leaving tip on table?

Hi All - I%26#39;ve been reading this forum everyday in preparation for our first trip to Paris next month. Hoping I could get clarification on a tipping-related topic. I read in a travel book that leaving any extra money (in addition to the service fee that is charged)on the table is considered rude - it should be handed to the server. Is this true in bistro/cafe type places, or just in restaurants?

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Your bill includes your tip. So when you pay your bill your tip is part of what you are paying. (Service compris or Service Inclus will be written at the bottom of your bill).

That tip is 15%. If you have been pleased with the service and would like to leave more and make it closer to 20%, it is perfectly fine to leave it on the table.

Les

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thanks,les. I thought it might be nice to give an extra Euro or 2 in the %26quot;holiday spirit%26quot; - but didn%26#39;t want to offend my server.

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In France it is fine to leave change/tip on the table. Actually, I%26#39;ve read that the French don%26#39;t like to accept money or pass money directly to the hands - that%26#39;s why you see the little trays at the cashiers. Since there are French people on this forum, maybe they can confirm this.

It is in Germany where the custom is to hand the money directly to the server.

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In most of Europe, it is considered rude to put the money in another person%26#39;s hand. There is almost always a small dish or a hollowed-out area in the counter--even in larger grocery stores. It%26#39;s one of the cultural things that%26#39;s very difficult to adjust to. Many times I%26#39;ve stood waiting for my change with my hand out, while the cashier just looked at me as if I%26#39;d sprouted a second head.

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you should better leave tips on the table, generally around 10-15%. last time i had a guy coming to change my bell, i gave him 5 euros as a tip because he was nice and i think he felt offended by this, but in the contrary if you leave a tip to someone who is delivering for ex supermarket food at your house he will be pleased with a tip. ok it has nothing to do with your subject lol, but its better to leave on the table rather than on the hand, unless you go to play poker somewhere or a waiter in a night club is really nice (normally in night clubs its in hands) but not in a restaurant.

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Wow! Excellent points, especially Truffaut and Alexth...hubby and I will do our best to remember that! I%26#39;m adding it to my list along with %26quot;Don%26#39;t smile at strangers%26quot;...which, with our both being Southern, will be a most difficult habit to break during our time in Paris!

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Leaving an extra tip in the table is perfectly acceptable (though many times your check or credit card receipt will be presented on a small plate).

As for not smiling at strangers, I%26#39;m not entirely sure that this isn%26#39;t nonsense. If it is your natural inclination to smile; then do so. It%26#39;s been my observation that when peole attempt to do something that is UN-natural to them in the moment, it usually comes off at least akwardly..if not badly.

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A 15%-20% tip is called an %26quot;American tip%26quot; by our favorite waiter (French).

A 5% tip at a restaurant is considered more than adequate if the service was above average. No tip at all for poor service. Rounding-up to the next Euro is typical.

Also, the %26quot;service%26quot; on your check isn%26#39;t the tip, it%26#39;s the amount charged for the use of a table and the service while you sit at it. That charge is left off if you stand at the bar.

Waitstaff are paid a living wage here. They aren%26#39;t depending on tips to pay the rent like in the states. Tipping is a tribute to good service.

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If you leave a tip, You always leave it on the table, never in hands. You already had good advice above. The waiter will get the tip when he clears the table after you departed

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The only exception to this might be at outdoor cafés, where the money might disappear before the waiter gets around to clearing the table. In these cases, just give the waiter the tip when you pay your bill.