Comments on: Make Every Penny Count in Paris

By: Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 10:43:16 +0000

Thank you for your comment, Skip, but to clarify:

By French law, service IS indeed included in the bill.

When tourists from countries like the U.S. are not aware of this cultural difference, they often end up overpaying, rewarding service regardless of merit.

As mentioned in the post, a modest tip (or pourboire) can be given for excellent service but travelers should not feel obligated to effectively tip twice.

By: Skip

Skip — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 11:55:57 +0000

“We’ve already discussed the fact that tipping is unnecessary in French restaurants and cafés because a gratuity is automatically included in the price of beverages and food.”

Thats is not true at all… (gratuity is NOT included in the bill, even if it say so)
If your a cheap B…. then of course dont leave anything.
Waiters work on minimum wage… and leaving them 1 euro (or more) is not biggie, if of course the service was worth it.

From a french multi unit restaurant manager.

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 02:03:10 +0000

These are wonderful tips. I think that so often people think they have to spend a fortune when they travel, but this post just shows that it’s simply not true!

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 18:34:14 +0000

This is less of a problem outside the big cities of France. Last month I was in the Dordogne and didn’t have any change problems.

What is useful is having 5 euro notes. Luckily, before I left, in getting some euros I was given mostly fives – with an apology from the bank teller which was totally unnecessary! Although the can take up space in your wallet, they will come in handy, and it’s difficult if not impossible to change bills in a bank in France.