2 Last Minute Questions

[Jeff Zimmerman]

First, thanks to all on this forum. I leave in 22 days (but who's counting) to start my Camino Frances. Reading this forum has been my daily ritual and invaluable in training for and planning my Camino. I hope to meet some of you out there.

First question. What are the tipping customs in Spain in general and the Camino Frances in particular? In the US we tip 15-20%, but is that the case in Spain? How about at bars/restaurants at the Pilgrim Meals? At albergues? I don't want to offend anyone.

Second question. I read recently that since this is a Holy Year, the botafumeiro will be "flying" every day at the noon Pilgrim Mass at the cathedral in Santiago. Can anyone confirm this? I'm arriving in Santiago on May 25th and planning on staying only an extra day. Witnessing this tradition would be a special reward at the end of my Camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

When tipping you usually round off the bill. If the coffee is 1.50$, why not leave 2. If your meal is 3.50, why not leave 4$. If it's 8$, leave 10$. Many pilgrims are stingy so a nicely rounded tip will be appreciated.

As for the botafumeiro flying daily I am not certain but really doubt it: the Cathedral makes good money asking people to pay 300 $ or so to have it in action, it would be leaving a lot of money on the table. Trick is to pop your head in a few minutes before mass: if it will be swung it will already be in position.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The custom is to not tip. Pilgrims can ruin this!! Europeans know not to tip, so you won't see them doing it.

The cathedral has not announced any additional botofumeiro swingings. Last year they were paid to swing it every Friday at the evening mass (1830). If the xunta funds it this year, it will swing.

 

[Mark Lee]

I don't remember tipping much for my morning coffee and such, but later on if I go in a bar and have a beer I always tip. Don't know if this is the norm or not, and don't care. I always tip when I get a cold one at a bar.
cheers

 

[dougfitz]

Spain does not suffer the same predatory pricing of labour in the food service industry as the US, and tipping is unnecessary from the perspective of helping waiters etc earn a proper living. It was never expected in the bars and cafes that I visited.

 

[rometimed]

Kinda seems like the opposite in Spain... you just order a drink and they keep bringing you free food.

One club in Santiago brought 2 of us 6 plates of tapas just for buying Gin and Tonics.

 

[Mark Lee]

Kinda seems like the opposite in Spain... you just order a drink and they keep bringing you free food.

One club in Santiago brought 2 of us 6 plates of tapas just for buying Gin and Tonics.

sweet....gotta love that

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Minimal wage for service workers in Canada is almost 5 times of that in the US and yet we tip 15%. Tipping is not reserved for countries that pay 2$/hours. And remember, in a bar is Spain you are expected to get your stuff at the counter, and return your dirty dishes to the counter. If you plan of having people pick up after you, therés an added reason to round up your bill.

 

[Lachance]

Minimal wage for service workers in Canada is almost 5 times of that in the US and yet we tip 15%. Tipping is not reserved for countries that pay 2$/hours. And remember, in a bar is Spain you are expected to get your stuff at the counter, and return your dirty dishes to the counter. If you plan of having people pick up after you, therés an added reason to round up your bill.

Like the bit about bar etiquette, horrified by standard 15% tips! I noticed in the US, everyone at least left the change even for a sandwich at a lunch counter. Is that done at fast food places?

 

[Lance Chambers]

The custom is to not tip. Pilgrims can ruin this!! Europeans know not to tip, so you won't see them doing it.

The cathedral has not announced any additional botofumeiro swingings. Last year they were paid to swing it every Friday at the evening mass (1830). If the xunta funds it this year, it will swing.

Remember that in some countries tipping can be considered demeaning. But a small tip such as rounding up to the nearest Euro wouldn't be a problem. If you're in a very fancy place that's different - tip to your hearts content.

 

[Dutch]

I only tip when service deserves it. I seriously dont understand why people EXPECT to get tips. Why, because they gave me a glass and a bottle of coke? Thats their job, isnt it?

People in Europe dont have to live of the tips they get like in the usa. Here they get at least the minimum wage, just like the garbage man, the cashiere at the supermarket or the storeclerk or....well, you name it.

I never see anybody tipping them for collecting the trash or putting my newly bought undies or oranges in a bag.

I have yet to have my first customer who pays me more than the invoice i send him. And believe me, i go out of my way for my customers.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

In the US the wages for a server is 2.13 $ hour vs the regular feral minimal wage of 7.25$. Poverty guideline for 1 persi is 11 770 $. To reach that poverty guideline a person would have to work more than 100 hours a week. Try to,live on 11770$ a year ...

In Canada the minimal wage for a server is around 9$, vs 10.50$ for non service industry jobs depending on the province. This is where the 15% comes in.

Now, we can discuss the fact that a lot of tips are earned without being declared, but please, when travelling to the US be aware of what the wages are and how important your tips are. Many Canadians do not realise this and often do not leave much as a tip,when in the US not realising this.

