-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
1/10
USA / CANADA: 1-888-717-4514UNITED KINGDOM: 0871-666-0214
SPAIN: +34- 942-637- 358
HOMEHOME P OP ULAR P OS T SP OP ULAR P OS T S INS ID ER S P AIN GU ID ESINS IDER S P AIN GU IDES ABOU T U SABOUT U S CONT ACTCONTACT
VIS IT T OT ALLY SP AIN WEBVIS IT T OT ALLY SP AIN WEB
How to Understand Spanish Ti pp ing & Gratuiti esHow to Understand Spanish Ti pp ing & Gratuiti esJust When Do You Tip in Spai n?Just When Do You Tip in Spai n?
http://www.totallyspain.com/http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_5/contact-us/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/about/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/insider-spain-guides/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/category/popular-posts/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/http://-/?-
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
2/10
How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities – Just
When Do You Tip in Spain?
www.totallyspaintravel.com/2014/04/28/tipping-in-spain/
by Totally Spain
Along with mealtimes in Spain, the topic of tipping and gratuities often crops up. It’s a tricky subject. While the
Spanish are not big tippers per se, it is true that the tipping culture has come to Spain. That said, gratuities are no
expected. It is certainly not a legal requirement to tip. People working in the Spanish hospitality sector are usually
full-time employees and are paid a salary for the work they do. But if you come from a country where tipping is
customary and you are travelling in the more touristic areas of Spain, you certainly won’t be insulting anybody by
leaving a tip.
We’ve put together some concrete examples of when you should or shouldn’t tip in Spain below – but the norm here
(if you want to follow local tipping etiquette), is small change for bars and taxis, single euros for other
transactions including everyday restaurants and anywhere between 5 and 10 percent for more elaborate meals.
Coffees
If you order a coffee at a bar – you don’t need to tip – although we do sometimes if we’ve made full use of the
facilities such as reading a few magazines and newspapers or a few toilet runs with the kids. (You’ll never have to
pay to use a toilet in Spain and standards vary significantly). If you order a coffee whilst seated at a table, you don’t
need to leave a gratuity but if the service is good or helpful, you could leave small change.
http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2013/10/31/when-should-you-eat-while-in-spain/http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2014/04/28/tipping-in-spain/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
3/10
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
4/10
How to Read the Restaurant Bill in Spain
On the receipt, you may see something that looks like a service charge per person. It may be labelled ‘pan’ which is
bread and can be anything up to 2.50 per person. It’s a cover charge that is applied by many restaurants to
guarantee a certain amount per diner – which in a country such as Spain where many dishes are shared – is not to
be applauded but can be understood. It is exactly that – a cover charge and should not be interpreted as a gratuity.
Another line on the bill (often towards the end) you will come across is IVA – this is VAT and should not be confused
with a service charge.
Paying the Tip with the Bill
As with anywhere else, if you want the tip to go to the person who gave the good service – seek them out or refer
to them when leaving the tip. Never ask for the gratuity to be added to the meal total and charged on your credit
card. This may be commonplace in many countries but is not in Spain. Cash is king when it comes to tipping.
Bars/Late night drinking
If you are ordering a few beers
or wines at a bar in the
evening, you don’t need to tip.If you are getting table service
and are happy with it, you
could leave small change or a
few euro coins especially if
you are ordering the more
expensive drinks such as
cocktails and spirits which can
be beautifully prepared and
are very labour-intensive. If
you are having a wine in a
small neighbourhood bar and
are grateful for a friendly smile,
you could leave a small tip at
the end when paying. If you’re
in a late night bar without table
service, you would never
leave a tip.
Hotel Tipping
Porterage doesn’t really exist
in Spain in the way it does in
Anglo-Saxon countries. Unless
you are in a five-star hotel you
usually won’t find anybody
designated to help with your
bags. If somebody does take
your bags from your car or
lobby to your room – they
http://wp.me/p3AtSw-1aN
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
5/10
If you get great service, free coffees or liqueurs, help with translating the menu or special meals prepared, we
would recommend a 5-10 percent tip. Photo credit: McPrior via photopin cc
You won’t find a tip included on one of these in Spain. It’s an optional extra. photo credit: hollywoodsmile310
via photopin cc
should be tipped – usually a
euro per bag up to a total of 5
euro. For room service – you
can tip the person who
delivers your meal or drinks –
1 euro for drinks is plenty
and 2 euro for something
more elaborate. For
chambermaids – we oftenleave a few euro coins at the
end of our stay – but it isn’t
expected.
Transport
For taxis, you could round up
the loose change. For
example if your journey
comes to 9 euro – you could
leave the euro if the journeywas comfortable and the
driver was pleasant. If it
wasn’t, just take the euro
change. If it was 9.75 – and
the experience was good,
leave the change. We
sometimes find that when you
leave a gratuity, the driver will
wait to see you get into the
hotel or apartment safely –
which is nice when it’s late at
night in a city you are not
familiar with.
If you contract a service for
assistance at a train station
– you could tip but it won’t be
expected. You will not find
assistance at bus stations or
train stations unless
requested inadvance. Airports are similar.
You will not find anybody to assist with bags. If you need assistance such as a wheelchair, you need to arrange this
in advance – and we would recommend a tip if the driver goes beyond the call of duty – again it won’t be expected.
