Is it customary or expected to tip in Europe

While in Sorrento, Italy April we didn't tip and felt no expectation or pressure to do so. In Naples on the same trip we were one of two couples on a 3 hour city walking tour. At the end the other couple tried to tip €20 on a €35 per person tour. The guide refused and said tipping is never necessary. The guide was passionate about Naples and horrified about what is was becoming with scams to rip off tourists. Next, in Rome we noted that tipping expectations in restaurants within heavily tourists areas was aggressive, but only targeted toward anyone thought to be American.

To your question, I have no idea of what customs or expectations are since everyone seems to have their own opinion about what is right. I do note that I'm currently reading a British guidebook about Portugal and tipping is not mentioned, while it is in the RS book.

I wonder if a secondary question is if it is customary or expected that servers in other countries target different nationalities based on that perceived nationality.

Allan, incredibly subjective. And I bet some do target tourists. That's why I said, let's leave tourist districts out of the discussion, but given we are all tourists, I guess that's impossible. There is no factually correct answer. More of a discussion. There could be wrong answers though.

Back in the days of paying at restaurants with cash, I would do the round up a euro or two method. But today, with electronic payment at the table, that is less convenient to do.

Most of my travel time is spent in France, and a lot of it in Paris. I stay in a non-touristy neighborhood in Paris' 15 eme, eat at local joints and some nice restaurants pretty far off the tourist trail, and I have never been "asked" for a tip. Still, if I can, especially a place where I eat several times on a trip, usually with the same waiter, I do tip a few euros, usually coins out of my pocket. And same at hotels with daily maid service, where I tend to stay for a week or more, I tip the staff at the end of the stay.

I think people make too much of this issue. It is helpful to know the local custom and expectation, but still let your conscience be your guide...

In about 60 trips to Europe and a combined total of just shy of 3 years in one Europesn country, no one has ever asked me for a tip. In over 60 years in the US, no one had ever asked me for a tip. And no one fussed when I didn't leave one. At least not to my face LOL.

But I tip here because I know, like a large number of European countries, they don't earn much and they are good people and work hard and a few euros does more good in their life than it would in mine. And it's the culture. So far no one has refused or looked offended. I respect their culture, I think they respect mine (except when I give bear hugs ... hey, I'm from the South).

In some ways the question is even more complicated than that given the wide state by state variances in minimum wages. One of the arguments for tipping in the US is poverty wages. Yet in WA state the minimum wage is higher than in the UK, and more than double the Texas rate. And in one small town in the state I see frequent job adverts for servers and shop workers, so I know that they are being paid the minimum wage and in many cases more.
But that is all relative given higher food costs (if lower petrol/gas costs). However the real fly in the ointment is that houses in that particular town cost easily between 3 and 4 times what it does in my UK town, probably with a mean of about 500% more given the number of high end properties in that WA town.
Also the city tax burden is much higher than in my UK town. I know, I see the budget. In fact I see and understand more of their budget than in my UK town, where the annual budget meeting isn't even advertised!

So it is a very complex calculation.

I would be inclined to tip significantly more in the family run restaurants in that town (one in particular), than in a chain restaurant in Seattle. Partly because I know it is going to help struggling individuals. I know one server there who is also running an unofficial ride share to help ends meet. I would actually use her ride share specifically to help her out.

Isn31c, good points. I will make it more complicated. Compare the living with dignity expectations in TX to those in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria it will be closer to minimum food and shelter. In TX it will be closer to a home with AC and a washer and dryer, a few meals out a week and a reliable automobile. So do we judge a minimal life in Eastern Europe is good enough for them, but not good enough for us? Or reverse? In Hungary the minimum wage is about $800 a month. The cost of living is about 1/3 less than Texas. You do the math and decide if that's a living wage. It's why I stay away from the topic. You could devote a lifetime getting your head around it.

And tipping those that improve your life, absolutely. It's not a tip, but there is a wine bar/shop here. I could save a few thousand forints at other places, but I buy my bottles there because they have been good to me for over a decade now. And their tips tend to be a tad more than 10%.

We don't care where we are the tip is 10% outside the US. I am so tired of this kind of question can I send you a tip to just stop it. We used to go out with a couple in the states until the question of tipping came to a breaking point. They feel 10% is fine we believe in 20%. Money was no issue they just believed if they don't like it, they should get another job. That's it we were out.

