Hi! Two questions: 1) Is there a charge (like in the US sometimes) to use a credit card to pay for meals? 2) Is there an extra charge for a large group at restaurants? We’re traveling a group of seven. Thank you!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17563 posts
Last September, traveling as a family of 8 in Switzerland and italy, we did not encounter any extra charge for credit card (or Apple Pay) use in restaurants—-as long as they accepted cards. A few smaller places did not. And I do not recall seeing any extra charge for a group our size—-except that where there is a “coperto” or service charge listed on the menu (which is common in some parts of Italy) the charge is per person, not for the table.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Interesting! Thank you for the response!
Posted by
Massachusetts
1108 posts
I was in Venice, Florence and Rome in October 2023. I did not encounter any situation where an extra charge was added simply because I was paying by credit card. I can't answer your question about extra charges for large groups.
This blog post may be helpful.
https://anamericaninrome.com/2016/12/tipping-in-italy-and-what-to-expect-on-the-bill/
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8130 posts
My guess, based on other discussions about Italy, is that businesses are required to accept CC if over a certain amount, so to then charge an extra fee would be frowned on. At least I have never run into a charge.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for the replies! :)
Posted by
San Francisco, CA (USA)
559 posts
Credit card service charge...I've run into some but, not too often. Thinking back, I think most of them were at knick-knack shops where I'd have been better using cash instead. Restaurants or, eateries I don't ever recall seeing a separate line-item charge or, stand-out charge...maybe if you're in a small village/town.
As for a group charge at a restaurant, ever seen the size of Italian families? I think that's a uniquely American-issue where certain customers like to make life difficult for their server with a multitude of exceptions and substitutions.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7943 posts
amandah, the reason most American restaurants levy a Service Charge for parties over 6 is because when the check amount starts to reach stratospheric levels, the guideline for tipping begins to (quite incorrectly and unreasonably) leave a bad taste in thrifty diners mouths. As another reply noted, large parties are actually more work, and deserve larger tips. The size of the bill has nothing to do with whether you should tip 20%, the accepted amount today.
Conversely, moderate-priced restaurants in NYC often have a large note on the menu, and printed on the credit card slip, pointing out that tips are NOT included in the amount printed. That's for international customers who frequently (I have been told by restaurant employees DO NOT TIP at all in NYC.)
I was relieved that you did not raise the question of submitting four credit cards to divide the bill! (28%, 29%, 29%, 14%, at that!) OTOH, my wife used to travel for international Standards committee meetings, and they actually did present 10 credit cards at a time, because of company Expense Account rules. But I guess the restaurants were expensive enough, and used-to fat cat large parties that they were happy to oblige! The did eat at relatively fancy places.