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Original poster

Abroad do you tip breakfast?

29 replies

Bee3217 · 31/08/2025 09:56

DH said I shouldn’t have tipped for breakfast. I find all this so stressful, first time I took kids out on my own as he was sleeping. I just feel I don’t understand any of the rules. I am ND, not diagnosed but I feel stressed about everything. It was hotel breakfast.

OP posts:
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MrsTerryPratchett · 31/08/2025 23:46

If you struggle… You can google (or generative AI now) country tipping. E.g. ‘Mexico tipping’ or ‘France tipping’. It will literally tell you the percentage and the lowest amount. It differs a lot, even in Europe. And it depends what kind of place, what kind of service. But you can always get a definitive answer.

As a rule I try to do cash, to the actual people, and don’t forget the people who never get tipped, typically the women (housekeeping etc.). If you leave money for the housekeeping, make sure to either catch them and give directly or leave a note with the money on it saying, “thanks, this is for you” in the language of the country.

Maddy70 · 31/08/2025 23:41

No don't tip in Europe , if iu do it's a round up. So meal 9.50€, give 10€

gingercat02 · 31/08/2025 13:27

Bee3217 · 31/08/2025 10:36

In terms of the rules how can I be clearer? I just feel everyone knows these things except for me! It was a Buffett but you have to sign st the end and right at the top was an empty line saying “Tip” she was standing right over me watching me sign. If she had left on table and went away I wouldn’t have tipped! So bill came to euros 60 (30 for me and 15 each for kids)and I tipped 5 euros

Edited

I never tip in a hotel when adding to your bill, just put a line through the tip space.
My parents lived in Spain for years, the Spanish only ever leave their loose change as a tip, so a euro or so max.
€5 is a huge amount for a hotel buffet breakfast, the whole 10% of the bill is very British.
In a holiday hotel I leave €10 for the housekeeping and the same for the restaurant staff on the last morning

popcornandpotatoes · 31/08/2025 13:12

If you're paying for breakfast I think that's fine. We usually stay places where breakfast is included so it would be a bit weird then. Don't overthink op, it's fine to add a tip to the bill if you feel it's appropriate

PaddlingSwan · 31/08/2025 13:08

Ok the general rule in Germany is that you round up to the next full sum, so €17.40 is rounded to €18.00.
In France you need to lookmand see if it is TTC and/or tout compris, in which case no additional tip is required.
Otherwise up to you.
I, personally, would not tip for a buffet, as there has not been any real service.

DappledThings · 31/08/2025 13:05

Bee3217 · 31/08/2025 10:36

In terms of the rules how can I be clearer? I just feel everyone knows these things except for me! It was a Buffett but you have to sign st the end and right at the top was an empty line saying “Tip” she was standing right over me watching me sign. If she had left on table and went away I wouldn’t have tipped! So bill came to euros 60 (30 for me and 15 each for kids)and I tipped 5 euros

Edited

So it wasn't in a hotel you are staying in? I think people assumed it was, which changes things. If you were out at a cafe where you were paying for the breakfast rather than the hotel breakfast which was included then a tip is far more expected.

There aren't rules though. There are conventions and people can chose to follow them or not. Outside of the US you can't really go wrong.

No idea why your DH told you were wrong in this instance? It really doesn't matter if you tipped or not.

Edenmum2 · 31/08/2025 12:59

I’ve never tipped in a hotel I’m staying at, European or otherwise. Wouldn’t even occur to me

HundredMilesAnHour · 31/08/2025 11:08

If you’re paying for a meal in a hotel / restaurant, then breakfast isn’t any different to any other meal out where you’re being served. So yes I’d tip if it was the convention to tip in that country. Obviously if breakfast (or any other meal) is included in what you’ve already paid for your hotel then that’s completely different.

Sahara123 · 31/08/2025 11:02

This is a very good point, I’ve never actually thought about tipping at breakfast! And when I think of my years waitressing the breakfast service was by far the hardest, so much to be cleared from the table, plates, bowls, cups, jam, butter etc etc I hated it!
Probably far more deserving of a tip than lunch or dinner but we don’t do it in the UK do we !

FlatErica · 31/08/2025 10:58

Abroad is a big place, OP. Where are you?

Ginmonkeyagain · 31/08/2025 10:57

Where were you? I never tip in most European countries, it's just not expected.

helpfulperson · 31/08/2025 10:55

Bee3217 · 31/08/2025 10:36

In terms of the rules how can I be clearer? I just feel everyone knows these things except for me! It was a Buffett but you have to sign st the end and right at the top was an empty line saying “Tip” she was standing right over me watching me sign. If she had left on table and went away I wouldn’t have tipped! So bill came to euros 60 (30 for me and 15 each for kids)and I tipped 5 euros

Edited

I probably wouldn't but in the circumstances you describe I think is was reasonable to. You were paying for the meal individually, it wasn't part of your package.

The problem unfortunately is there are no hard and fast rules about tipping, But in Europe noone is going to be insulted by getting a tip.

MinnieMountain · 31/08/2025 10:43

Which country OP?

Duechristmas · 31/08/2025 10:39

If I was in a hotel with the same staff every day I tip at the end of the week.
If I'm anywhere being served and the service is good, I tip.

Original poster
Bee3217 · 31/08/2025 10:36

In terms of the rules how can I be clearer? I just feel everyone knows these things except for me! It was a Buffett but you have to sign st the end and right at the top was an empty line saying “Tip” she was standing right over me watching me sign. If she had left on table and went away I wouldn’t have tipped! So bill came to euros 60 (30 for me and 15 each for kids)and I tipped 5 euros

OP posts:
Marianwallace · 31/08/2025 10:23

Just to add it’s not something I’d get worked up about either. So you tipped them. It doesn’t matter. Put it from your mind.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 31/08/2025 10:21

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 31/08/2025 10:14

Never done this or seen this in any European hotel, sorry.

Why are you assuming European?

SausageRoll2020 · 31/08/2025 10:21

To get an appropriate answer you need to be a bit more specific than "abroad"
Tipping culture and expectations vary widely by location.

whitewineandsun · 31/08/2025 10:20

JDM625 · 31/08/2025 10:19

Which country are you in? America then yes its expected.
Europe and many other places no.
Breakfast in the hotel you ae staying at- never!

This. Context really matters.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 31/08/2025 10:20

No you don’t need to, but you shouldn’t feel bad about it.

I find the tipping in hotels quite tricky tbh -when to tip, how much etc

JDM625 · 31/08/2025 10:19

Which country are you in? America then yes its expected.
Europe and many other places no.
Breakfast in the hotel you ae staying at- never!

Marianwallace · 31/08/2025 10:18

If it’s just the hotel breakfast then no I wouldn’t.

DappledThings · 31/08/2025 10:16

Tip who? Staff in a hotel? Nope, never tipped anyone in a hotel.

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 31/08/2025 10:14

Never done this or seen this in any European hotel, sorry.

Comedycook · 31/08/2025 10:01

Is it buffet or a la carte?