Tipping in Prague
 

Hi All...!!!
I read somewhere that we should leave a tip of 20 or 50 Czech Crowns in a restaurant. I'm not sure where I read this now and also if its right. Is tipping expected and if so how much?

Unless "service" is included on the bill then a tip is always appreciated whether it is "required" or not. I think that tipping is a very personal thing in terms of how much and I also think it has nothing to do with some of the so-called "guidelines" which probably were not formulated by anyone who has ever had to work for a tip.
That said, you might want to apply the following: "If YOU had just provided the service in question, would YOU expect a tip?"

ps. see top..it sounded too little to me so thats why i'm asking.

Hi
if you go elsewhere here at fodors.com under Destinations, you are likely to find tips on tipping in Prague--tipping suggestions are provided for most destinations.

Small though it seems, 20-50ck is about right. Be sure to give your waiter(ess)the tip. Czechs don't leave tips on the table.

Service is not included in the price in Czech Republic. I always tip for dinner or a car drive, but wouldn't for a drink or something like that. I tip about 10 pct if the service was good, which it usually is. I don't believe in tipping such a small amount even if that's what Czechs do because I know I can well afford more than 20-50 crowns and that the income level is a lot lower over there. I feel better about leaving a decent tip there than I often do in the US. I would never think of leaving a 20-50 crown (which I think is only about US $0.75-1.50 or so) tip on a dinner costing US$25-35, for example. Lots of times I don't spend that much on dinner there, but I have in really nice restaurants. I never noticed what Czechs do or heard they want money handed to them directly, but I don't do that and wouldn't like it. I either put it on the bill if I'm paying by CC (although some places don't like that, I think there are some funny card charging rules there) or on the table. Often, there is no opportunity to give it directly to a server, anyway.

When I was in Prague, what I found to be common in the restaurants, was for the server to provide you with the check, however, the servers did not handle the money. The cashier/manager came to your table to settle the bill. I don't recall paying for many dinners by credit card, however, I was told that it was appropriate to hand the tip in cash directly to the server.

On two different occasions when I dined with people from Prague, I was told that I tipped too much and to only leave a few crowns. The servers are actually paid a decent hourly wage unlike waiters and waitresses in the US that rely on tips. The 25-50 crown guide to tipping, however, is per person. I believe that the exchange rate is approximately 38 crowns to the US dollar, if that is any help.