I will PM my PayPal address.

All I know is it is getting more complicated.

Sometimes you can add it it to your bill when paying with card. Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes if you add it, it goes to the restaurant and not the servers. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes a percentage shows up on the card machine. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes you shouldn’t leave cash on the table. Sometimes it’s ok. Sometimes you should hand cash directly to a server. Sometimes it’s an insult to hand cash. Sometimes I have cash. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes my brain can do percentages or mental currency conversions. Sometimes it can’t.

And that doesn’t even get to the question of whether or not you should or whether or not it’s the norm.

I did recently ask a server about their salary here in Texas and it’s still under $2.50/hour.

I try to abide by the culture. I remember in 2015 in Oslo, the waiter specifically telling my husband the tip was not included. He talked his way right out of any tip. In Iceland, where we go often, the culture is no tipping. On our 2nd trip, we tipped a guide as we did not know better, and he did not know what to make of it. After that I talked to various locals on every trip, and asked specifically, and they have all said they do not want the tipping culture brought to their country. So I abide by that.

The Texas comment illustrates how much you would have to know in every culture, city, and country to make judgment. Nothing wrong with your perception though. In Texas, the law requires that at the end of the day that every employee earns the minimum wage but allows that to be in part from tips. If they don't get enough in tips, then the owner is required to make up the difference. Most of the poor side of town Taquiera waitresses I have known have done twice the minimum wage when tips were counted.

I just typed "tipping" into the search box above. It returned 32,317 hits for this travel forum. It also showed 286 Tips and Articles, 191 hits on Rick's blog, 133 radio episodes and 47 video. I'm not sure what else can--or needs to be--added or discussed at this point.

"In Texas, the law requires that at the end of the day that every employee earns the minimum wage but allows that to be in part from tips. If they don't get enough in tips, then the owner is required to make up the difference. "

That is not Texas law, that is a US wage law.

In about 60 trips to Europe and a combined total of just shy of 3 years in one Europesn country, no one has ever asked me for a tip.

I have never been asked in the US for a tip, either (unless you count the current constant tip "requests" on electronic point of sale terminals that I never agree to), but I was asked in Germany (once). I was caught off guard, sheepishly agreed to a tip of 10 percent (he had the electronic gizmo in hand at the table), and I felt a little foolish for allowing myself to be bullied like that because it was in a famous tourist place and it felt very much like a "stick it to the rich American" sort of thing (I diid not witness any similar tip requests at nearby tables).

So If it ever happens again, I intend to refuse. It also made me think that back in the day when I always paid cash for a similar 78 euro dinner check, I probably would have put 80 in his hand and said "thank you, please keep the change".

Bob, good to hear the US has learned a few things from the Republic of Texas.

Jojo, unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise if the tip machine doesn't have a button for 10% I decline tipping all together.

I only remember being asked for a tip once - by a taxi driver in Spain. He actually incorporated his tip into the fare. I was ticked off but paid what he wanted….it was less than I was going to tip !

FWIW, last month I saw a the barista at my local café refuse a tip.

In this case, there was a young couple (30ish) of German Pilgrims. The barista, Jose, is a great but gruff guy, who only speaks Spanish.

The woman asked to pay for the two coffee in broken Spanish. Jose said that it was 2.60€. A strange expression come across her face and she tried to say she wanted to pay for both coffee (I'm guessing that coffee where she was from is more than 1.30€). Jose assured her that was for the two. She paid and tried to give him a euro tip. Jose reacted almost as if she had insulted him. He tapped his heart and said thanks was enough.

Jojo, unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise if the tip machine doesn't have a button for 10% I decline tipping all together.

I should have been a little clearer - here in the US, I chafe at the intrusive tip request screens with a variety of suggested amounts on point of sale terminals at service counters. I sometimes tip a little for takeout, especially if it is delivered to my car, but never for something I order at a service counter (like coffee at a Starbucks, or food at a fast food joint) - yes, there is a "skip this" button, but if I don't have my reading glasses in hand, I struggle to navigate these options.