For private drivers, we would recommend tipping at the end of the journey/day/period of contract for extra services
provided. For example, if they carry your bags, translate for you, organise any additional services such as tickets fo
a train or theatre or meal. Remember that knowledge is time. And unless you have researched the area (and even
when you have) it’s hard to beat the personal recommendations of a local.
Hairdressers and other Service Industries
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/keishaf/13525448153/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/8595423@N06/1930781055/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
6/10
You’re better off with a wheelie case in Spain as porterage often isn’t available. Photo credit: Ben
Husmann via photopin cc
Hairdressers. You are getting a trim or blow-dry and it comes to 9 or 14 euro. If you wanted you could leave 1 eur
– that’s what we do. You could leave 2 euro if you were given an amazing level of service that went beyond the call
of duty – for example if you don’t speak Spanish and the hairdresser really made an effort to understand you and
what you needed done. It’s similar for beauticians and spas for treatments. You would leave one or two euro if you
wish but it is not expected.
We can’t think of many reasons for tipping in a shop. We think it’s safe to say that in a shop, you don’t need to leav
a gratuity.
For deliveries – you could tip a euro or two if you have you shopping delivered to your hotel or self-catering
apartment – especially if you are in a particularly awkward location or if the building doesn’t have a lift. If you are
staying in a self-catering apartment
and need to get somebody to call out
for example a locksmith or plumber ,
you could tip 5 euro for the callout.
Guides/Drivers
We do tip when we know we are
working with self-employed people
when they go beyond the call of
duty. Take the example of a
guide. Beyond the call of duty varies
depending upon the situation and place
but it can be anything from a truly
genuine welcoming smile and their
knowledge of where you have come
from and what you have already seen.
It can be practical such as when they
take a few photos for you of your
group and point out good locations for photos. We especially love when
guides take us off the beaten track and
show us places that are very
personal to them – and we believe
these reasons and a few others are
well worth a nice tip because no
amount of guidebook reading would
bring you there.
For half-day tours with a private
guide, it is entirely at your discretion,
but we would suggest a minimum of
10 – 15 euros per couple would be
welcome and more if you are extremely
pleased. We would only suggest this
for the private sector eg we wouldn’t tip
a state employee at the Prado museum
but we would tip a privately contracted
guide for a tour of the Prado. If you have a guide for the day you are pleased with, we would suggest a
minimum of 15 – 25 euros per couple. For private drivers we would suggest 15 – 20 euro per day . Of course,
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhusmann/2956058967/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
7/10
This euro coin is your best friend when unsure about tipping in Spain. Photo credit: alf.melin via photopin cc
no gratuity is ever expected and you won’t ever be put under pressure to tip, so please make your decision based o
the quality of service you receive rather than feeling you have to.
Whether you do or don’t tip, remember that when a guide or driver gives you personal recommendations for places
to
visit
or
suggest places to eat, you should advise the owner (especially if it is off the beaten track) that you were sent by youguide. It won’t do you or them any harm. And while we are on this topic, if you are particularly happy with your guide
or any other self-employed services, you should always let your tour operator know. Spain isn’t the easiest or
cheapest country to be self-employed – and we believe an entrepreneurial spirit is to be praised.
Tipping & Gratuities In Spain – The Summary
Compared to the US and the UK, tips in Spain are often small change – literally. If you like to tip for good
service – something between 5 and 10 percent is more than enough.
Useful Phrases for Tipping in Spain
Propina=tip
Asi esta bien=that’s fine (keep the change)
Quiero dejar una propina para nuestro camarero/conductor/guia =I want to leave a tip for our
waiter/driver/guide
Esto es para la chica que me lavo el pelo = This is for the girl who washed my hair
Muchas gracias por la ayuda = Thanks for your help (use it when handing over a tip)
Muchas gracias por traducir = Thanks for translating (doesn’t make sense I suppose but it’s nice to use a bit
of Spanish)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/alfmelin/7035825939/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
8/10
Tipping at hairdressing, beauticians and spa treatments – one or two euro – again small change is fine but tips aren’t expected. Photo credit:
estelabelleza via photopin cc
Tempted to arrange an Insider tour of Spain?
Get in touch with the experts at Totally Spain. Phone Spain on +34-942-637358, from the USA on 1-888-717-
4514, and from the UK on 0871-6660214 or SEND US AN EMAIL or REQUEST A QUOTE
http://www.totallyspain.com/spain_quote.aspmailto:[email protected]?%20subject=CUSTOMISED%20SPAIN%20PACKAGE&body=I%20wish%20to%20enquire%20about%20a%20Customised%20Spain%20package.%20%20My%20name,%20email%20address,%20number%20of%20people,%20preferred%20date%20for%20the%20trip%20and%20any%20other%20relevant%20information%20are%20shown%20below.http://www.totallyspain.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/estelabelleza/5488566934/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
9/10
Whether they carry an umbrella or not, we think guides should be tipped if they go beyond the call
of duty. Photo credit: garryknight via photopin cc
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/garryknight/4900889899/
-
8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?
10/10
Just as currencies vary from place to place – so too do the tipping customs. Photo credit: pfala via photopin cc
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/http://photopin.com/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pfala/2397388906/