Tipping Etiquette for Your Holiday in the Algarve | Portugal

When you are on holiday in a different country, it can sometimes be confusing to know which behaviours are polite and acceptable. Every culture has different unwritten rules about social practices such as tipping and being unaware of these rules can lead to awkward moments.

Restaurant in Algarve, Portugal by Tom Godber

You may or may not leave tips as a habit in your home country, but if you visit somewhere and a tip is expected and you don’t provide it, your behaviour can be insulting to your server and make them think that they have done a poor job waiting on you. Conversely, if you do tip in a culture where it is not expected, this can also seem insulting, condescending and ignorant. Before you go anywhere on holiday it is always a good idea to do some research on the accepted behaviour and act accordingly.

To prepare you for your holiday in the Algarve, or anywhere else in Portugal for that matter, here are some guidelines to remember about tipping in this culture:

To Tip or Not to Tip

Make sure that you always have some small change on you, because Portugal is indeed a tipping culture.

Most of the wait staff, clerks and attendants earn a very low wage and they rely on tips from visitors to supplement their income. Also, many of these tourism industry workers experience unemployment in the off season when the demand is low, and then have to work very long hours in the summer. Tipping them for their service will be greatly appreciated.

In some parts of Europe, a service charge is usually automatically added to the hotel or restaurant bill which makes tipping easier. However, this does not usually happen in Portugal so take a look at your bill and add an extra 10% if you have received good service. If you have been especially pleased with your experience you could possibly leave a little bit more.

Hotel pool, Algarve, Portugal by Dan Taylor

When you arrive at the hotel and the bellhop brings your luggage to the room, it is customary to give them one or two Euros for their help. You can also leave a couple of Euros per day for the maid, especially if they provide you with extra services such as bringing breakfast to the room.

Keep it Private

In Portugal, tipping is sometimes considered an inappropriate thing to do if it is done blatantly in public with people watching. It is much preferred if you give your tip in private, such as leaving it on the table as you exit the restaurant.

Taxi Rides

If you take a taxi somewhere in the Algarve, do you need to tip the driver? Keep in mind that the driver will likely have already added in a fee when they calculate your taxi fare. However, if the driver has been especially nice to you it does not hurt to add one Euro. Some people also round the taxi fare up to the nearest multiple of five. For example, if the fare was 8 euro you could give the driver 10 euro.

When is it not Necessary?

There are some situations in Portugal where tipping would not be considered necessary. For example, when getting a haircut you do not need to tip your stylist. If you use a washroom with an attendant you don’t need to tip them, unless they have given you some sort of extra service.

Tipping can be confusing, so knowing in advance what to expect goes a long way to making sure that you are acting appropriately in a different culture. These are just a few etiquette guidelines to keep in mind when you are visiting the Algarve on your next holiday.

Are you wondering whether or not you should tip while you are in the Algarve? Here are some guidelines to remember during your holiday at Monte da Quinta Suites.

Tags: algarve, awkward moments, behaviours, bellhop, clerks, europe, experience unemployment, habit, little bit, luggage, poor job, Portugal, social practices, tourism industry, unwritten rules

Category: Portugal, Travel Tips