Tipping in Europe is a delicate subject. If you tip too much, you could look like a foolish American; too little and your service provider could feel snubbed. When it comes to European restaurants, Forbes says that 5-10% is a substantial tip. Meanwhile, rounding up to the nearest Euro is an adequate amount to give taxi drivers.<\/p>\n
Here’s a quick round-up of the tipping customs in some European countries:<\/p>\n
Belgium<\/strong><\/p>\n In certain areas of Belgium, tipping is an acceptable way to express gratitude, and in others it is not. In Wallona, tipping is generally accepted and encouraged, whereas in Flanders, tipping is uncommon. In general, you can leave a gratuity for good service by rounding up the bill to the next euro or allowing the server to keep the change. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips, but if you are highly pleased with their service, feel free to tip\u00a0\u20ac1 to\u00a0\u20ac3.<\/p>\n England<\/b><\/p>\n In England<\/a>, service charges are often included in the restaurant bill, but if not, 10-15% is standard. If you\u2019re at a pub enjoying some drinks with friends, note that it\u2019s more customary to buy the staff a drink instead of tipping. For salon and beauty services, rounding up to the nearest ten should be sufficient. For a taxi service, 10% or less is typical. Staying at a hotel? Expect to leave a tip of 10-15%.<\/p>\n France<\/b><\/p>\n By law, gratuities of 15% are automatically added to your bill, but it is not unlikely to add 10-15% for above average service (especially in Paris). Esquire<\/a> however, \u00a0claims that travellers should never leave more than \u20ac11. For a taxi service, round up to the nearest Euro. If you\u2019re staying at a hotel, give a \u20ac1 per bag to the bellman; \u20ac1-2 for the housekeeper; and \u20ac10-15 for the concierge, giving them half upon arrival and the other half when you check out.<\/p>\n Germany <\/b><\/p>\n Rule number 1: don\u2019t leave your tip on the table, give it your waiter when you pay. Generally, 10-15% is average. In hotels, it is expected for travellers to give \u20ac3 per bag to the bellman; \u20ac5 per day for the housekeeper; and \u20ac20 for the concierge.<\/p>\n Greece<\/b><\/p>\n