Yet another question about Paris/France

[shauni27]

I have never been to Europe and I have a question about tipping at restaurants/maid services, etc. I just read a review that said you really do not need to tip, nor should you. True or false? If you do tip, how much (restaurants/maids/cab drivers, etc)?

Thanks!

[stephanie305]

I was just in Paris two weeks ago. It's true that you are not expected to tip, at least not like in the US. If we received good service, we left a small tip, maybe a few Euros. For average service, we rounded up to the next Euro. We didn't eat at any really nice restaurants, though, so I'm interested to hear how people tip at nicer places.

[hz80408]

We never took cabs/had hotels; but for nicer meals (usually those that were a "full" meal including apps, entree, drinks, etc. Usually total cost 90+ euros); we'd tip a few Euros; but never more than 10% of our total bill.

[shauni27]

Thank you! Anybody know about the maids/cab drivers?

[ChiKate]

I haven't been to France in a few years but elsewhere in Europe there's often a tip line on the credit card receipt so I feel obligated to tip something. We leave about 10%, give or take. When we pay with cash, I leave the change (which can be over 2 Euros) but that's usually for drinks and a snack/dessert.

We usually avoid cabs (even in the US, i hate them) but when necessary, I round up or give a couple Euros, nothing extravagant.

For maids I just leave loose change but only when we've been at the same hotel for more than 4-5 days. I don't know why, I just do.

[anna7602]

We really only tip at places we go regularly. So, for the coffee/pastry shop I go to every day after school with DD, where everyone knows DD's name and often gives her a free treat, I consistently tip a euro or two (even when the bill only comes to 5 or 6 euros). Otherwise, the service has to be truly exceptional for me to leave anything.

My dad tried to tip the waitress at the restaurant we go to at least once a week 20% one night and she refused to accept it, saying it was "too much."

I don't tip cab drivers unless we have a ton of luggage and they were helpful with it. I DO tip the maids at hotels when we have traveled outside of Paris.

[fakejew]

Jul 26, 2012 2:16:13 GMT -5 anna7602 said:

We really only tip at places we go regularly. So, for the coffee/pastry shop I go to every day after school with DD, where everyone knows DD's name and often gives her a free treat, I consistently tip a euro or two (even when the bill only comes to 5 or 6 euros). Otherwise, the service has to be truly exceptional for me to leave anything.

My dad tried to tip the waitress at the restaurant we go to at least once a week 20% one night and she refused to accept it, saying it was "too much."

I don't tip cab drivers unless we have a ton of luggage and they were helpful with it. I DO tip the maids at hotels when we have traveled outside of Paris.

Yeah, I feel really strongly that tipping is a "when in Rome" kind of thing. I definitely would not do it unless someone went above and beyond.

[Waffles]

You do tip but it's nothing like 10%: just round up to the next euro or say the next 5 if you were happy with the service. If you weren't happy with service or food, do not tip.

I always round up taxis too, to a maximum of 2 euros. Re maids, I'd say to leave a little every day or a 10 euro note at the end of the stay.