In the United States, tipping in restaurants is expected. But that’s not the case in many European countries. In some, it could even be considered rude, according to a Fox News report.
The article noted that in Europe, servers are paid a living wage, so “tipping is not a necessity and handing over a handful of small coins may come across as dismissive.”
Travel guru Rick Steves says, “tipping in Europe isn’t as automatic nor as generous as it is in the US, and in many countries, tips aren’t expected at all.”
He suggests you express your intentions. For example, when settling a 10-euro bill with a 20-euro note, say “Eleven, please,” signaling the server to keep one euro as a tip and return the rest in change.
He advises against tipping “American-style,” saying around 5% is considered adequate and 10% is generous. Tipping 15% to 20% can be seen as excessive.
The article also notes that while credit card payments are widely accepted across Europe, “tips are often best given in cash to ensure they go directly to the server because some businesses may not pass along card-based gratuities in full.”
If you are in doubt as to what to do about tips, don’t be afraid to ask the locals for country-specific norms.
Did you realize that other countries have different tipping preferences? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know your thoughts on this sensitive subject.
