Tipping

First, you should understand that generally tips are covered under the service charge you will pay. That said, because so many tourists tip now without thinking, many European servers have come to expect an extra tip from Americans. But it's much better if you don't. In the first article I linked to below, Rick said it best here:

Resist the urge to tip American-style. If your bucks talk at home, muzzle them on your travels. As a matter of principle — if not economy — the local price should prevail. Please believe me — tipping 15 or 20 percent in Europe is unnecessary, if not culturally ignorant. You're just raising the bar and messing up the local balance. And it's bad style.

Here are some posts and articles that should be helpful:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-europe
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/new-tipping-guidelines
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/first-time-france-trip

Thanks Mardee!

Sally, you're welcome. I did just add a couple of comments to my post above. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Wait to hear from our French/expat to France forum members sally. They will certainly chime in.

Tipping is not a single thing across Europe. Though universally lower than the USA, custom varies from place to place.

Have a great trip :)

Thank you!

Here's that french resident's chime in you're waiting for:

In 15 years I have probably left less than €30 in tips - total. It's almost impossible to do on a credit card, and if you tip more than the price of a cup of espresso the receiver gets embarrassed.

Dual US/ French, residing in France. We don't tip generally.
Exceptions: 15 ladies out for a luncheon, we left 1-2 euros each because we caused extra work. Exception #2: a regular barman, I signal to keep the change, 20 centimes.
The question is about France, not Europe.

Some restaurant servers will tell you that service isn't included. Don't be fooled. By law, is my understanding, that service included, no matter what they say.

Thanks. It happened to us years ago when we had lunch at a restaurant close to Vatican City - those with English menu.

I have to say that you are being misled when it comes to tipping in restaurants. I've had to explain more times than I can remember, that just because the bill says "service inclus" in France, this does not mean that the waiter is getting a tip. Rick Steeves constantly talks about staff being paid a good wage, but this is not the case. I've worked in France for 16 years in restaurants & most are paid minimum wage. It's also the norm for us to expect no tip from Americans, because they are told not to leave anything. The tips are generally shared between the waiting on staff, but some places share with all the team, apart from the bosses.

The Nays have it

These are interesting. Some first hand by locals. They tend to transcend personal bias on the subject.

https://n26.com/en-eu/blog/tipping-in-france
https://www.solosophie.com/tipping-in-france/
https://lifeinruralfrance.com/do-you-tip-in-france/
https://www.france-hotel-guide.com/en/blog/tipping-in-france/?utm_content=cmp-true

I have a friend in Budapest who is in a tourist service business that relies heavily on tips. I once said that I bet she loves the Americans for their tips. I was quickly corrected, the Americans dont tip well. I am guessing its because of the misconception instilled into Americans that there is no tipping in Europe. She said the Germans tip better; and this bears that out: https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/worlds-best-tippers/story?id=19320757