To Tip Or Not To Tip In Greece

I was asked by a visiting friend “How much do I tip the waiter?” The rest of us looked at each other and smiled – this is a favourite topic of conversation and debate… My group of friends is from all over – Greece, France, Canada, Argentina, America, etc. – each with a different perspective on tipping etiquette. From my own ‘let’s leave 15%’, to someone else’s ‘don’t leave anything’, and the natural questions of most visitors, I’m often left wondering what’s the right thing to do in Greece.

I read a recent blog in the Economist about tipping rules for hospitality services in the US – and I nearly fell off my chair. According to the piece, the ‘Gratuity Guide’ of the American Hotel & Lodging Association suggests up to $2 per person for the driver of the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel; up to $5 per bag for porters; door staff should get up to $2 for hailing a taxi from the queue outside; and housekeeping should be left up to $5 a night. The lucky concierge should get $5 for making a restaurant reservation and $10 if he has something more difficult to do, like find a tricky theatre ticket. This 'culture of tipping' is being questioned in parts of the US, where a number of restaurants have started to apply a 'no tips' policy.

So, I’ve suddenly paid more in tips than I have for my hotel room. What are the comparative ‘rules’ for Greece?

According to WhoToTip.net: In Greece, it is customary to tip the porter/bellboy, around €1 per bag. Tip the housekeeper €1 per day, leaving the tip on the bedside table or bed. You can tip the concierge a few Euros if he provides excellent service.  In restaurants, tipping is expected for good service, especially if you are a tourist. Some restaurants in Greece will round up the bill, so you should check this before tipping. You can tip between 5% and 10% and you should leave the tip on the table, give it to the waiter directly, or tell the waiter you don’t want change. In some restaurants, the owner does not allow their staff to keep the tips. You may want to ask if this is the case, because if they don’t, you are just paying more for your meal. Taxis don't expect a tip, but you may round up the fare (+/- 5%) if you wish.

And so on… So many rules that I wasn’t aware of…! My Greek friends say “Bah, round up the bill or leave a couple euros for good service – that’s all you need to know.” (Then again, is it great service when they ask you 10 times if you need something else, or when they leave you to enjoy your coffee in peace??)

In the end, I think that tipping is a personal choice – but one that I always encourage. Especially in a city like Athens that should know how to treat visitors, to provide good customer service, and a culture that apparently dishes out ‘filoxenia’ as second nature. When someone gets it really right, I am generous. What’s more, a generous tip normally comes with my verbal appreciation of their great service – as in “We really appreciated your great service today – you were great.” Maybe this is more valuable than one or two euros, and encourages more of the same? Perhaps. In any case, I tend to fall on the side of generosity, and put it in the category of ‘karma’… ;)

So, tip or don’t tip, but do show appreciation for someone who goes beyond their sub-minimum-wage job description to make your hour-long coffee stop more pleasant.

Until next week,

Jack

The Economist – Gratuitous Expense

WhoToTip.net – Tipping in Greece