Tipping

what to do about tipping

I can only answer for Denmark!

General answer: Don't We don't tip for normal interactions.

porter at the hotel who brings my bag to the room This a new one for me. SInce we travel with one backpack we just keep it on the back, when w go to our room. Others may chime in.

the taxi driver Nothing. But if he carries your luggage into the hotel lobby, he will let the meter run while he does it and be payed that way. Or he may offer you a fixed amount for doing it and add that to the payment.

I can answer for sweden; Don't! We have real living wages for all and unions who negotiate them. That's the system our society uses. A few restaurants have tried over the last few years to introduce the practice of having their card terminals beg for tips before customers are allowed to pay, thereby delaying payment. Very tasteless and utterly crass! Porters are entirely extinct, to the best of my knowledge.

This topic is always interesting.

Here in Germany, employees in restaurants, hotels, and taxi drivers also receive real living wages. Although on average, they are lower than those working in offices.
Nevertheless, almost everyone here tips. In a good restaurant, I would give around 10%. While a taxi driver, a waiter in a regular restaurant, or in a cafe, I round up. All tips depending on my satisfaction. I would never consider not doing so.

Thanks so much for your input. I will relax and not worry about the tipping.

Mignon; That is Germany, which is a different beast. Last night I continued reading Michael Cunningham's By Nightfall. One of the charachters portrayed is Dan, a young waiter at a New York City café in the 80's, who gets a tip of "fifty-seven dollars on a forty-three-dollar check" from Madonna. The tip was not what made me smile.

Do as the local culture does in whatever country you are in. Some places nothing. Some places could be an affront to leave a tip, Japan. OP is from California, please don’t bring your 30% tip mentality anywhere else.

Yikes, treemoss2-never in my life have I tipped 30%!

I do not tip 30%.