since in Europe the servers are paid a good wage and the "service" is included but goes directly to the restaurant, if you add extra on, it will go to the restaurant, not directly to the server. As to whether a server will share his cash tips or not, I strongly doubt it.

I'm reminded of years age in Lyon where the older waiter really didn't speak English and didn't want to be bothered with us. There was a high school age bus boy who was studying English and took over with us. He told us what things were, made suggestions, and asked us questions about the US, struggling to use flawless English with every word. When we left, we made a point of giving him 10 francs (nearly $2.00 at that time) and thanked him for his "very good English" and wished him well. I will never forget the smile on that boy's face -- undoubtedly the first tip he had ever received from a customer. It was the best 10 francs I ever spent.

Tipping varies from country to ountry but I have alway tipped in any restrnt of Cafe. In a cafe, probably change in a restaurant 10% would be fine and 15% excllent. DO not over tip. Also I lways leav a tip in cash. Mot people I know in restaurant do not get the full tip from credit cards like in the states themselves but a portion that is shaed between all including the owners. In the UK and Ireland you do not tip at the bar. It is not an insult and do try to stay with the custom of the country

P.S. Don't tip all around you either. This is an American custom. Most people do not leave a tip for the maid as she peobably won't touch it thinking its your change or money by the bed an would not take this. Watch the others around you for a guide.

I disagree about tipping the maid. She would not take the money if it is just laying around there while you are still living in the room, but I leave the tip on the table when I have already packed my bags and taxi is waiting.

Hi sue,

I can't give you the citation, but in a recent ruling in the UK, the court held that a tip on the CC was the prperty of the owner, not the waiter, and that the amount could be credited to the waiter's base pay.

I think that the EU authorities have said the same thing.

I put the tip for the chambermaids in an envelope, marked 'femmes de chambre', and leave it at the desk.