Tipping questions

Is it conventional in Paris to tip 20% to cabbies, waiters, etc?

I guess what I%26#39;m asking is if we should just follow American guidelines on tipping in Paris.

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Definitely not, be aware almost always the tip is included in the check. Usually the check will read at the end %26quot;servis

compris%26quot;,meaning that the tip is included,if not sure you can always ask. At your discretion you can leave a couple euros extra if your very pleased with the service.

Tipping taxi drivers and bellboys its customary, how much?, again

is more or less at your discretion some people will leave the change to next euro others will leave 10% of the metered amount, I personally give the 10%.

Bellboys I will usually give more or less 1 euro/per piece of luggage and maybe one extra euro.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;Is it conventional in Paris to tip 20% to cabbies, waiters, etc? I guess what I%26#39;m asking is if we should just follow American guidelines on tipping in Paris.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

You can certainly do this...and I suspect that it will please Parisian waiters and cab drivers....but it will definitely fall under the general category of %26#39;..over-tipping..%26#39;. By law, all French restaurants, bistrots, cafés already ADD 15% to the bill (one way or another) for service. So Tipping a waiter 20% over and above the amount of the check would be effectively leaving a tip of somewhere in the neighborhood of 38%.

NO tip for the driver is a included in a taxi fare. The conventional wisdom is to tip anywhere from 1 or 2 €uro to 10% of the METERED fare amount (not necessarily the full amount of the total fare including extra passenger or luggage surcharges). But of course you may tip ANY amount, as suits your own personal custom and practice.

There are a couple of other small points that you should also be aware of. At most cafés there is a %26#39;..sliding price scale..%26#39;. You will pay one price for something served standing at the bar; a slightly higher price for the same something served sitiing at an inside table; and a still higher price for the same something served at an outside table. This is common practice. With regards to taxi fares, there is one metered rate charged during the day and a higher metered rate charged at night. It is entirely possible to travel between the same two points in the late afternoon and pay one fare and return along the exact same route in the evening and pay approx 40% MORE for the exact same ride. This isn%26#39;t a %26#39;..tourist rip-off..%26#39; simply a function of the official Parisian taxe fare structure.

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Note that there is no separate line-item on a restaurant bill for a %26#39;service charge%26#39; or tip. The 15% is built into the pricing... so if you have a meal and the check comes to 47€, you can pay that and leave satisfied... if you really liked the service, you could %26#39;round up%26#39; and leave 3 euro in the plate. It%26#39;s best to leave the %26#39;extra%26#39; tip in cash when paying by credit card.

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Fascinating. Thanks everyone.

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If happy with the service I usually tip about 1 euro per person at restaurants. Thats at an everyday restaurant, not some michelin star palace.