Tipping in Austria?
Jan 29, 2013 | 4:44 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
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i feel both conflicted and guilty about 'americanizing' the tipping culture here in europe -- tipping up to my normal norms because:
(1) its a very small amount anyway
(2) often the rest of my meal is already comped
(3) im used to it from personal background
and once in a while am gently rebuked by colleagues not to do so
(1) its a very small amount anyway
(2) often the rest of my meal is already comped
(3) im used to it from personal background
and once in a while am gently rebuked by colleagues not to do so
Jan 29, 2013 | 5:52 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,443
I've never had the OP's experience in a restaurant in Austria, but I do remember that when at the Vienna State Opera a few years ago, the man at the garderobe looked at me meaningfully when I was leaving my coat there and said, "You can leave your money now or when you collect your coat later." I must say that I did ignore him, rightly or wrongly.
Jan 29, 2013 | 7:47 am
#20
Join Date: May 2012
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We agree and yet it seems like we don't
Actually the guidebook does mention it, but I presumed people check that. My fault. I always check the bill before paying and check if a a tip/service charge has already been added, which happens in several European countries and some restaurants in the USA. When someone visits the USA does one say expect to tip 15-20% at a restaurant unless it is already included or expect to tip 15-20% at a restaurant?
Technically wiki is not wrong. It just doesn't mention that sometimes it is included for you so you don't have a choice. I'm wrong for not writing the entire 2 paragraphs in Lonely Planet and putting just the sentence about expecting 10% tip/service charge.
I have much faith in the Lonely Planet Guide Book. It is written by people who live at the location. But, I don't take it as gospel. I look at other sources as well. I have visited Austria several times and have Austrian friends as well. I also pay attention and see what people do. And as you can see with the added links by uk1, there are now 4-5 sources that state a 10% tip and I haven't seen one source that says otherwise.
Technically wiki is not wrong. It just doesn't mention that sometimes it is included for you so you don't have a choice. I'm wrong for not writing the entire 2 paragraphs in Lonely Planet and putting just the sentence about expecting 10% tip/service charge.
I have much faith in the Lonely Planet Guide Book. It is written by people who live at the location. But, I don't take it as gospel. I look at other sources as well. I have visited Austria several times and have Austrian friends as well. I also pay attention and see what people do. And as you can see with the added links by uk1, there are now 4-5 sources that state a 10% tip and I haven't seen one source that says otherwise.
It is wrong. Sometimes they are.
On the basis that there is a glaring ommission in that it fails to mention that service and tax is almost always automatically added then it seems pretty useless to me.
Some sites do get it correct.
here and here ie
and here
To be honest I'm surpised that such authoritative sources get it so wrong and remain unchallenged/uncorrected. However, I hope this helps .....
On the basis that there is a glaring ommission in that it fails to mention that service and tax is almost always automatically added then it seems pretty useless to me.
Some sites do get it correct.
here and here ie
and here
To be honest I'm surpised that such authoritative sources get it so wrong and remain unchallenged/uncorrected. However, I hope this helps .....
Jan 29, 2013 | 9:01 am
#21
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I give up. You haven't read or understood the links. Clearly, no one including my many hundreds of nights in Vienna can compete. I've tried!
Just carry on adding 10% to 20% if that is what you think right!
Just carry on adding 10% to 20% if that is what you think right!
Actually the guidebook does mention it, but I presumed people check that. My fault. I always check the bill before paying and check if a a tip/service charge has already been added, which happens in several European countries and some restaurants in the USA. When someone visits the USA does one say expect to tip 15-20% at a restaurant unless it is already included or expect to tip 15-20% at a restaurant?
Technically wiki is not wrong. It just doesn't mention that sometimes it is included for you so you don't have a choice. I'm wrong for not writing the entire 2 paragraphs in Lonely Planet and putting just the sentence about expecting 10% tip/service charge.
I have much faith in the Lonely Planet Guide Book. It is written by people who live at the location. But, I don't take it as gospel. I look at other sources as well. I have visited Austria several times and have Austrian friends as well. I also pay attention and see what people do. And as you can see with the added links by uk1, there are now 4-5 sources that state a 10% tip and I haven't seen one source that says otherwise.
Technically wiki is not wrong. It just doesn't mention that sometimes it is included for you so you don't have a choice. I'm wrong for not writing the entire 2 paragraphs in Lonely Planet and putting just the sentence about expecting 10% tip/service charge.
I have much faith in the Lonely Planet Guide Book. It is written by people who live at the location. But, I don't take it as gospel. I look at other sources as well. I have visited Austria several times and have Austrian friends as well. I also pay attention and see what people do. And as you can see with the added links by uk1, there are now 4-5 sources that state a 10% tip and I haven't seen one source that says otherwise.
Last edited by uk1; Jan 29, 2013 at 9:15 am
Jan 29, 2013 | 10:15 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2006
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In fact, last time it did happen to me I not only did not leave a tip, but wrote to the management of the restaurant to complain, and got an apology. Since then, at that establishment, I have never been asked for one, but have always left one.
Neil
Jan 29, 2013 | 11:17 am
#23
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There are two written sources in thus thread that state tips should be 10%. An online Wiki and an extract from a Lonely Planet. Whether one should trust either is debatable - I expect that we would have to agree to disagree on this one.
The other 3 links you refer to (did you read them?) state that tipping is performed by rounding up - a practice that usually leads to a tip of much less than 10%. This is backed up by the experiences of others in this thread and I will add my name to this particular list.
