Tipping In Greece
 

My future husband and i will be traveling in Greece in early September to Athens, Mykonos, Naxos and Santorini. Some places we are staying provide free transfers to/from ports/airports and sometimes we may be taking taxis. What are the standards in Greece for tipping in both those situations? Thanks.

And in restaurants and bars, i must add...

I am not an expert by far, but when we visited Greece this summer we tipped people just as we would in the states. Taxi tip was usually 2E or more, same for any luggage porters, etc. In Santorini we paid $30 for our hotel transfer so we did not see a need to tip the girl who drove us, we tipped the guy who then carried our bags to our hotel.

While in Athens our cousin told us we shouldn't tip a taxi any more than half a Euro. My husband just doesn't think that's right, so we tipped what we wanted.

In restaurants we tipped 15%. I have no idea if that's "correct" or not since we were usually also charged a flat fee on our bills. Like I said, my husband likes to tip.

Your future husband being you fiancé or you intend to propose to him when you're there?

Anyway, I'd always tip, and the taxi drivers in Greece will never, ever say no to a tip. Also, I like to think they appreciate it as they're not highly paid..unlike the London taxi drivers.

10 to 15% is generous and very welcome.
Even if service is included, most locals leave something.

Thank you for your input everyone! I always want to make sure i'm being polite and generous when i travel... and to m_kingdom, yes, future husband meaning my fiance :) ...we're honeymooning in Greece.

A 10% tip is considered acceptable in Greece and most of Europe.

There probably is a difference between what they expect tourists to tip in Greece versus the locals, right?

Service is usually included, so a small tip or rounding up the bill appreciated but not strictly necessary. Tips over 10%, though I'm sure they will be accepted, are not the norm in Europe - I was surprised and shocked at the amount expected for a tip in the US and Canada.

Menus will typically say if "service is included" on the bottom. If you tip fully as if you were in the states, then you are tipping twice. However, if service was excellent, leave a bit on the table, too.

And the person who paid through the hotel for transfers or they were included..I would have tipped the driver at least 10% if I knew the amount or 2 Euros if under half hour and higher if trip was longer.

In Fodors, it says:

"How much to tip in Greece, especially at restaurants, is confusing. By law a 13% service charge is figured into the price of a meal (menus sometimes list entrées with and without service, to let you know their net cost -- not to imply you have a choice of how much to pay). However, it is customary to leave an 8%-10% tip if the service was satisfactory."

http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...n=tra&pg=3

Should Americans disregard foreign customs, and insist on their American ways? Or, conversely, when foreigners come to America, should they follow American norms?

Does the old saying still apply? "When in Athens, do as the Athenians do."