While language barriers, iterneraries, and some insider knowledge on restaurants/ attractions may be your main concerns when preparing for a trip to Europe, it is also important to consider tipping customs. People can easily be offended by under tipping, and sometimes over tipping. In order to avoid these situations, and easily adapt to another country's culture, here is a quick guide to help you out in the popular European destinations of Italy, France, and Germany.
Italy
In Italy there is no commonly accepted percentage for tips as in the US. When eating out it is common to leave up to 10 percent of the cost of the meal as a tip, but no more. The situation with cab drivers is similar. If the cab ride costs you 8.80 in euros and all you have is a 10 euro bill let the driver keep the change, but no large tips are expected. For private, or smaller, tours things are a little different. A driver for a long private tour (4 or more hours) should be tipped at least 20 euros. In hotels it is important to remember that a typical housekeeper tip is 1 or 2 euros a night. Italians may at first refuse your tip, but this a common courtesy, not an indication that you have offended them.
France
In France gratiuity is often added to a meal's bill, but it is not an uncommon practice to leave a 10 percent tip on top of this. At bars, unlike the US however, no tipping is expected from patrons. For cab drivers only a euro or two is expected as a tip. Again private tours are where large tips are expected. Be prepared to drop 25 to 50 euros a day on a guide, more depending on the guide's level of certification. Nationally certified guides, which tend to be more beneficial to tourists, expect larger tips for their credentials. French hotels are much like Italian ones when it comes to tips. 1 or 2 euros per night will cover housekeeping.
Germany
German restaurant and bar tipping is similar to that in the United States. 10 to 15 percent of your bill will cover the tip for food and/or drinks, but tipping more for excellent service is not uncommon or unaccepted. Cab rides are also similar with a common tip being 10 percent. Common hotel tipping in Germany is a bit more pricey. A typical tip for a housekeeper is 5 euros per night.
Photo courtesy of Photo Everywhere