Now, back to Spain. If you google tipping in Spain the websites that pop up will tell you that rounding up is good manners,and that in upscale restaurants 10% is expected.

 

[MaryLynn]

A friend I met on the Camino, who had lived in Spain for ten years, told me not to tip because it is an insult to the waitstaff, as they are considered professionals. I didn't always follow his instructions, however.

 

[Mark Lee]

I suppose when it all comes right down to it, the individuals working in the various customer oriented jobs along the Camino quickly realize they are dealing with a lot of people from different countries, with different cultures and different customs. They realize that some tip a little, some tip a lot and some don't tip at all. I'm sure they have become flexible to this and are not insulted one way or another about it.
Like I said, I always tip when I buy a drink at a bar. I did it in Spain. Nobody ever threw the tip money back at me.
cheers

 

[nreyn12]

I like to leave a euro when being served a pilgrim's menu in a room of 30+ people, just to acknowledge how hard those servers are working. I also leave a euro or two when I eat at a nice restaurant. In ten years on the Camino, I have never left a tip for a coffee or beer / wine at a bar, and I have never seen a local Spaniard do that, either.

 

[Urban Trekker]

First, thanks to all on this forum. I leave in 22 days (but who's counting) to start my Camino Frances. Reading this forum has been my daily ritual and invaluable in training for and planning my Camino. I hope to meet some of you out there.

First question. What are the tipping customs in Spain in general and the Camino Frances in particular? In the US we tip 15-20%, but is that the case in Spain? How about at bars/restaurants at the Pilgrim Meals? At albergues? I don't want to offend anyone.

Second question. I read recently that since this is a Holy Year, the botafumeiro will be "flying" every day at the noon Pilgrim Mass at the cathedral in Santiago. Can anyone confirm this? I'm arriving in Santiago on May 25th and planning on staying only an extra day. Witnessing this tradition would be a special reward at the end of my Camino.

Believe it or not, tipping can be a insult in Europe. If service was good feel free to leave the loose change. If it was superior leave a Euro to 2. Buen Camino

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Believe it or not, tipping can be a insult in Europe. If service was good feel free to leave the loose change. If it was superior leave a Euro to 2. Buen Camino

Bull... Leaving pennies is an insult, not rounding off. As cheap as we like to be on "our" Caminos, there are things that are dine and not done. Google "propinas Spain" "tipping Spain", and you will be tols over and over agIn that while tipping is not mandatory it is welcomed and shows an appreciation for good service.

Interestingly enough, Google tells me that on PT people don't want to be seenas wanting or taking the $ but are still happy to receive it.

Let's not pretend people love to serve us tourists for free while they struggle to make ends meet.

 

[Urban Trekker]

Bull... Leaving pennies is an insult, not rounding off. As cheap as we like to be on "our" Caminos, there are things that are dine and not done. Google "propinas Spain" "tipping Spain", and you will be tols over and over agIn that while tipping is not mandatory it is welcomed and shows an appreciation for good service.

Interestingly enough, Google tells me that on PT people don't want to be seenas wanting or taking the $ but are still happy to receive it.

Let's not pretend people love to serve us tourists for free while they struggle to make ends meet.

I beg to differ. Tipping in restaurants in France, Italy, and other European countries is seen as a insult. Waiter is a profession in Europe not a way to pay for collage or make ends meet. Wages are factored into the prices. That's not to say the a bars or cafes on the camino pay good. I know better and I leave the change sometimes adding to it but tipping is not mandatory.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I beg to differ. Tipping in restaurants in France, Italy, and other European countries is seen as a insult. Waiter is a profession in Europe not a way to pay for collage or make ends meet. Wages are factored into the prices. That's not to say the a bars or cafes on the camino pay good. I know better and I leave the change sometimes adding to it but tipping is not mandatory.

InFrance it's added automatically on the bill! And waitering is a profession in the US, Canada, and many other countries whre people pay a lot of money to train to work in the service industry. If you beg to differ with my post refering to Google searches I suggest you Google before differing. Let's put it this way, in Spain a waiter on aberage earns just under 1 200 € per month! In Switzerland 3 000€. 1200 divided by 30 days is 40€. Before income tax. And that is a national average, not is the tiny villages we walk though.

Are we that afraid not to be able to afford our 45 day holidays on the back of others, like the waiters and the Xunta whose albergue manager says it's in the res at 6€ a night? And if you are really that afraid to insut by leaving a decent tip, aren't you embarassed by leaving a dismal one?

 

[trecile]

In the US the wages for a server is 2.13 $ hour vs the regular feral minimal wage of 7.25$. Poverty guideline for 1 persi is 11 770 $. To reach that poverty guideline a person would have to work more than 100 hours a week. Try to,live on 11770$ a year ...

In Canada the minimal wage for a server is around 9$, vs 10.50$ for non service industry jobs depending on the province. This is where the 15% comes in.

