Tipping is not mandatory, and you should only do so if you feel comfortable about it and if you want to reward truly exceptional service. Tipping for great service is very much appreciated.
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Tipping servers in restaurants and cafés in Spain, while appreciated, isn't mandatory. It's tough for Americans to get used to not leaving a tip, but locals generally don't leave anything extra at all in more casual eateries. In fine-dining restaurants, a tip may already be included in the check.
The Dining Experience In PortugalIn Portugal, restaurants open for lunch starting at 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. but don't usually fill up until around 1:00 p.m. Dinner is most commonly taken at 9:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m., but restaurants do open as early as 7:00 p.m.
Tipping is not mandatory, and you should only do so if you feel comfortable about it and if you want to reward truly exceptional service. Tipping for great service is very much appreciated.
Payment and TippingDepending on the establishment, you will either pay at the front counter before leaving, or you'll need to let your waiter or waitress know that you are ready to pay. If you are paying by card, typically they will bring the card reader to your table, rather than taking your card.
While Portugal has all the facilities to accept card payments you'd expect from a modern economy, there are going to be many instances when you need cash on your trip. Some places won't take cards if you're spending less than €10 – €20 Euros, while other merchants won't take cards at all.
?? Tip #2: Carry at least $20 worth of cash while traveling in Portugal. You'll rarely need cash in Portugal, especially if you're staying in Lisbon and Porto. During my 1-week trip, I spent roughly $20 in cash on tipping tour guides, buying small souvenirs and paying for the Airbnb city tax.
At bars in Europe, tips are not customary, but leaving change or a few euros is always appreciated, if not expected. For takeaway food or drinks, counter dining, or stand-up service, tips are also not customary.
According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), guests should tip housekeeping anywhere between $1 to $5 per night for a mid-range or business hotel. For luxury hotels where the staff offers daily cleaning services and nightly turndown services, guests should leave a little more.
When you're ready to leave, ask for the check with a conta por favor. In a busy, loud restaurant, getting yourself heard might be hard. In those situations, signal the waiter and pretend you're holding a pen and writing in the air. They will immediately understand you want the check.
Price of water in PortugalEven if you're just renting, you'll need to get the water contract on your home changed to your name, which also has a cost of ~30€. Apart from this, water bills are usually not too expensive. The regular price for a couple in a two-bedroom is around 20€ to 30€.
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.
The best bet is to use an ATM/Cashpoint to obtain Euros from your home bank account, or use a non-fee credit card where possible. To read more about fees associated with exchanging currency, using credit cards, etc. take a look at this extensive information posted on the Flyerguide wiki.