Arriving at CDG how much do I tip taxi driver if my hotel is near rue cler
Also thinking of taking train to Normandy. Where do I catch the train and do I need to prepurchase tickets. Also are there different classes of tickets that I need to be aware of ? Thank you,Mary
No tip is needed for cabs or for meals. For a cab driver who is very helpful with luggage, a couple of Euro is fine; I had a broken elbow this fall and the driver came into the apartment foyer and got our luggage and was very helpful unloading not letting me lift a thing and I gave him 5, but that is high and unnecessary unless you get special help. For meals it is customary to leave a little change -- a couple of small coins for coffee or for dinner a couple of Euro at most. Many Parisians leave nothing It is not a tipping culture and if you get hassled for a tip know you have been targeted as a foolish American and are in a tourist trap. They never pull this on locals who would laugh in their face, which you should to if a tip is requested.
Note that a cab is fixed price -- 55 Euro to the Rue Cler area, 50 to the right bank. Make sure that shows on the meter at the start; they should not run the meter. There are no extra charges for 4 people and their luggage. It is 4 Euro per person above 4 people.
You should buy tickets for Normandy 3 mos out to get cheap prices. We paid 15 Euro for PREM tickets to Caen that we could just print at home. Near time of travel it is much more expensive. If you left it to the last minute, I think it is a good idea to get them a day ahead so you don't get held up and miss the train the day of travel as we once did when planning to go to Vernon. Trains for Normandy run from Gare St. Lazare but you can buy tickets at any train station.
different classes of tickets that I need to be aware of
Outside rush hour on suburban commuter trains, 2nd class is comfortable enough for most people. See Steve's advice on classes.
There are two types of trains that make trips to towns in Normandy: Intercites and TER. For Intercites, as said above the cheaper tickets sell out so purchasing ahead of travel makes sense. On the other hand, there is no price advantage for early purchases of TER tickets because there one single price from the date that tickets are available for sale until the date of travel. Some TER trains may have only second class.
janettravels44 wrote:
No tip is needed for cabs or for meals.
Well, I've always tipped cabbies something along the lines of 5 to 10 percent of the trip cost, but I usually only take cabs from an airport to the central city; never for short trips. In other words, finding my butt in a cab is a rather rare event.
As for meals, I had an interesting lunch one time with my French co-workers. The topic of tipping came up, and my one colleague who came from a clearly privileged upbringing stated definitely that she never tipped. After all, service was included in the bill.
My other colleagues, who came from various economic backgrounds, all of which were lower than the first noted above, were politely aghast. They said that they all left 1 to 5 euros on the table, depending on the cost of the meal and the level of service.
It was pretty clear that those economically closest, in their upbringing, to restaurant servers left tips in restaurants.
Don't get me wrong: the one colleague from a privileged background happened to be the most junior, and therefore lowest-paid (but still pretty well-paid [at her level of experience] by French standards; in the 40K€ to 50K€ range). Granted, the ones who were more experienced and insisted on tipping were better paid due to their greater level of experience, but I believe their position came more from their background and empathy for lower-paid workers than from their greater liquidity.
Me? I leave from 1 to 5 euros, depending on the cost of the meal and the level of service.
We always tip taxi drivers 2-4 euros. We had family friends who were Paris cab drivers when we were young, sensitizing us to the issue.
Add me to the list of those who tip cab drivers. And I "round up" in restaurants. Many of my French friends do the same and wonder where the myth of a non-tipping society got started. Granted the tip calculation of Americans (15 to 20 percent is steep) but "rounding up" is perfectly normal/
It's a very good idea to print the complete address of your hotel and hand it to the driver, who might or might not speak English very well.
This will help avoid confusion.
Flat rate fees are in effect, and they are good for 4 passengers and all their luggage.
If the driver helps with luggage, I'd recommend giving 2 or 3 EU.
Regarding "rounding up" or "leaving a few euros" for taxi or meal . . . when paying by credit card, does one put the tip on the credit card or the base amount on the credit card and the tip in cash/euros? Thanks!
When paying by card in a restaurant, there's no tip line on the receipt because nothing is expected. You don't need to leave anything and you don't need to feel cheap. Their employers pay them. If by cash, this rounding up started about ten years ago. Some people leave the small coins, some don't. It's a fairly recent development.
As for meals, I had an interesting lunch one time with my French co-workers. The topic of tipping came up, and my one colleague who came from a clearly privileged upbringing stated definitely that she never tipped. After all, service was included in the bill.
Years ago, my French teacher, who was born and raised in France, told me: "The French never tip." I still think that's not quite true, although when I've watched French people in restaurants, many, if not most, don't tip.
When I took a taxi from Gare du Nord to Rue Cler, the driver banzia'd his way through Paris traffic like the Devil himself was chasing us. I don't think the taxi came equipped with a brake and a couple of times I'm sure he used either the bike lane or the sidewalk as a thoroughfare. I believe he was rooking us on the route he took because at one point, we ended up in that huge round-about at the Arc de Triumph and discovered you don't need turn signals when you have a rolled-down window and a middle finger. The trip was both terrifying and thrilling at the same time, and when he screeched to a halt in front of our hotel, I was ready to hug the guy just because he got us there alive.
I tipped him 5 euros. Second-best taxi ride ever.
Mike, I'm sure we're all waiting to hear about your FIRST best taxi ride....
