Tipping at European hotel restaurants
Dec 12, 21, 1:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,056
Tipping at European hotel restaurants
Two hotel restaurants in Italy have had gratuity lines on the bill. I haven't seen this before. Tipping does not seem common at non-hotel restaurants (beyond rounding up when paying cash). On other forums I've been told not to bring American tipping culture to Europe, but maybe that does not apply to restaurants in luxury hotels.
Have I missed something? What is one to do about this?
Have I missed something? What is one to do about this?
Dec 12, 21, 1:46 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: amex platinum, american advantage, united, ANA, JAP. SPG, marriott
Posts: 1,246
Not tip imo. Certainly you should always leave a few euros on the table as has been customary but do not apply the American standard of 20%. They put that gratuity line in for those naive enough to fall for it.
Dec 13, 21, 12:21 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,056
It does seem odd to leave only a few euros on a couple of hundred euro bill. Or what will no doubt be a rather large bill for tomorrow's planned Michelin multi-course white truffle tasting menu (if they put a gratuity line). When there's no line on the receipt it feels much easier.
I was concerned customs had changed and it sounds as if they have not.
I was concerned customs had changed and it sounds as if they have not.
Last edited by richarddd; Dec 13, 21 at 12:33 am
Dec 13, 21, 9:06 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Posts: 3,974
Park Hotel Vitznau did that too. I felt weird not leaving anything, so I did leave a few CHF here and there.
(Trying not to stray us too far off topic) that was just my American guilt.
I’m hoping to book a trip to France for Jan/Feb soon and I’ll have to work on that…
(Trying not to stray us too far off topic) that was just my American guilt.
I’m hoping to book a trip to France for Jan/Feb soon and I’ll have to work on that…
Dec 13, 21, 12:06 pm
#5
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: amex platinum, american advantage, united, ANA, JAP. SPG, marriott
Posts: 1,246
Restaurants in Europe include the gratuity in their prices. The few euros you leave on the table are simply an extra. courtesy. They are not the entire gratuity. Only an American (and I am one) would even ask this question.
Dec 13, 21, 12:11 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,071
Tipping customs in Europe aren't uniform across all countries. For example, it seems much more common to see the natives leaving about 15% in Greece than in Germany/Switzerland/France.
Dec 13, 21, 3:06 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 232
I've had this in a few restaurants in Italy too, Don Alfonso was particularly obnoxious about it from my memory, after a very disappointing experience none was left. My general impression was that it is a tourist trap type request, and that some very fine meals (with both locals and tourists as guests) did not request this
Dec 13, 21, 3:53 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 100,380
Originally Posted by richarddd
It does seem odd to leave only a few euros on a couple of hundred euro bill. Or what will no doubt be a rather large bill for tomorrow's planned Michelin multi-course white truffle tasting menu (if they put a gratuity line). When there's no line on the receipt it feels much easier.
I was concerned customs had changed and it sounds as if they have not.
I was concerned customs had changed and it sounds as if they have not.
Beware the DCC scam for US and other non-European cards has become increasingly prevalent even during this pandemic. Opt out of it.
Dec 13, 21, 4:00 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 10,543
In Italy it´s not common to add a tipp to the bill, it´s common to leave it at the table in cash. So that´s about Italy here, in other European countries it´s common to have the tipp-lines.
Dec 14, 21, 12:00 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,056
Originally Posted by offerendum
In Italy it´s not common to add a tipp to the bill, it´s common to leave it at the table in cash. So that´s about Italy here, in other European countries it´s common to have the tipp-lines.
Dec 14, 21, 12:10 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Germany
Programs: Some
Posts: 10,543
Originally Posted by richarddd
What would you regard as a common amount or percentage to leave as a tip in Italy?
Dec 14, 21, 5:26 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: madrid
Posts: 51
Originally Posted by tdiddy23
I've had this in a few restaurants in Italy too, Don Alfonso was particularly obnoxious about it from my memory, after a very disappointing experience none was left. My general impression was that it is a tourist trap type request, and that some very fine meals (with both locals and tourists as guests) did not request this
Dec 14, 21, 5:27 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: madrid
Posts: 51
Tourist trap it is
Italy isdefinitely a tourist trap in most of its big cities.I live in Europe and And we do not normally leave tips in most of the continent. Except for a few euros if we like the service.
Dec 14, 21, 6:42 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,337
In France it is also a few euros. Or nowadays I leave 5 euros with today's inflation. The word for tipping in French is pourboire which literally means "for a drink". Historically people would make sure their servers could have a drink at the end of the night. So that's why it is just a few coins one leaves on the table, even at a high end restaurant. It was never meant as a supplement to the servers income, as is the case in America.
In general it is best if travelers leave their culture at home and experience the culture of the place they are visiting.
In general it is best if travelers leave their culture at home and experience the culture of the place they are visiting.
Last edited by stimpy; Dec 14, 21 at 6:48 am
Dec 14, 21, 8:28 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: my heart is on the shores of the north Italian lakes
Programs: LX Senator Lifetime, Relais&Chateaux Club5C, ex ! "Amanjunkie", ex LHW LC, hate chain hotels
Posts: 2,375
no tipping as a sacred principle - especially at high end places
Originally Posted by tdiddy23
I've had this in a few restaurants in Italy too, Don Alfonso was particularly obnoxious about it from my memory
It has become customary in german speaking countries to ask on the screen if one wishes to add a tip when paying by credit card on the machine. I suppose this is a function which can be enabled or disabled by the property. Seeing this "option" I systematically complain and will rather not go back to such places.
Regarding Don Alfonso, his wife and sons were always "US tourist orientated" and over the years lost one of their 3 Michelin stars. Well deserved. There is much better around Sorrento, like the Torre Saracina.