Now, we can discuss the fact that a lot of tips are earned without being declared, but please, when travelling to the US be aware of what the wages are and how important your tips are. Many Canadians do not realise this and often do not leave much as a tip,when in the US not realising this.

Now, back to Spain. If you google tipping in Spain the websites that pop up will tell you that rounding up is good manners,and that in upscale restaurants 10% is expected.

It's not true that wait staff in all states earn a fraction of minimum wage. I've only lived in Oregon and California, but both of those states require wait staff be paid minimum wage. I know that more states do the same. However, you can't necessarily call minimum wage a living wage, and waiters, bartenders and the like don't always work 40 hour weeks, so tips are much needed.

Most fast food restaurant, ie., McDonald's, etc., don't allow tips for their employees.
What really rankles me is seeing a tip jar at a serve yourself yogurt place.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

It's not true that wait staff in all states earn a fraction of minimum wage. I've only lived in Oregon and California, but both of those states require wait staff be paid minimum wage. I know that more states do the same. However, you can't necessarily call minimum wage a living wage, and waiters, bartenders and the like don't always work 40 hour weeks, so tips are much needed.

Most fast food restaurant, ie., McDonald's, etc., don't allow tips for their employees.
What really rankles me is seeing a tip jar at a serve yourself yogurt place.

@trecile , you have in fact lived in 2 of the rare states where the service minimal wage is not dismal, take a look at what these wages are in the rest of the country. I wans't about to start listing salaries in each of the States .

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States

 

[dougfitz]

Minimal wage for service workers in Canada is almost 5 times of that in the US

I'm not sure how you arrived at this conclusion. Checking the Labour Program (CA) and Dept of Labor (US) sites and using XE(dot)COM for exchange rates, the minimum hourly rate in Canada would need to be about CAD14.1o. None are that high! For employees who usually receive gratuities in Quebec, it is only CAD9.05, just over three times that of their US counterparts. The current highest minimum wage appears to be CAD12.50 in the Northwest Territories, still well short of the five times you have suggested. While the differences between this class of worker and other workers might not be as great in Canada as in the USA, clearly there is a practice in some provinces of setting a different minimum wage for service staff. Perhaps there is exactly the same motivation, albeit different in degree, to tip in Canada as in the US.

 

[marbuck]

Being from Australia we are not used to tipping. Everybody is paid a decent wage here. I do find it hard to remember to tip in a country where tipping is the norm. We have never been expected to tip on a Camino but we do tip if the service is exceptional. I find it very difficult to tip in the USA and Canada when the service is bad but they still expect a tip as their due.

 

[wayfarer]

As someone who lives in Europe I can tell you that tipping is not considered an insult in France, Spain, Portugal, UK or Ireland. It is very much appreciated, what is not appreciated I'm sure is leaving pennies. I usualy find that those who tell you not to tip do not really want to themselves.
Be generous and leave a tip.

 

[dougfitz]

@trecile , you have in fact lived in 2 of the rare states where the service minimal wage is not dismal, take a look at what these wages are in the rest of the country. I wans't about to start listing salaries in each of the States .

Pity, because I found 13 States where the minimum wage for tipped employees is greater than the minimum wage paid for similar workers in Quebec (based on today's exchange rate, but the differences were enough that small exchange rate variations are unlike to alter that number too much!). Same sources as my previous post.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Being from Australia we are not used to tipping. Everybody is paid a decent wage here. I do find it hard to remember to tip in a country where tipping is the norm. We have never been expected to tip on a Camino but we do tip if the service is exceptional. I find it very difficult to tip in the USA and Canada when the service is bad but they still expect a tip as their due.

Tipping in Canada is a bit of a can of worms: you still pay the full price listed on the menu even if the meal is ordinary or poor. Some take it out on the waiting staff by not tipping if the meal is poor. We are told the restaurants would not be able to make ends meet if the employers had to pay full salaries. But waiting staff only declare up to a certain percentage of what the restaurant/bar makes, keeping anything above that not paying income tax, which, depending on the business they work for can be quite lucrative. I frankly would prefer to have the service staff be paid a regular wage by the employer and having the cost rolled in the bill: fair to all, amd everyone pays their taxes.

 

[Rob the Slob]

As someone who lives in Europe I can tell you that tipping is not considered an insult in France, Spain, Portugal, UK or Ireland. It is very much appreciated, what is not appreciated I'm sure is leaving pennies. I usualy find that those who tell you not to tip do not really want to themselves.
Be generous and leave a tip.

Yup. I've lived and travelled in Europe all my life, and never heard that tipping is considered an insult. Rounding up or else ten percent is the rule of thumb. Only once have I ever encountered a waiter who didn't understand that we'd left a tip, and that was in a small village outside Florence. He didn't seem insulted, but rather very grateful.

 

[Dutch]

I beg to differ. Tipping in restaurants in France, Italy, and other European countries is seen as a insult. Waiter is a profession in Europe not a way to pay for collage or make ends meet. Wages are factored into the prices. That's not to say the a bars or cafes on the camino pay good. I know better and I leave the change sometimes adding to it but tipping is not mandatory.

