Monday, June 22, 2009

What Do You Tip in Germany


This is a common question for tourists and the simple answer is: you don’t have to tip anything. Unlike the US, with it’s miniscule pay for wait staff, Germany’s waiters and bartenders get a real paycheck at a decent rate. It is considered polite to tip, however, if the service and food has been good, but this is usually only a rounding up of around 10% and it is not at all a requirement. The German rules are that tax and service is included in the bill.
Many restaurants and bars in Berlin have been writing “Tip not included” on bills they hand out to foreign customers. Some restaurants have defended it, saying that tips from tourists have dramatically decreased recently, but it is a questionable practice. Stick to the roughly 10% - if you liked the meal and service. If it is just a coffee, for example, I often don’t tip at all, or round it up to the next Euro.
Oh, and as for hairdressers, hair washers, hair dryers, waxers, etc, etc? These guys don’t get tipped. You just enjoy the new style.
Local Weather
Tegel Arpt/Berlin, GERMANY64 °F (64 °F)

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