Originally Posted by
bizclassboy
Yes and its rich coming from a poster who assumes that Italy automatically adds 10% as a tip, he is obviously well adversed in the lonely travellers guides but not in real life. Like I said the attitude of how "we helped those poor people so we gave them a tip" makes you feel good. I think haven spoken to many service staff who tell me they dont earn minimum wage but dont tell the punters makes me laugh when I see postings like this one. Its a myth the way people like this think they are helping people survive and raise their families, I am laughing my socks having read this post
Here you go again
scroogeboy making assumptions again ... oops ... I meant to say
bizclassboy. FYI, I lived and worked in Italy for 2 years in the late 70's (when you were sucking on your thumb, I presume) and yes my Italian is a bit rusty now but the last time I was there (Valentine's week 2004) the tip was still called
coperta (or
coperto) and it was listed at the bottom of the menu. Liked the service or not, you paid the service charge pal. The same goes for Europe,
often the gratuity (15%) is figured with the total and it will be stated at the bottom of the menu. There are no assumptions on my part and no "
lonely travelers guide" information here either but real life experiences.
This is not about "
helping those poor people" or "
makes you feel good" This is about treating people with dignity and respect and in par with the way you treat their European counterparts. This is called maturity, experience and wisdom. In 30 years of traveling the world, I have learned two things: The first is that when you travel, at some point you will find yourself in a dire predicament. The second is that, equally inevitably, someone will miraculously emerge to take care of you whether the situation is dramatic or mundane, some stranger will appear to save you, spontaneously and with no thought of compensation or reward. I suggest that you read "
The Kindness of Strangers" edited by Don George to know what I am talking about.
I am really glad that my post made you laugh. Keep up the good laugh and have a happy new year ... Cheers!