Jan 29, 2013 | 11:41 am
#25
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I do need to get some glasses and stop multi-tasking. I started reading one link, but got Australia and Austria mixed up. ooops 
All 3 plus Lonely Planet mention that 10% tip/service charge is normally added to a restaurant bill. I wouldn't tip 10% in that situation just round up to the nearest dollar amount. I have never said tip over the tip/service charge!
What if you get into a restaurant that didn't add the 10% service charge? A rare happening, but can happen. In one of the 3 links a gentleman says expect to tip 10%. The other 2 links (now that I read Austria and not Australia) only mentions expecting the 10% tip to already be there not what happens when it isn't. Wiki mentions tipping 10% without mentioning the service charge probably already being there. Lonely Planet says tip 10% if not already included.
To the OP and anyone else who travels to Austria. Do as you want. Personally, I look to see if there is already a service charge or tip, which is almost always there (in large cities could be 99.9% of all restaurants already add this), and if it is already there, I just round up, but in the rare chance it isn't there, I tip 10%.
All 3 plus Lonely Planet mention that 10% tip/service charge is normally added to a restaurant bill. I wouldn't tip 10% in that situation just round up to the nearest dollar amount. I have never said tip over the tip/service charge!
What if you get into a restaurant that didn't add the 10% service charge? A rare happening, but can happen. In one of the 3 links a gentleman says expect to tip 10%. The other 2 links (now that I read Austria and not Australia) only mentions expecting the 10% tip to already be there not what happens when it isn't. Wiki mentions tipping 10% without mentioning the service charge probably already being there. Lonely Planet says tip 10% if not already included.
To the OP and anyone else who travels to Austria. Do as you want. Personally, I look to see if there is already a service charge or tip, which is almost always there (in large cities could be 99.9% of all restaurants already add this), and if it is already there, I just round up, but in the rare chance it isn't there, I tip 10%.
I think you are confused.
There are two written sources in thus thread that state tips should be 10%. An online Wiki and an extract from a Lonely Planet. Whether one should trust either is debatable - I expect that we would have to agree to disagree on this one.
The other 3 links you refer to (did you read them?) state that tipping is performed by rounding up - a practice that usually leads to a tip of much less than 10%. This is backed up by the experiences of others in this thread and I will add my name to this particular list.
There are two written sources in thus thread that state tips should be 10%. An online Wiki and an extract from a Lonely Planet. Whether one should trust either is debatable - I expect that we would have to agree to disagree on this one.
The other 3 links you refer to (did you read them?) state that tipping is performed by rounding up - a practice that usually leads to a tip of much less than 10%. This is backed up by the experiences of others in this thread and I will add my name to this particular list.
Jan 29, 2013 | 11:51 am
#26
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I knew you couldn't tell the difference between Australia and Austria but couldn't be fussed to ask. You know that Vienna is different from Venice don't you?
What part of every restaurant in Vienna I have ever visited has added a service charge is unclear?
What part of every restaurant in Vienna I have ever visited has added a service charge is unclear?
Jan 29, 2013 | 4:44 pm
#27
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Which I guess includes this post.
Jan 29, 2013 | 8:23 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2007
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I do need to get some glasses and stop multi-tasking. I started reading one link, but got Australia and Austria mixed up. ooops
All 3 plus Lonely Planet mention that 10% tip/service charge is normally added to a restaurant bill. I wouldn't tip 10% in that situation just round up to the nearest dollar amount. I have never said tip over the tip/service charge!
What if you get into a restaurant that didn't add the 10% service charge? A rare happening, but can happen. In one of the 3 links a gentleman says expect to tip 10%. The other 2 links (now that I read Austria and not Australia) only mentions expecting the 10% tip to already be there not what happens when it isn't. Wiki mentions tipping 10% without mentioning the service charge probably already being there. Lonely Planet says tip 10% if not already included.
To the OP and anyone else who travels to Austria. Do as you want. Personally, I look to see if there is already a service charge or tip, which is almost always there (in large cities could be 99.9% of all restaurants already add this), and if it is already there, I just round up, but in the rare chance it isn't there, I tip 10%.
All 3 plus Lonely Planet mention that 10% tip/service charge is normally added to a restaurant bill. I wouldn't tip 10% in that situation just round up to the nearest dollar amount. I have never said tip over the tip/service charge!
What if you get into a restaurant that didn't add the 10% service charge? A rare happening, but can happen. In one of the 3 links a gentleman says expect to tip 10%. The other 2 links (now that I read Austria and not Australia) only mentions expecting the 10% tip to already be there not what happens when it isn't. Wiki mentions tipping 10% without mentioning the service charge probably already being there. Lonely Planet says tip 10% if not already included.
To the OP and anyone else who travels to Austria. Do as you want. Personally, I look to see if there is already a service charge or tip, which is almost always there (in large cities could be 99.9% of all restaurants already add this), and if it is already there, I just round up, but in the rare chance it isn't there, I tip 10%.
There are no kangaroos in Vienna, and Mozart never travelled to Sydney.
Jan 30, 2013 | 1:33 am
#29
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Please please please do NOT bring Australia into this discussion. There is no need to tip in Australia, and indeed in some establishments you might be sneered at if you do. It's often considered gauche.
There are no kangaroos in Vienna, and Mozart never travelled to Sydney.
There are no kangaroos in Vienna, and Mozart never travelled to Sydney.
However ... there ARE kangaroos in Vienna ....
Jan 30, 2013 | 1:49 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2007
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However ... there ARE kangaroos in Vienna ....