How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?

8/20/2019 How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?

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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.

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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

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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

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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,

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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)

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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

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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

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Just as currencies vary from place to place – so too do the tipping customs. Photo credit: pfala via photopin cc
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How to Understand Spanish Tipping & Gratuities - Just When Do You Tip in Spain?

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