I live in europe and travel alot in europe, but never ever have i seen anyone being insulted by the tip i leave. Not in france, italy, spain, germany, you get the picture.....
Well, Maybe because its not enough in their eyes hahhaha


You cant be more wrong if you ask me.

 

[trecile]

@trecile , you have in fact lived in 2 of the rare states where the service minimal wage is not dismal, take a look at what these wages are in the rest of the country. I wans't about to start listing salaries in each of the States .

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipped_wage_in_the_United_States

I realize that. I just wanted to point out that not every state in the US is so backward. It also points out that the idea that paying the regular minimum wage to tipped employees would be a financial hardship to restaurants to be false.

 

[Rupe]

I don't remember tipping much for my morning coffee and such, but later on if I go in a bar and have a beer I always tip. Don't know if this is the norm or not, and don't care. I always tip when I get a cold one at a bar.
cheers

What?... lets get back to the latter part of Jeff's question regarding the Botafumerio...will it not fly?...My wife and I are so looking forward to seeing it fly in Sept. Finger crossed!!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

What?... lets get back to the latter part of Jeff's question regarding the Botafumerio...will it not fly?...My wife and I are so looking forward to seeing it fly in Sept. Finger crossed!!

If you tip the Church 300€ it will fly!

 

[Mark Lee]

What?... lets get back to the latter part of Jeff's question regarding the Botafumerio...will it not fly?...My wife and I are so looking forward to seeing it fly in Sept. Finger crossed!!

I don't know what the schedule is for when the Botafumeiro flies, but all three times I was in Santiago there was a mass when it swung.

 

[J F Gregory]

We are in Spain right now and do leave a tip. Usually about 10%.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Tipping is not common in Spain and the popular website which says "Tipping is a great tradition in Spain" couldn't be more inaccurate.

http://gospain.about.com/od/spanishlife/qt/tippinginspain.htm

 

[MeanPhilippine]

First, thanks to all on this forum. I leave in 22 days (but who's counting) to start my Camino Frances. Reading this forum has been my daily ritual and invaluable in training for and planning my Camino. I hope to meet some of you out there.

First question. What are the tipping customs in Spain in general and the Camino Frances in particular? In the US we tip 15-20%, but is that the case in Spain? How about at bars/restaurants at the Pilgrim Meals? At albergues? I don't want to offend anyone.

Second question. I read recently that since this is a Holy Year, the botafumeiro will be "flying" every day at the noon Pilgrim Mass at the cathedral in Santiago. Can anyone confirm this? I'm arriving in Santiago on May 25th and planning on staying only an extra day. Witnessing this tradition would be a special reward at the end of my Camino.

To tip or not to tip? Simple answer...if you want to tip, by all means tip. If you don't want to tip, don't tip. Better yet go to the owner or manager and ask. No need for forum pissing contest, this is not "How to launch a hotdog into outer space" that technicalities and math calculations are needed. No one is going to get in anyone's face and force them to tip, but that would be a nice YouTube moment?
Simply enjoy your trip to Europe, ask the establishment if tipping is appropriate. If not more money for you, if it is and you feel compelled to tip, more money for them.
We have more serious issues to discuss in this forum, such as to stop in Orisson or not to stop...J/k.
I'm sure someone out there will bust out science and explain to us why or why not in terms of physiology and physics.
Buen Camino (is the stress on the "a" or "i"?)

 

[Lachance]

...
Buen Camino (is the stress on the "a" or "i"?)

The "i". Spanish is wonderfully regular with stress. The rules are:
1. Stress is on the penultimate syllable in words ending in a vowel*, 's' or 'n'. (Hence the 'i' in camino).
2. Otherwise stress is on the last syllable; e.g. verbs in the infinitive as they always end in 'r'
3. Any exception to the rules is denoted by " ' ", i.e. an acute accent, on the stressed vowel, e.g. rápido

* sometimes a dipthong is counted as a single vowel for the purposes of this rule. That is explained by @Castilian Spanish Cultural Faux Pas

Bet you're glad you asked

Sorry about font weirdness, on the ipad I have to compose in mail then copy and paste. Sometimes font gets scrambled.

RELEVANT comment: it used to be the case in Europe, well France and Italy, that if a bill included a service charge, you were absolved from tipping. Seems that's changed.

 

[domigee]

What?... lets get back to the latter part of Jeff's question regarding the Botafumerio...will it not fly?...My wife and I are so looking forward to seeing it fly in Sept. Finger crossed!!

Copied from the Cathedralwebsite:

The Botafumeiro operates during the following Solemnities:

- The Epiphany: 6 January

- Resurrection Sunday

- The Ascension of the Lord

- The Apparition of the Apostle-Clavijo: 23 May

- Pentecost

- The Martyrdom of Saint James: 25 July

- The Assumption of Mary: 15 August

-All Saints: 1 November

-Christ the King

-The Immaculate Conception: 8 December

-Christmas: 25 December

-Transfer of the remains of the Apostle: 30 December

The Botafumeiro can also operate for pilgrimages that have duly requested it from the Cathedral. To reserve the Botafumeiro write an email to: botafumeiro@catedraldesantiago.es.

