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Sitting at a cafe terrace in
Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your
Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes
the check, and with it the question, how much should I tip in
Paris? The check is all
inclusive
Unlike in America, cafes and
restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in
your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed
for taxation purposes.
The 15% service charge is
clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French
version of the sales tax). The words 'Service compris' (Tip
included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the
total to be paid.
The good news is that prices
rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15%
tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise
when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what
you get charged, no hidden extras.
No further tipping?
A small extra-tip will be well
received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your
waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.
Small extra tips are also
welcome because they go directly into your waiter's pockets.
Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is
divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar
owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service
charge: French law does not require that service charges be
given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime
of it.
In any case, you are under no
obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your
check.
How much should the extra tip
be?
Extra tips may range from just
a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5
euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice 'Thank You' is 5 to 10% of
the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no
steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.
How do you tip elsewhere?
In many cases, tips are a
valuable income supplement for their recipients.
Take taxi drivers for instance:
the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is
about €1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent
to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day.
Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a
week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so
today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your
fare is a good rule of thumb.
At the theater, tip the lady
usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these
ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell], 50 euro
cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers
were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on
tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful
they earn more than the minimum wage.
At your hotel, your porter will
appreciate a euro per bag.
At expensive restaurants,
classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take
care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you
retrieve your coats.
At the museum, you may leave a
couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.
In summary
These are guidelines based on
experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of
conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France.
In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower
than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of
generosity.
In the final analysis, tipping
is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation
of the level of service you have just received.
(This article has been written
in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to
Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a
specialist of the city.)
About the Author
***About the Author*** Phil
Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris at
http://www.Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com. This travel guide
offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours,
museums, and other sites. |