Tipping culture in Europe is very different, so there are some habits American travelers will want to leave at home. For most, tips are not expected in Europe, and it's fine not to tip at all, especially in more casual settings like bars or cafes.In other cases, though, small tips may be warranted.
How do I pay for a taxi in Ireland? Taxis in Ireland must accept credit and debit card payments (for example Visa, Mastercard, American Express) as well as cash. You can choose how you want to pay. Taxi drivers cannot add a surcharge on any card payments.
At table-service restaurants, the tipping etiquette and procedure vary slightly from country to country. But in general, European servers are well paid, and tips are considered a small bonus — to reward great service or for simplicity in rounding the total bill to a convenient number.
If you can, it's always best to leave your tip in the local currency, not on a credit card or in U.S. dollars. There are several countries in Central and South America where the tip is included in the price of the bill, or culturally it is uncommon, so there's no need to tip.
Tips are not usually accepted on credit cards and if they are, it's unlikely that your waiter will see any of it. It's a good idea to always be prepared with a few small bills and coins in the local currency and hand the tip to the waiter or leave it on the table after your bill has been settled.
Resist the urge to buy foreign currency before your trip.Some tourists feel like they just have to have euros or British pounds in their pockets when they step off the airplane, but they pay the price in bad stateside exchange rates. Wait until you arrive to withdraw money.