Tipping in a foreign country can leave a lot of people scratching their head, wondering what the etiquette is. In fact, on the first trip the hubs and I took abroad together, it was one of the first questions he had for me mid-flight. While adding an additional 18-20% to your bill is customary in the US, there are many countries which do not require tipping and then other countries in which tips are automatically added to your bill. Outside of reading this guide on how to tip on a European vacation, I strongly suggest you research your individual destination before arrival, or simply ask your hotel concierge or a local what is appropriate!
Taxis
As soon as you land, if you’re not renting a car, you’re next stop will be getting a taxi. Overall, throughout Europe, taxi drivers do not anticipate tips, however rounding up to the next euro is standard practice.
Hotels
As you arrive or depart from your hotel and a porter helps with your luggage, itâs customary to offer one or two Euros per bag that they assist you with. Additionally, if you utilize the Concierge during your stay with any special requests or special bookings, you should recognize this with a 5 to 10 euro tip. Lastly, while staying at a hotel for an extended period of time (usually more than one night) it’s always a nice gesture (although not expected) to tip your housekeeping staff a few Euros at the end of your stay. For more on how to choose the best hotel for your upcoming trip, read this blog post!
Restaurants
I believe that this is where most travelers have the most difficulty understanding if a tip is required, or not. My key piece of advise is to always check your bill first. If a service charge has been included within your check, than no additional gratuity is necessary. If you do not see a service charge on your check, than leaving a 10 percent tip is seen as very generous in most European countries. One thing to note – plan to bring cash (Euros) because some restaurants will not allow a gratuity to be added to a credit card purchase, and if they have not included a service charge, you will still want to be able to leave a tip.
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