Now, from my experience, from 2013 the Botafumeiro was also used at the 19.30 Mass on Fridays. I don't know if it is still true this year.

 

[Kathar1na]

Tipping is not common in Spain and the popular website which says "Tipping is a great tradition in Spain" couldn't be more inaccurate.
http://gospain.about.com/od/spanishlife/qt/tippinginspain.htm

Thanks, this is a super link as it gives concrete examples of what locals would do in various situations! I'm going to bookmark this.

I, too, live and travel quite a bit in Europe. Local tipping customs (where tipping means adding or leaving a bit of money, not tipping in the US meaning of the word) has remained an eternal conundrum for me, except in restaurants and cafés in the region I grew up in.

 

[Kathar1na]

Now, from my experience, from 2013 the Botafumeiro was also used at the 19.30 Mass on Fridays. I don't know if it is still true this year.

See this news article of 19 February 2016. The Botafumeiro will continue to fly in 2016 on Friday nights at 19:30.

This is possible thanks to various actors of the Santiago tourism industry who will pay 12.000 EUR to the Cathedral for this. É unha maneira de garantir máis pernoctacións en Compostela, sobre todo cara o fin de semana - it's a way to ensure more overnight stays in Santiago de Compostela, especially towards the weekend, they said.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

The "i". Spanish is wonderfully regular with stress. The rules are:
1. Stress is on the penultimate syllable in words ending in a vowel*, 's' or 'n'. (Hence the 'i' in camino).
2. Otherwise stress is on the last syllable; e.g. verbs in the infinitive as they always end in 'r'
3. Any exception to the rules is denoted by " ' ", i.e. an acute accent, on the stressed vowel, e.g. rápido

* sometimes a dipthong is counted as a single vowel for the purposes of this rule. That is explained by @Castilian Spanish Cultural Faux Pas

Bet you're glad you asked

Sorry about font weirdness, on the ipad I have to compose in mail then copy and paste. Sometimes font gets scrambled.

RELEVANT comment: it used to be the case in Europe, well France and Italy, that if a bill included a service charge, you were absolved from tipping. Seems that's changed.

I apologize to have wasted your time answering my sarcastic question about the word "Camino". I was just trying to make a point. Although I don't speak Spanish that well anymore, I spoke Castilian as a child. I can read with Castilian accents...with a lisp and still understand some. My apologies.

 

[erith long]

First, thanks to all on this forum. I leave in 22 days (but who's counting) to start my Camino Frances. Reading this forum has been my daily ritual and invaluable in training for and planning my Camino. I hope to meet some of you out there.

First question. What are the tipping customs in Spain in general and the Camino Frances in particular? In the US we tip 15-20%, but is that the case in Spain? How about at bars/restaurants at the Pilgrim Meals? At albergues? I don't want to offend anyone.

Second question. I read recently that since this is a Holy Year, the botafumeiro will be "flying" every day at the noon Pilgrim Mass at the cathedral in Santiago. Can anyone confirm this? I'm arriving in Santiago on May 25th and planning on staying only an extra day. Witnessing this tradition would be a special reward at the end of my Camino.

 

[J Willhaus]

I lived in Germany as a child and later for a while as an adult. The "check" was never brought to your table until you notified the waiter and then he/she would come to your table and use a pen and paper to add up the total. They had change and bills in a large wallet and you put the money into their hand. If you wanted to tip you might round up. Example: 14.50 Euros (or DM when I was a child). I would give a 20 Euro bill and ask for 5 back. Mainly this was so I did not have a lot of loose change tearing out the seams of my pockets. I was also told that leaving money on the table was considered rude and that you should hand it to the waiter.

In Spain, is this process similar? Do you ask to pay and then pay the waiter directly at your table? Do they write the total on a slip of paper. Do I need to order at the bar and pay for it before the meal/drinks are delivered?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

In Spain, is this process similar? Do you ask to pay and then pay the waiter directly at your table? Do they write the total on a slip of paper. Do I need to order at the bar and pay for it before the meal/drinks are delivered?

It varies, but I don't think I have ever gotten a check without requesting it. In most places you can go to the bar, ask for the total, and pay. Having a written bill is also intermittent, and a computer printout is becoming more common for complex bills. If you go to a bar or restaurant for the menu peregrino advertised for 8E, you won't get a bill, and you will be asked for 8E. Pay the waiter or the bar. I have NEVER paid in advance. (If you eat at a McDonalds, they may want money in advance.)

