The bill at the restaurant only charges for what you eat; it is customary to leave a tip 10% + (the amount depending on the quality of the service you receive ).
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Though tipping waiters, taxi drivers, tour guides, and bellhops is optional in Portugal, you'll want to give a little something extra in appreciation of good service.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It's generally safe and healthy to drink the public tap water across Portugal. Get a water filter such as TAPP 2 to improve the taste and reduce the risk of contaminants. Avoid plastic bottled water in Portugal as most plastic doesn't get properly recycled. Get a high quality reusable water bottle like TAPP.
Dinner Time in Portugal (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.)The best time to have dinner in Portugal is between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. While some restaurants will open at 7 p.m., most of them will still be empty at that time. There are a few exceptions of course, especially if it's a famous restaurant like Cervejaria Ramiro.
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.
If you're at a restaurant, the waiter will likely ask if you want to pay with cash or Multibanco. This demonstrates its high market saturation, as well as the fact that many places only accept card payments from Multibanco cards – not international ones.
Here's a helpful hint: At a restaurant, ask for a copo d'água instead of just água and you won't have to pay for water. Yes, it's from the tap, no there's no ice in it, and yes it's free. If it comes in a bottle, send it back and say again: copo d'água.
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.
In particular, taking photos during Mass is highly frowned upon. Remove any hat or headpiece when entering a church. Most Portuguese view people and relationships as more important than maintaining strict adherence to time. As such, time is seen as somewhat flexible, and punctuality is not always stressed.
Locals may just round up to the nearest 5 0r 10 euro note – and if you feel comfortable doing this, by all means do exactly that. Nobody will be insulted if you leave a small tip – but if you prefer to tip to international standards, and feel you enjoyed good value for money, feel free to tip as you see fit.
Do you tip at the airport? How much do you tip for baggage? Senning recommends $1 or $2 per bag for curbside baggage handlers and offsite airport shuttle drivers who help load and unload luggage.
Legally, a driver can't make you hang up your phone, but as a rider it's common courtesy to avoid loud conversations and rude conduct. “I think drivers overall appreciate being respected for their professionalism and the service they provide.