On the other hand if I am eating in at a sit down, full service restaurant, waited on by staff at a table, I always tip, usually 15 to 20 percent, and typically a higher percentage than that at a lower priced joint. At cheap eats table service joint, for instance, on a $14 tab, I usually pay cash, leave $20, and say "keep the change"...

This is the impression that I get with regard to the subject.

1. IN EUROPE, they do tip. Just not as common or as part of the culture in some locations as it is in others. Even cultures that are not "tipping cultures" it isnt uncommon to round up with taxis and leave something for house keepers.

2. No matter what you choose to do, tip, no tip, 5%, 20%; no good service provider will think bad of you.

3. Failing to tip will cause no hard feelings by service providers as it is still seen as an added kindness and not a requirement.

4. Rounding up, especially on small bills, is almost universal. (At 360 forints to the dollar, who wants a pockef full of 5 and 20 forint coins?)

5. Tipping of 5% to 10% will not surprise or offend a service provider in any country country in Europe,

I’m breaking my New Year’s resolution to never participate in a tipping thread again. But I like the way the discussion was framed and the attempt to keep it focused on principles, not “what I do”.

I think the 5 point summary from Mr É is a good way to look at it. It's more consistent with the idea that it should be based on a judgment on whether the service was good (whatever that means). There's a subtlety in the personal transaction there that is lost when it's an automatic response based on "thats what we do at home". It doesn't seem right to me that tipping should be an act of charity, or guilt.

And I find it also telling that what we consider "good" service in the US - fast in-and-out, drinks constantly refilled, checking every few minutes on "how's everythin' tasting for ya", the bill while still eating - isn't at all what good service is in, say, Germany. Another sign of the disconnect between what we say we are tipping for, and why we really do.

But I think it is right and appropriate for travelers to want to know, and respect the local customs and expectations**. It's a mistake to assume that working and living conditions, skill levels, and motivations are the same as in the US, just like assuming that icy drinks are the world standard. Of course most people are not going to turn away extra money, but when they come to expect it from you, it's no longer an act of gratitude, its extortion. Thats what the current US tipping frenzy has degenerated into. Having had the experience of entertaining folks from non-tipping cultures in US restaurants, it's pretty clear that doing what you do at home is not respected.

**ref. Starfleet Prime Directive

...it's no longer an act of gratitude, its extortion. Thats what the current US tipping frenzy has degenerated into...

Thats what it feels like in many places in the U.S. The local hardware store even has a tip jar for crying out loud!

Roughly said in my experience tipping is not expected in countries with minimum wage.

If you were satisfied with service pay a tip - if you want kitchen staff participated pay it by electronic payment, otherwise give the waiter / waitress a tip in cash.

Personally I agree to the saying of Berlin's Burgermeister tip-box (see photo).

MarkK, I think the photo says it perfectly.

Not Europe, but not much tipping going on in Sydney this week.

He actually incorporated his tip into the fare. I was ticked off but paid what he wanted….it was less than I was going to tip!

stephen, I hope you told him that!

I was in Lisbon this weekend and whilst sat at the hotel bar an American couple approached and ordered two glasses of wine. Once handed their drinks the man paid and then attempted to give a tip (I couldn't see how much it was but it was in notes) the barman politely declined but the man kept insisting to the point where the barman was visibly uncomfortable. Eventually he gave up and put his money away, it was quite awkward to watch.

I also saw lots of tip jars on the counters in various kiosks selling beer around the city with tip requests written in English so clearly aimed at the tourist market. I didn't leave any tips and not an eyebrow was raised, I also never saw any Portugese tip at any of these places either.

The worst example of tip expectation was actually at Heathrow on the way out. We ate at Gordon Ramsey's 'Plane Food' restaurant and the only method of paying is to scan a QR code on your table. There was a discretionary %20 service charge added for which you had to speak to a member of staff to have removed (it was very busy so we just paid it) and then you were offered the option to further tip your server in increments of £5!

I only tip here in Europe if I am rounding it up. For example, the day before I left Rome my restaurant tab came to €18.50 so I put a €20 bill and told him to keep the rest. My country doesn't use euros anyway so I didn't want the coins. Sometimes I will leave a bit extra by rounding up if they did something extra. When I was on a tour in Portugal, our guide was not allowed to accept tips but we were expected to tip the driver of our coach.