Tipping in hotelsIn France, the custom is simple: If you're happy with the service, add a tip. It's seen as a personal gesture and can vary based on how satisfied you are with the service.
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Tips are not expected across the board in French restaurants, taxis, and hotels because service is included in the country's hospitality sector. Unlike some other countries, all employees, from waiters to bellhops, earn a decent monthly wage and have paid holidays and other benefits.
And in France tipping is not really part of the culture , a few coins are normally left but often not much more, a really nice dinner in a fancy place may qualify for 5-10 % tip, but it is not expected.
Tipping in restaurants and cafésWhether it's a cozy café, the local bistro, or a Michelin-starred establishment, a service charge of 15 percent is automatically included by law in most French restaurants. You'll see it listed on the menu or your check under “service compris” (service included).
Tipping taxi drivers isn't required; however, locals often round up to the nearest euro or leave up to 5 percent. If the driver helps you with your bags (particularly if they're large), it's customary to tip one or two euros per bag.
Tipping is not required in France (although there are a few exceptions). You don't need to tip French waitstaff because they get a living wage and benefits. It is NOT considered rude to tip in France. There is no standard percentage for tips in France.
Leaving a Parisian CaféPut a few coins on the bar or table (or tray, if it's still there) as a tip. Fifty centimes or a euro per person is fine. You don't have to tip, but it is has become commonplace in France and it's just a generally nice thing to do.
A general rule of thumb is $3 to $5 per night for budget and midrange hotels, and up to $10 a night for luxury hotels and resorts (or more if the service is really high end).
Room service: If the hotel hasn't already added a gratuity, tip this person the same way you would a server or bartender in the restaurant downstairs: 15% to 20%. Door staff: No need to tip for someone opening the door.
Transportation TippingCab driver: 15 percent to 20 percent tip of the fare. (Find out ahead of time if your cabbie accepts a credit card. If he or she doesn't, make sure you have enough cash for both fare and tip.)
Don't ask people you've just met personal questions – the French are very private. This means no talking about age, income, marital status, or even what the person did last weekend – these topics are considered quite rude and should be avoided.
Yes, tap water in Paris is perfectly safe to drink and is readily available wherever you go, even at public water fountains. As long as taps aren't labeled eau non potable—meaning “not for drinking” in French—everything else is potable. In fact, drinking water from the fountains of Paris has been encouraged.
Tip in the local currencyWhenever you tip during your trip to France it is important to use the local currency, that is - Euros. Otherwise you'll leave your service providers with cash they can't use without paying high fees on currency exchange.
European travelers should always have some cash on hand; getting it from an ATM abroad is usually the easiest, most advantageous way. If you need cash from an ATM, it's usually better to use a debit card, because credit cards often charge a high interest rate for a cash advance.
Paying with cash in FranceYou can use your card in France for most things, but if you want to shop at the street markets, you'll need cash — ATMs are typically onsite. Places like Porte de Clignancourt and Les Puces de Montreuil in Paris have some amazing deals for things you never thought you'd find.
Tipping in FranceThe French Government put in place a law that requires most restaurants and cafes to add a service charge to the bill, known in French as service compris. Establishments will usually add around 15% to the bill, and while it most often applies to restaurants, it can also be added in other instances.
You do not need to tip when you drop off your bags for storage. Tip from $5 to $10 depending on how involved the request, or a lump sum upon departure. Consider tipping higher if the concierge has gone above and beyond to procure something special. No tip is necessary for directions or an answer to a simple question.