Tipping Ettiquette
Tipping
Tipping in Hotels
Service is included, by law, in all French restaurants bills. Unlike in
the United States, however, where waiters live mostly off tips and
receive very low wages (less than the minimum wage), waiters in France
are normally paid a fixed income, which is either an hourly wage or a
monthly salary. Waiters in France are also given health care, paid
vacations, and retirement benefits; the service charge is used to cover
these salaries and benefits. Some restaurants still include a 12-15%
service charge that goes directly to the waiter, but most restaurants
nowadays favor the salary system.
According to Where magazine, waiters in France make anywhere from
15,000 (in more casual restaurants) to 50,000 (in the Michelin-starred
establishments) Euros per year.
Since service is included in your bill, you are not required to pay one
centime more and shouldn't if service is poor, but most people leave a
few extra Euros for good service.
A good rule of thumb is to leave the small change in a café, say .20-
.50 centimes and then a few extra Euros for dinner. Depending on the
service, 1-5 €, per person, is appropriate.
Tipping in Hotels
• Porters are generally given .50-1€ per bag
• Housekeepers should be remembered with 1-1.50 €, per person, per day. They are the lowest paid in the hospitality business.
• If the concierge performs a special service, such as making
reservations or getting tickets, it is customary to leave 10 to 50
Euros, depending on the service provided.
Miscellaneous Tipping
• Tip taxi drivers and hairdressers about 10%.
• Give ushers in theaters about €. 50.
• Washroom attendants usually get about €. 30-.€ 50 -- a sum that is normally posted.
• Service station attendants are not tipped for giving you gas or oil, but are given €. 75-€1.50 for checking tires.
• Train and airport porters are normally given (€1-€1.50) per bag.
• Museum guides should get €1-€ 2 after a guided tour.
• Group tour guides should be given € 2-€ 5, per person, after an excursion.
• Bus Driver: €1-€ 2, per person, per day
