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Do you tip in Madeira?

Tipping in Portugal & Madeira Many people may tell you that tipping is not necessary and that restaurant workers earn a healthy wage, but this is not really true. Staff at restaurants earn among the lowest wages in Portugal and they rely on tips. As such, a tip is always appreciated.



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My little AA Essential Guide to Madeira suggests that, as Flowercity says, tipping is appreciated but not required in Madeira. If you do want to tip, the advice is 10% in restaurants and for taxi drivers and hairdressers. In bars it suggests just loose change but nothing for chambermaids in hotels.

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Around €10 (US$11) is considered a decent tip for tour guides who impressed you. Feel free to lower or increase that amount by up to €5, depending on how long the tour was and how informative and entertaining the guide was.

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About.com has a Tipping Guide for travelers that further suggests that the tour guide should receive a tip of 10% to 20% of the tour cost. As a last thought, the guide still needs to earn his or her tip. Just with any other profession, the tip should match the level of service.

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Most etiquette experts suggest a tip of 10-20% of the cost of a tour for outdoor guides like ours. A typical gratuity on a full-day tour is $20-$40 per person, and on a half-day trip, $15-$20 per guest.

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Unlike some other countries, tipping in Portugal is not expected. If you receive sub-par service, there is no need to tip. Ask the locals and follow their lead when it comes to tipping situations. By blending into the Portuguese culture you'll be appreciated by service providers and locals alike.

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ELECTRICITY AND WATER The electric current in the archipelago is 220 volts. There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality.

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Water: There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. The tap water in Madeira conforms with all EU regulations and it is safe to drink. The water is treated with Chlorine and therefore may taste a little different.

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The main meals are lunch, between 12:00 and 2:30 p.m., and dinner between 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Restaurants are usually open for lunch between midday and 3 p.m. and for dinner between 7 and 10 p.m. many of them have longer opening hours, especially in the big cities and areas with a busy nightlife.

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You should tip your taxi driver at least 15 to 20% of your trip fare. If you think of giving anything less than 10%, you might as well leave without tipping at all. If your fare is less than $10, leave a tip of not less than a dollar. Something like a 50-cent tip is insulting and more of a hassle to come up with.

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Portuguese people tend to be polite and indirect in their communication style, so being too direct or blunt may be considered rude. Interrupting someone while speaking is considered impolite in Portugal, and waiting until the speaker has finished before responding is important.

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About.com has a Tipping Guide for travelers that further suggests that the tour guide should receive a tip of 10% to 20% of the tour cost. As a last thought, the guide still needs to earn his or her tip. Just with any other profession, the tip should match the level of service.

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Typically, the gratuity rate for guides should be around 10 to 20 percent of the total trip cost.

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Typically, the gratuity rate for guides should be around 10 to 20 percent of the total trip cost.

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