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I lived in Germany as a child and later for a while as an adult. The "check" was never brought to your table until you notified the waiter and then he/she would come to your table and use a pen and paper to add up the total. They had change and bills in a large wallet and you put the money into their hand. If you wanted to tip you might round up. Example: 14.50 Euros (or DM when I was a child). I would give a 20 Euro bill and ask for 5 back. Mainly this was so I did not have a lot of loose change tearing out the seams of my pockets. I was also told that leaving money on the table was considered rude and that you should hand it to the waiter.

In Spain, is this process similar? Do you ask to pay and then pay the waiter directly at your table? Do they write the total on a slip of paper. Do I need to order at the bar and pay for it before the meal/drinks are delivered?

On the Camino for meals at a bar, breakfast, lunch, tapas, you go to the bar, ask for what you want, and go back to your table to eat it (unless you are sitting at the counter). When you are done you bring back your dirty dishes to the counternd try not to leave a mess on the table. If they will bring you your food at the table, they will tell you to go back to your seat and that ypur food will be brought to you. But you still should clear the table.

I don't recall ever being brought the bill in Spain after ordering a combinado, menu del dia or pilgrim meal. Never have it done in Canada either, but very often in chain or other "family style" restaurants n the US. mind you, they normally tell you as they hand you the bill to "take your time", but when people are queuing at the door to get a table I doubt they really don't mind you lingering

 

[Mark Lee]

I apologize to have wasted your time answering my sarcastic question about the word "Camino". I was just trying to make a point. Although I don't speak Spanish that well anymore, I spoke Castilian as a child. I can read with Castilian accents...with a lisp and still understand some. My apologies.

No need at all in regards to your level of Spanish proficiency while in Spain while walking the Camino. Any Spanish you can speak is great and helpful and don't be shy about speaking it. Unless an actual Spaniard told me something was a faux pas, I wouldn't give it any thought. Speak away.
cheers and ultreia
sige sige

 

[PEI_Heather]

I'm not sure how you arrived at this conclusion. Checking the Labour Program (CA) and Dept of Labor (US) sites and using XE(dot)COM for exchange rates, the minimum hourly rate in Canada would need to be about CAD14.1o. None are that high! For employees who usually receive gratuities in Quebec, it is only CAD9.05, just over three times that of their US counterparts. The current highest minimum wage appears to be CAD12.50 in the Northwest Territories, still well short of the five times you have suggested. While the differences between this class of worker and other workers might not be as great in Canada as in the USA, clearly there is a practice in some provinces of setting a different minimum wage for service staff. Perhaps there is exactly the same motivation, albeit different in degree, to tip in Canada as in the US.

You are right, Doug; every province has a different minimum wage. Here on PEI it is $10.50/hour, going up to $10.75/hour in June and in six months after that will be $11.00/hour. Wait staff are paid the minimum wage and tips. Tips are supposed to be counted into earnings and taxes paid as a result (they are considered earnings), but I don't know if everybody does that!

As well, tips left on tables or in jars go to the individual server, or are combined altogether at the end of the day and split between servers or, if a good eating establishment, split between all staff. Wait staff can make a pretty decent living from their wage and from tips combined; kitchen staff do not. (My brother is a chef, has worked in 4-5 star restaurants in his career in Toronto and Montreal, so I feel I come by my knowledge from a very good source! All those people working inside the kitchen, including well trained chefs, make minimum wage, usually.)

 

[Anemone del Camino]

. Wait staff are paid the minimum wage and tips. Tips are supposed to be counted into earnings and taxes paid as a result (they are considered earnings), but I don't know if everybody does that!.)

Not true Heather, in many provinces the minimal wage for people who earn tips is less than the standard minimal wage. My brother will also tell you all about what his wages would be if he didn't get tips. We are lucky, in Canada the difference is small, not the case in many of the US states where base salary is dismal.

Now, he will only declare enough tips to bring him to regular minimal wage and pocket the rest, which makes my blood boil, but that is another issue. Well... Frankly, I would rather have the meal be more expensive, to cover 100% of the staff wages,and have everyone pay their income tax as it should be. But the industry will argue that if the difference in wages is rolled into the price of the items we order we will no longer eat or drink out. What a load of nonsense.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in_Canada

 

[Chacharm]

Believe it or not, tipping can be a insult in Europe. If service was good feel free to leave the loose change. If it was superior leave a Euro to 2. Buen Camino

Well, I don't believe it. I spend a lot of time in Europe, and I was a server here in the US, and I can tell you being left a tip is never "insulting" unless it is a penny or a dime left specifically as an insult. Servers in Spain are generally paid around 7.50 an hour - but they are NOT just servers. They're also made to clean the place, stock, prep etc. Rounding up is very much acceptable. It is also perfectly OK not to tip. Most Americans and Canadians are going to be so blown away by what would be considered VERY slow/neglectful service in Spain that they won't feel much like tipping anyway.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

slow/neglectful service in Spain

While service occasionally can be disinterested, and many servers are not good at multi-tasking, in most cases the service is leisurely in the style of the Spanish. In Spain you have a table for as long as you want. No one is pushing you along for a second seating. It is much more like being invited into a home than restaurants in the U.S. It may come across as neglectful, I do not think it is intended that way.

