Wait - I thought for Germany the rule was to either round up or give no tip. Is this 10% rule a rule for higher-class establishments?

Ther is no "rule" for Germany. Around Munich 10% are expected, no matter where. Maybe this originates from the US occupation forces after the war??? Would be interesting to find out. Bavaria is different in a number of respects ;-)

Logos, I've never been to Bavaria. I'm basing my ideas both on guidebooks, a German colleague who never fails to mention when we go out to eat that there's no real tipping in Germany (she's from northern Germany) and how much she hates tipping in Canada, and my recent experience in Cologne where the waiter refused any tip.

Keep in mind that Germany isn't a uniform place. It just exists since 1871, made up of several formerly independent states that share (almost) a common language. Even in much more uniform countries customs vary. Southern Bavaria always had a tendency towards Austria. (when it was still big and powerful). Today, Austrians "assimilate" easier in Bavaria than northern Germans.

That's why Germany is so confusing when it comes to tipping. US occupation was throughout the Western states so I think the tipping rule is based more on how prosperous the area is and to a lesser degree how nice the restaurant is. In the early 90's I was told by a restaurant owner in Boblingen, Stuttgart that the waiters do expect around 10 % tip above the service charge when I asked him. He explains that the service charge was for him to cover the waiter salary. I'm curious to hear from hsv, ingo, traveller 1959, bell acqui etc as they all live in different parts of Germany.

flaneruk: I heard it from some of my relatives/friends who live in Switzerland (they don't know each other but have made similar complaints). They are not big wine drinkers so usually they just order by the glass. They told me how in Piedmont & Milan they often felt pressured or ridiculed by the waiters in fancy restaurants if they don't order a nice bottle. They almost prefer to dine in fancy restaurants in France because of that.

DAX and Others: Since we were annoyed by being "told" to tip an additional 15% I willingly disclose the name of this restaurant:
Le Parc aux Cerfs in the 6th arr. on Rue Vavin.
Too bad...because the food was good and we love the neighborhood.

By the way, we also visited in Austria and Germany with an Austrian/German couple. They told us it was customary to only tip by "rounding up" to the nearest Euro or adding a few coins on the table, only a Euro or 2 at most.

My question is about daily housekeeping service in a hotel in Europe. In Italy we left a tip for the maid each day, but it was never picked up, even if left on the pillow. So what is customary in:
Italy?
France?
Austria?
Germany?
Prague?
What about a bellman who carries luggage to the room?
What about the taxi driver?
What about the desk clerk/concierge who wonderfully makes reservations and is so very helpful? In Paris, since we did not know the custom, we left an envelope with the concierge with high compliments; she seemed quite taken aback, but thanked us profusely and said she would share it with the staff. Was this appropriate on our part? Since the custom is so different in the US we were unsure.

I've never tipped housekeeping in a hotel anywhere. oops. Had no idea...has this always been the practice?? I really don't think it is in Italy. Like Elnap29 wrote, I don't think maids in Italian hotels would ever even take the money if left for them. My (Italian) husband would think I was crazy if I said I wanted to leave a tip for the housekeeping staff in a hotel here in Italy, even a 4/5 star hotel.

I do tip the guy who brings my bags to my room in large city hotels.

Service in the uk is mediocre compared to US but while that can irritate its the result of the "muddling through or mustn't grumble" state of mind in the UK 20 years ago. Generally you have choices. Put up with it or resolve it (you may not pass this way again but other fodorites may) and this is often best done with honey not bee stings.

Tipping a B&B is for exceptional service (envelope is the right way) but generally not normal.

We have occassionally tipped the hotel staff in an envelope to share if the staff have been really wonderful/helpful, especially in smaller boutique hotels; it's good to promote positive service and if you ever return tey will remember you very well. Our "tip happy" friends actually tip them within the first day so they get more special favors.

Leaving a tip in the bedroom works better if we attach it to our list of requests(extra towels, shampoo, ice etc). We usually give tips only when we stay for a few days and there is quality service.

ttt

Can someone pleeeeeeeeease tell me what ttt means?

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Hi DAX, here I am.

These are the tipping rules in Germany, and they are appropriate for most other European countries:

1. Waiters receive a regular salary, so tipping is NOT required.

2. But the salary is small, so it is a matter of generosity to give a tip. My income is so much higher than that of the waiter or waitress, so it does not hurt me to give a small tip.

3. A tip is a reward for good service. If the service was bad I give no tip at all. If the service was exceptionally good I give a larger tip.

4. How much? If it is a small amount I round up. If the check is 5.50 I say "6". If it is 5.80 I say "7". In case of medium amounts, 5% is ok, e.g. if the check is 100 Euros you give 5 Euros. But if the service was exceptionally good why not giving 10 Euros? When the check grows larger the tip decreases. E.g. if I have a check about 1,000 Euros a tip of 30 would be ok.

5. Who gets the money? In many restaurants, it is common that all tips are collected and distributed between all staff in a restaurant, including the chefs (because if the cuisine is good the patrons are happy and tipping well, so it is fair that the chefs get their share).

6. Cash or credit? Waiters told me, it does not make much difference. If the credit card slip has a line for tips you may fill in, otherwise you leave a bill. If you do not have the right bill it is not problem to ask the waiter to change. E.g. if you want to give 20, but you have only a 50-Euro-bill, just ask him to change it or say "30 zurück bitte" ("30 back, please").

7. There is no difference between food and wine.

8. It is uncommon to leave tips in self-service restaurants, but, when they delivered some service (like bringing the food to your table or preparing something special for you or giving you an extra smile), why not giving something?

9. Whom do we tip? Waiters/waitresses, taxi drivers, room maids (1 or 2 Euros per night), hairdressers, hotel concierges, porters, and everybody else who has done something special for me.

10. Tip is called "Trinkgeld" is German ("money to buy a drink"). It is the same in French ("pourboire").

11. Conclusion: For me, tipping is not a matter or rules but of style.

Traveller: Simple rounding up or around 3-5% of a larger total bill is an appropriate tip? In essence it's the same as in France or Italy; makes perfect sense; thanks for the tip ! ;)

5% on a large meal sounds perfectly reasonable to me. But who cares, just make up your own rule an stick to it. You're not going back to that place anyway :D

logos, I'm pretty sure that those grinning teeth at the end of your post meant you were kidding, but there are many who seem to believe that philosophy. I knew someone who insisted when they traveled (within the US) they never left a tip, because they said they were never going back anyway and no one knew them there. They figured most waiters would just think they forgot, or if they thought otherwise, what difference did it make? Those people were serious. What a sad way to live your life. I guess they could also justify acting like idiots or dressing like slobs or anything else they wanted to do since they weren't going back.

:D means "dead serious" :D