Fine, but if the shuttle driver assists you with luggage and/or drops you off at a non-customary location as a favor, a tip is appropriate.

Not necessary.

It's optional. Some do, some don't.

All sounds good, other than what has already been said about minibar costing more than lounge drink + tip. At lounges where drinks are sold, BYOB may be frowned upon.

Who said anything about starting a culture revolution...I love to show appreciation for good service, and tipping is one way, I certainly don't tip bad service. Maybe if more people tipped in the UK, the customer service would improve!

What if I just started walking around in a park in Germany and decided to pick up all the litter I saw and throw it in the proper place? Would that be disrespectful of local tradition? It wouldnt hurt anyone, but by your logic it could be bad because then others may have to do it too or possibly face looking bad.

Its not disrespectful to tip, its just not done by Europeans, thats all.

For me to tip in EU hurts no one, gets me better services, and upholds out gernerous American nature. ;)

DMH

Correct, well I didn't want to get into the specifics, but yes, generally services like barbers, waiters, bar tenders etc are taxed based on minimum. ^

Yes, of course, throwing litter on the ground is local tradition :rolleyes:

In many places, it is (and 'Europe' certainly doesn't have a single culture). You are paid to do your job, and to do it well, taking pride in the fact that you do. Not everybody is motivated by extra money. I've had more than one public-facing job where accepting a tip will get you fired.

It gets you better service at the expense of those locals who, if it's commonplace enough in areas with a strong tourist industry, find they now have to tip, on top of higher basic charges (that already include a living wage) to get decent service.

It smacks of arrogance, and little else.

One last thing
 

If you don't enjoy tipping, consider this....Tipping is never about the receiver, it's about the giver! Over the years, I've been fortunate to give good tips and have developed this habit, and I've sometimes walked into a bar that I haven't been in ages, and the some bar tender that I barely remember puts my favorite larger on the table without even asking, and say's this is on the house or go to a night club, and you're ushered in through areas reserved for VIP's, while over 20 people are lined up waiting to get in. No one likes cheapskates, everyone loves a cheerful giver :)

In most "non-tipping" countries the price of the service is included in the price of the item. Generally, in the US at establishments where tipping is common, that cost is not included in the price and you pay the server separately. The server is being paid a sub minimum wage and is expected to make up the rest of there income from tips. Tipping is not really paying extra.

To start with, ignore the bashing that some posters seem to think is needed here, it doesn't appear that you are trying to stiff anyone who would normally expect a tip, but are looking for strategies to avoid situations where tipping would be expected. I use many of these myself to save money. One note, as previously mentioned, airport shuttle drivers are typically tipped if they help with luggage, otherwise there is nothing on your "next" list that would require tipping.

A couple of other comments:
1) For non table service, you are not limited to McDonalds and KFC level of fast food. Panera, Chipotle, Panda Express, Crispers, Baja Express, Atlanta Bread Company, Qdoba, and lots of other places provide tasty food at reasonable prices and don't require tipping. Take out pizza is another option.

2) I avoid the mini bar since prices are high and the selection is low. I typically find a local liquor store where I can get some good microbrews or a small bottle of whatever. I usually either drink in the room or by the pool, taking your own to the lounge could be against the rules, or at least considered tacky.

So when you travel, do you always purposely not adapt to the customs of service and treatment? And some say only Americans do that....imagine that! ;)

Hmmm....I live in Europe too, and there are situations on this continent where I have found tips to be the norm, while there are fewer of them than in the US, they do exist here. Or do you go out of your way to avoid these situations in Europe as well?

Unless by saying you don't 'have to tip' you mean you are not absolutely required to tip, then yes that is true....but that is true in the US as well. You are not absolutely required to tip there either....it's just the cultural norm in some situations.

As an American living in Europe, I generally round up to the nearest euro, and usually add a euro if the bill is more than ten euro. This is not over the top, and most Germans do this as well.

It is important to note and beware, some airport restaurants and bars in the USA (the int'l terminal in Atlanta, for one) will automatically add a gratuity to the bill since they are used to dealing with Europeans who may not follow American tipping norms. Do NOT feel compelled to tip in the USA if a gratuity has already been added to your bill, unless you really believe that the server has done something to earn something above and beyond the tip their workplace has already added to your bill. Look closely at your bill. @:-)

Hello, all -- I've been reading these boards for several months and have gotten great information from it - Thanks! However, I just had to ask this question:

Why would you be more inclined to tip someone who brings you a drink and yet not tip the person who cleans your bathroom and changes your sheets? Is it because you see the one as s/he does the service, but you don't see the other? It's a puzzle to me.

Of course she was happy – she was giving you something that cost HER nothing and you were giving her money for it. From your point of view it was ok for her to give away free beer because she got a tip. Would you have been quite as thrilled if you had been the owner, and it your beer she was giving to a ‘bunch’ of people for a ‘couple of hours’?

As you say tipping is ‘about the giver’ – in this case it’s the owner of the establishment who is the ‘giver’ – whilst you and the bartender are the receivers (he of your tip and you of the ‘free’ lager.)

I don't think anyone is bashing, just pointing out that what not paying a tip means in the US and that the op understands that people generally feel, at least in the US, skipping a tip is almost the same thing as skipping the bill for reasons already pointed out by others.

i don't tip cabbies...i don't tip for breakfast. i don't tip housekeeping. i don't tip the bartender. And I ONLY tip if the restaurant did an excellent job - ie better than the ones in Japan - which in most cases, doesn't happen, so I don't normally tip the customary 15% or whatever. Waiters have to know that tips are like bonuses... They are not guaranteed.