Figuring out the tipping situation
when traveling can be one of the most indecipherable aspects of exploring abroad. We’ve all been there, cursing ourselves for not doing our research as we have a dessert-fogged moral dilemma over a few extra euros. Tipping can be tricky here in the U.S., so when we leave our borders—and all the usual rules are off—it becomes downright confusing and completely common to feel ripped off, or like we unknowingly ripped someone else off. The good news? The tipping rate within our red-white-and-blue borders is much higher than we’ll ever be expected to shell out abroad. The bad news? As we Americans get out and explore the world more, our tipping habits are catching on in other countries, leaving higher expectations than ever for healthy gratuities around the world.,The United Kingdom As someone who lived in the UK for a little while, I can attest that adjusting to a new tipping culture can leave us feeling a little in the dark. The rules here (unfortunately for my travel funds) are closer to American tipping etiquette than more far-flung locales, though they are still a wee bit lower. About 10 to 15 percent at restaurants is polite and expected unless you see a “discretionary service charge” of around 12 percent at the bottom of your bill. (This means they’ve included it in for you.) The going tipping rate for a night in a pub is a pound or two left with your bill at the end of the night. Add 10 percent for taxis and a few pounds for tour guides and porters.
Western Europe In general, tipping (by our Yankee standards) is not nécessaire on the continent. Most countries in Western Europe tack on the gratis automatically, taking the thinking entirely out of the matter (which is great after enjoying that French champagne). French law actually mandates that a 15 percent service charge be included in all menu prices. All this said, rounding up a few extra euros is a great way to spread some American
good cheer and say grazie for good service. But don’t go overboard! “We call it pour boire,” says Gaelle Moyal, who grew up in Paris. “It means we just leave excess change or round off the bill.” The term literally translates to “for a drink” because it’s just enough for the server to buy a drink after work. And for other services aside from restaurants? Taxis don’t expect a tip, although rounding off to the nearest euro is a completely normal and nice gesture. Hotels? “Tip extremely helpful porters a euro or two, but that’s it,” says Moyal.
Eastern Europe “Over-tipping is really common here,” says Darren Sather, a Californian who worked as waiter in Prague for a few years. “People feel like they’re still in Europe, so they do what they’d do in France, but the expectations are actually a lot lower.” If you find yourself dining behind the former Iron Curtain, leaving a little extra is much appreciated since monthly wages in Eastern Europe are much lower than their western counterparts.
“Locals don’t really tip, so anything is appreciated,” says Sather. A good rule of thumb is to estimate about 10 percent, then go down a bit. Unless you’re in Hungary, where 10 percent is expected, according to Rick Steves’ Best of Eastern Europe. Round up around 5 percent for taxis and toss a few coins to helpful porters and valets.
