When it comes to tipping, there are some basic guidelines that can help you navigate different service industries.
In restaurants, it is not necessary to tip when you order food at the counter, but if you are served by a wait staff, rounding up the bill by 5-10 percent is customary. While a 15 percent tip may be seen as overly generous, some tourist-oriented restaurants may include a 10 or 15 percent “service charge” in the bill, in which case additional tipping is not necessary. If you are unsure whether your bill includes the tip or not, don’t hesitate to ask.
For taxis, rounding up the fare by about 5 percent is standard practice. If the driver provides exceptional service, such as helping with your luggage or taking you to the airport on time, a little extra tip would be appreciated. However, if you feel like you are being taken advantage of, you are not obligated to tip.
In general, if someone in the service industry provides excellent service, it is appropriate to tip them as a sign of appreciation. A tip of 5 Euro is more than enough, but not mandatory.
When it comes to private guides, drivers, and boat skippers, tipping is not expected but is often appreciated, especially if they go above and beyond to make your experience memorable. Private guides are usually tipped anywhere from 10-30 EUR, drivers anywhere from 5-30 EUR depending on the duration of the transfer or drive, and boat skippers typically receive a tip of 20-50 EUR per day.
Your host or concierge is someone who works behind the scenes to make your trip as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Depending on how much you utilize their services, tipping them anywhere between 20-30 EUR per day is common. If you do decide to tip your host, be sure to let them know – you can either leave the tip with the last driver on your way to the airport or leave the tip by paying with your credit card on your local hosts account.