Eating out on holiday: how much should you tip?

4 May, 2018

Unwinding together at the table, glasses clinking and plates brimming. There’s time for each other, to laugh and to chat. After all, you’re on holiday and you can do whatever you like. Nevertheless, you can’t leave the restaurant at the end of the evening without paying. Do you leave a tip if the food and service were good and atmosphere just right? If so, how much tip of a tip is normal? There are no hard and fast rules, but here’s what’s usually done.

France

It’s useful knowing what tipping rules normally apply when dining out in this land of cheese and wine. Here, the tip is often already included in the meal. If that’s not the case, you’ll see ‘service non compris’ on your bill, and a ten percent service charge is expected.

Germany

Tipping in Germany is estimated the same way as in the Netherlands. You can leave a tip of five to ten percent, but it’s not compulsory. You’re advised not to leave the tip on the table, but to take it to the bar.

Italy

Just like in France, in Italy the tip (ten percent) is included in the bill. That means before being crafty with the tip after paying for your pizza, first check whether this is already in the total amount. You’ll sometimes see ‘coperto’ on the bill. This is a small amount between €0.50 and €4 for the cover charge and bread served.

Spain

There are no fixed percentages for tipping in Spain and it’s down to the customer to decide – particularly in tapas bars and smaller restaurants. However, a tip of five to ten percent is appreciated in larger establishments.

Croatia

Service charge is usually included in the price of the food in this South European country. Nevertheless, a tip of five to ten percent is expected when you pay. They at the least assume you’ll round up the amount.

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, it’s normal to add five to ten percent onto the bill, but that isn’t obligatory. If you’re just going for a cup of coffee, rounding up will do – unless it’s only five cent. And it’s worth knowing that ‘pouring all your coins onto the table’ isn’t a good look.

Source: Skyscanner and RTL news.