 

[jpflavin1]

I only tip when service deserves it. I seriously dont understand why people EXPECT to get tips. Why, because they gave me a glass and a bottle of coke? Thats their job, isnt it?

People in Europe dont have to live of the tips they get like in the usa. Here they get at least the minimum wage, just like the garbage man, the cashiere at the supermarket or the storeclerk or....well, you name it.

I never see anybody tipping them for collecting the trash or putting my newly bought undies or oranges in a bag.

I have yet to have my first customer who pays me more than the invoice i send him. And believe me, i go out of my way for my customers.

Dutch:

Exactly what is the minimum wage in Europe?

Joe

 

[Dutch]

Thats different for all countries. There isnt ONE european minimum wage.
For some european countries its very low (most likely the eastern european), but the general cost of living will most probably be alot cheaper as well, while luxemburg is, i believe, the highest, with almost €2000 per month.

So a waiter or a garbageman would at least earn that minimum wage.

 

[PEI_Heather]

Not true Heather, in many provinces the minimal wage for people who earn tips is less than the standard minimal wage. My brother will also tell you all about what his wages would be if he didn't get tips. We are lucky, in Canada the difference is small, not the case in many of the US states where base salary is dismal.

Now, he will only declare enough tips to bring him to regular minimal wage and pocket the rest, which makes my blood boil, but that is another issue. Well... Frankly, I would rather have the meal be more expensive, to cover 100% of the staff wages,and have everyone pay their income tax as it should be. But the industry will argue that if the difference in wages is rolled into the price of the items we order we will no longer eat or drink out. What a load of nonsense.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage_in_Canada

Well, I said on PEI wait staff are paid minimum wage. Then I said in another paragraph that tips are given for wait staff alone, or are split between wait staff or if they are lucky with the kitchen staff included. That was referring to places across the country--or at least where my brother has worked: PEI, NB, NS, Que and Ont. (I also worked in the food industry when I was in university and always got minimum wage and tips--PEI, NS, NB.)
Across the country and in each individual eating establishment, the tips are apportioned unique to that eating establishment. Most times they don't go to the kitchen staff. And I stand by what my brother says--the wait staff can make a decent living because of the tips; the kitchen staff, including well trained chefs (some of whom have trained at very good schools and have worked for a very long time--like my brother--33 years as a chef) do not.
I will completely agree with you though; tipping should be abolished and the staff--ALL of the staff--who work in places where people eat, should be given a living wage. While wait staff here on PEI are paid minimum wage of $10.50/hour, soon to go up to $10./hour $11.00/hour, the living wage is still a low $15. I can pay a couple of extra $$ for my meals, as most people can, if the people who make it, serve it and clean it up, can afford to pay their live--and not by the skin of their teeth.

 

[Rob the Slob]

So a waiter or a garbageman would at least earn that minimum wage.

Actually, in the Netherlands at least dustbin men earn quite a bit more than minimum wage. It's still not a vast amount, but definitely more than minimum wage.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

So, what's the concensus to the original question, TIP or NO TIP?

 

[Dutch]

Actually, in the Netherlands at least dustbin men earn quite a bit more than minimum wage. It's still not a vast amount, but definitely more than minimum wage.

And thats why i said 'at least'

 

[dougfitz]

So, what's the concensus to the original question, TIP or NO TIP?

My take on it so far, @MeanPhilippine is that it is completely unnecessary and entirely optional.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

My take on it so far, @MeanPhilippine is that it is completely unnecessary and entirely optional.

I'll see it for myself next week when I get there.

 

[Americanperegrino]

Seriously folks!!! IMO, don't worry so much about offending people in another country because you leave a tip, waive, smile, laugh, or (fill in the blank). Be yourself. Don't waste your time following some perceived fake etiquette that supposedly exists in the new strange land you find yourself in. Smile, laugh, be genuine and leave a tip if YOU feel like it. You will find how much we all are the same.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Seriously folks!!! IMO, don't worry so much about offending people in another country because you leave a tip, waive, smile, laugh, or (fill in the blank). Be yourself. Don't waste your time following some perceived fake etiquette that supposedly exists in the new strange land you find yourself in. Smile, laugh, be genuine and leave a tip if YOU feel like it. You will find how much we all all the same.

