It is Okay not tipping in Europe

While tips are appreciated wherever you travel, tipping in Europe is not as automatic or generous as in the US, and in many countries, it is not expected at all. The exact amount depends not only on the country you are in, but also on your resources, tipping philosophy and the situation. However, some general guidelines remain in place.

Reference: Blog City and UK News and MF and 9 Naga

Restaurant
Restaurant tips are simpler in Europe than in America. Servers are paid a living wage, and a tip is considered a small bonus-for appreciating great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to the appropriate number. In many countries, 5 percent is enough and 10 percent is considered a good tip. Locals simply leave coins on the table, rounding off, or often do not tip at all.

Resist the urge to tip American style. If your money talks at home, take them out on your trip. In principle-if not Economic-local prices should prevail. Please believe me — tipping 15 or 20 percent in Europe is unnecessary, if not culturally stupid. You just raise the bar and mess up the local balance. And that’s bad style.

Tipping is only a problem in restaurants with table service. If you order food at the counter (in a pub, for example), do not tip. In sit-down restaurants, etiquette and tipping procedures vary slightly from country to country.

In the Mediterranean countries, the “service fee ” (servizio in Italian, service in French, servicio in Spanish) can be handled in different ways. Sometimes the menu will note that the service is included (”servizio incluso”), meaning that the price listed on the menu already includes this fee into the price. If the service is not included (”servizio non incluso”), the service fee may appear as a separate line item at the end of your bill. Most tourist offers at a fixed price include services.

In northern and eastern parts of Europe, menus or bills tend not to address the “service fee”, but you can usually assume that it is included in the price. Lately, some restaurants-especially those in well-touristy areas in Germany and Austria-have added a “Tip Not Included” line, in English, at the bottom of the bill. This is misleading, since the price of any menu in these countries includes services. I wouldn’t tip another cent at a restaurant that has this note on its bill.

Since most European credit card slips do not have a queue to add a tip, plan to tip in cash. Usually, it’s better to hand the tip over to the server when you pay the bill than to leave it on the table, especially in busy places where the wrong party might pocket change.

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In Germanic countries, instead of leaving coins on the table (considered a bit rude), locals usually pay directly: when the server arrives with the bill, just hand over the banknotes, specifying the total you want to pay. For example, if paying for a $ 10 meal with a $ 20 bill, say “Eleven, please” (or “Elf, bitte” if your German number is missing) while handing your money to the server. The Server will thank you, keep the € 1 tip, and give you €change

Don’t stress about tipping in Europe. If you’re not sure what to give, ask locals (but not servers) about tipping norms for the country. Almost anywhere in Europe, you can do as Europeans do and (if you are happy with the service) add a euro or two for each person in your party. In highly touristy areas, some servers have noticed Americans ‘ obsession with excessive tipping-and might expect Yankee-sized tips. But the good news is that European servers and visitors are much more relaxed about all this than we are. Any Tip is appreciated, the stakes are low, and it’s no big deal if you pick the “wrong”amount. Don’t be sleep deprived when walking out of a restaurant in Europe without tipping.

Taxi
For a regular trip, round up to the next euro at the rate (to pay the fare of €13, give €14); for a long trip, to the nearest 10 (for the fare of €76, give €80). If the taxi driver hauls your bags and takes you to the airport to help you catch your flight, you may want to include more. But if you feel like you’ve been pushed around in circles or cheated, skip the tips.

Local guides
Guides who give talks in public places or on bus or boat tours sometimes reach out to ask for tips after they have given a talk. If I have already paid for the tour or the entrance ticket to the sight, I do not tip extra (but if you want to tip, a euro or two is enough to get the job done well).

If taking a group tour — for example, a two-hour city walking tour-a tip of €2-5 per person is appropriate, depending on the size of the group (higher tip for small groups). For a few hours with a private guide, a tip of €10-20 for a group is fine (more if the guide is more than that, such as booking tickets in advance or arranging a driver for you).

Hotel
In hotels with porters, give one euro for each bag they bring. It’s nice (but optional) to leave a small tip in your room for the housekeeping staff when you leave.

Other services
In general, if someone in the service industry does a super job for you, a tip of a few euros is appropriate…but not mandatory.

If in doubt, ask. The French and British generally tip hairdressers, the Dutch and Swedes usually do not. If you’re not sure whether (or how much) to tip for a service, ask locals for advice; they’ll tell you how it’s done in their area.