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.

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Euro / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Images Money

Better Out Than In?

Many in the UK have been feeling pretty smug over the last couple of years, as Europe struggles to get a firm hold on the future of the single currency. There is no longer any dispute over whether the UK was right to decline entry into the single currency. However, it is becoming more and more apparent that our fortunes are inextricably linked with the health, or otherwise, of the Euro Zone and its member states.

The Advantages of a Weak Euro for UK Tourists

The Association of British Travel Agents recently remarked that there has never been a better time to go to Greece, but the reasons for that advice go much deeper than simply the exchange rate. Greece, which is struggling to elect a new government at the moment, is sitting on the brink of a financial abyss. This means that although holiday prices for British tourists are barely any lower than normal, they can take advantage of the desperation of Greek businesses in the face of such difficult times. Special offers abound throughout Greek resorts as businesses fight for their share of vital tourist income. So, the combination of the weak Euro and the intense competition amongst desperate Greek business owners can make for a very cheap time, for UK tourists going to the resorts at the moment. To a lesser degree, similar situations can be found in other Euro Zone countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland.

The Effects of a Weak Euro on the UK Tourism Industry

Unfortunately, the weak Euro has the opposite effect on tourists that would normally come to the UK for a holiday or a short break. They are finding it increasingly expensive, when they look to convert their ailing Euros into UK Sterling. If the Euro continues to decline against the Pound, many who may have previously have come to the UK from Euro Zone countries, could give it a miss and choose destinations within the Euro Zone so that they have no worries about exchange rates.

Wider Considerations

Another factor to consider is the effect the increasing uncertainty about the Euro has on the confidence of the would-be traveller. The issues being raised by the Euro’s uncertainty is also spreading an element of fear amongst holidaymakers. Since the financial gloom descended upon us some several years ago, quite a number of holiday firms and airlines have gone to the wall. The crisis facing the Euro only makes it more likely that other operators will fail before too long.

Only recently, holiday giant Thomas Cook needed a £200 million bail out, after seeing its shares slump dramatically as bookings fell by a third at the end of 2011. The effect this will have on the wider tourism industry has yet to be realised, but a struggling Thomas Cook can hardly help consumer confidence in them, or any other tourism operator for that matter.

Summary

So, while the Euro weakening against the Pound may be great for UK tourists going to the Euro Zone in the short term, it may not be such good news for the industry as a whole as the crisis deepens. A lack of tourists visiting the UK could be to the detriment of our economy as a whole, which could mean that UK consumers may not have the disposable income to take advantage of the strong Pound on holidays abroad in the future.

Guest post provided by ITC Classics luxury holidays, for holidays with a touch of class.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by alex yosifov

There are several legends about this place, the most famous is about 40 girls who in an effort to avoid the Turkish slavery together jumped off cliffs into the sea. This fabulous event is commemorated by an obelisk called the “The Gate of the 40 Maidens” at the entrance to the Cape. You’ll also find a small museum with archaeological finds here. There are remnants of Tirisis fort that was built before the advent of the Romans and served until the Middle Ages. Its location on the Cape was not accidental, the sea and high cliffs represented an ideal natural protection against invaders.

But the main thing that attracts tourists, is the overall scenery of the Cape and the local nature at all. The dramatic view from the top of the rocks of the turquoise sea is really worth it. There are many caves and photogenic corners here. Kaliakra Cape is a protected area since 1941, but since that it has increased its area three times and now reaches 687 ha.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Marcin Chady

Fairly typical is to watch the dolphins while playing in the waves. Even relatively recently it was also a home to rare Mediterranean seal. This animal was in the past, very abundant and very common throughout the Mediterranean and the Black Sea including Bulgaria, but due to the pollution of their environment, hunting and development of the tourism industry they disappeared. The last Bulgarian seals could be seen in the early eighties of the 20th century. Today, Mediterranean seal is officially considered the most endangered mammal of the European Union and its future existence is uncertain.

Other places for nature lovers are 8 kilometres away, in Taukliman protected area and the subsequent reservation called Jajlata.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by alex yosifov

Surroundings of Kaliakra Cape is interesting not only from the land but also from the sea. In August 1791, in the vicinity of the cape, there was a naval battle, during which the Russian fleet under the leadership of the famous admiral Fyodor Fyodorovich Ushakov completely destroyed the large Turkish fleet. That is one reason why the area attracts divers and wrecks seekers. On the seabed there are a number of objects and remnants of ships from various medieval periods and of the World War II.

Very interesting is also a restaurant situated in one of the caves in the middle of the Cape. It boasts an outdoor garden offering magnificent views of the surrounding area. However you will not find any accommodation right on the spot, most tourists come here on a trip from various places on the Black Sea, for example, from a well-known resort of Albena. If you go on your own, you surely find some bed in the vicinity.

So if you wandered into this region, just visit this place, where sea fights with the mainland and still make for an unusual beauty.

View Kaliakra Cape – watch dolphins at Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria in a larger map

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Trento, Italy by Matteo Ianeselli

The glacial Adige River valley where the city is situated is in the foothills of the Alps. It is here that the Avisio and Fersina rivers merge with the Adige River. Fed by the glaciers of the Alps, the Adige River is considered to be the second longest in the country. Mountain tops dominate the skyline in all directions around Trento; some of which tower more than 2,100 meters above sea level.

While Trento was the historical home of the Council of Trent back in the 16th century, today it still plays an important role in Italian politics. The busting city of Trento is considered to be one of the wealthiest in the entire country.

While the tourism industry has not been an important part of the Trento economy, the city none the less offers many fine monuments and attractions that make visiting it worthwhile. The parts of the walls that once surrounded the medieval city are still standing today along with one of the towers that had once protected the city.

Today, the biggest attraction in Trento is the Castello del Buonconsiglio which is also home to the city’s main museum. Just outside of the castle you will find the Piazza Fiera. There are also several other plazas in the city. Many people make their way to the Duomo Cathedral which dates back to the 12th century and features an underground crypt which is currently open to the public. There are several other churches in Trento which were built back in the 12th and 13th centuries.

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