Ditto! We are not disecting a fetal pig to find out its molecular structure

 

[TinaPEI]

Well, I said on PEI wait staff are paid minimum wage. Then I said in another paragraph that tips are given for wait staff alone, or are split between wait staff or if they are lucky with the kitchen staff included. That was referring to places across the country--or at least where my brother has worked: PEI, NB, NS, Que and Ont. (I also worked in the food industry when I was in university and always got minimum wage and tips--PEI, NS, NB.)
Across the country and in each individual eating establishment, the tips are apportioned unique to that eating establishment. Most times they don't go to the kitchen staff. And I stand by what my brother says--the wait staff can make a decent living because of the tips; the kitchen staff, including well trained chefs (some of whom have trained at very good schools and have worked for a very long time--like my brother--33 years as a chef) do not.
I will completely agree with you though; tipping should be abolished and the staff--ALL of the staff--who work in places where people eat, should be given a living wage. While wait staff here on PEI are paid minimum wage of $10.50/hour, soon to go up to $10./hour $11.00/hour, the living wage is still a low $15. I can pay a couple of extra $$ for my meals, as most people can, if the people who make it, serve it and clean it up, can afford to pay their live--and not by the skin of their teeth.

Just wanted to pop in and say hi to a fellow Islander! And yes, your comments are totally accurate for PEI at least. I often eat with a friend and she's... well, not a big tipper, and I try to pay the tips when we eat together because I feel bad for the people working. Especially in the US. There was one time she was going to leave a small tip and then saw what the "suggested" tip was on the bill and she was shocked, then corrected her tip! I usually try to leave between 15-20%. Now, I don't eat fancy dinners, I'm a simple eater, so it is not a huge amount either.

 

[Dutch]

15-20? Wow, thats alot. Just for bringing the food your also paying for.

 

[MeanPhilippine]

15-20? Wow, thats alot. Just for bringing the food your also paying for.

I didn't see Yoost, nor any of the characters on the movie The Way, tip at all. If it's not in the movie version of the Camino guide, then you're not obligated to do
Some of you won't get this sarcasm, some will.
Buen Camino...

 

[Dutch]

So can one bring his (or her) homegrown pot as well?

 

[MeanPhilippine]

So can one bring his (or her) homegrown pot as well?

It's nothing by Dutch standard...

 

[Dutch]

If Joost can, anyone can....right?

 

[MeanPhilippine]

If Joost can, anyone can....right?

Yup yup or it wouldn't be in the movie

 

[Dutch]

Ooh, text time i'd better stay at Leon Parador than.

The movie keeps getter better by the post

 

[MeanPhilippine]

Ooh, text time i'd better stay at Leon Parador than.

The movie keeps getter better by the post

If Jack from Amsterdam is a member here, he'd get a lot of ideas for his book.

 

[PEI_Heather]

Just wanted to pop in and say hi to a fellow Islander! And yes, your comments are totally accurate for PEI at least. I often eat with a friend and she's... well, not a big tipper, and I try to pay the tips when we eat together because I feel bad for the people working. Especially in the US. There was one time she was going to leave a small tip and then saw what the "suggested" tip was on the bill and she was shocked, then corrected her tip! I usually try to leave between 15-20%. Now, I don't eat fancy dinners, I'm a simple eater, so it is not a huge amount either.

Hey Tina!
Are you home or are you living away? I've been back since 2007 but do like to get across to the 'real world' as often as I can!
My office/clinic is above Beanz, a great coffee shop/cafe so I eat there often. If I don't leave a tip one time, the staff knows that they'll get a good-sized handful of change (loonies, toonies) the next time to make up for it. When I eat out, I tend to leave a 25-30% tip, if it's warranted--good service, good food, clean place--no dirty dishes, cutlery, etc on the table. Most times more than not, the tip is well deserved.
Traveling with my mother (driving her and a friend from N. Ontario to PEI) I discovered at Fred's in Shediac that she had not tipped anywhere ever at all, in any of the places we had eaten. Good places all. I was mortified... How could we have driven that far and I did not notice. How could we have driven that far and she had not left any tips. How could we have driven that far and gotten out of all those cafes/restaurants alive?!!!

 

[PEI_Heather]

Hey Tina!
Are you home or are you living away? I've been back since 2007 but do like to get across to the 'real world' as often as I can!
My office/clinic is above Beanz, a great coffee shop/cafe so I eat there often. If I don't leave a tip one time, the staff knows that they'll get a good-sized handful of change (loonies, toonies) the next time to make up for it. When I eat out, I tend to leave a 25-30% tip, if it's warranted--good service, good food, clean place--no dirty dishes, cutlery, etc on the table. Most times more than not, the tip is well deserved.
Traveling with my mother (driving her and a friend from N. Ontario to PEI) I discovered at Fred's in Shediac that she had not tipped anywhere ever at all, in any of the places we had eaten. Good places all. I was mortified... How could we have driven that far and I did not notice. How could we have driven that far and she had not left any tips. How could we have driven that far and gotten out of all those cafes/restaurants alive?!!!

(Only Canadians--and most likely really those in the east--will truly understand the above, right, TinaPEI and Anemone?! )

 

[Dutch]

30%? Really? I'm sorry, no offense, but thats just plain ridiculous imo

 

[Kanga]

I can't believe a simply question about tipping could generate so much heat!

I think the answers reflect differences in practises in our home communities, more than anything. Perhaps the thread has run its course. The OP's questions seem to have received lots of responses. Let's leave it at that.